Mauricio Pochettino to Tottenham theory as Igor Tudor faces ultimate test

Tottenham Hotspur snubbed the likes of Roberto De Zerbi, Xabi Alonso, Ruben Amorim, and Enzo Maresca to appoint Igor Tudor as an interim head coach

Jamie O’Hara believes Tottenham Hotspur are holding out to appoint Mauricio Pochettino at the end of the season. The United States Men’s National Team head coach was one of many potential candidates to replace Thomas Frank in the dugout.

But with his contract not set to expire until after the World Cup, Pochettino was overlooked, and Igor Tudor was brought in on an interim basis. The likes of Roberto De Zerbi, Xabi Alonso, Ruben Amorim, and Enzo Maresca were all available after being recently sacked, but Spurs went for the temporary option.

Speaking to football.london on behalf of 10bet, O’Hara said: “Getting an interim manager till the end of the season says to me that they’re going after Pochettino. I think this is all about bringing Pochettino back to the club in the summer.

“That’s where I feel like we’re at now,” the former Tottenham midfielder added. “Maybe De Zerbi as well. I like him. I think he’d be a good manager for Spurs. I think he’d definitely be on the list.”

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The Lilywhites have been dragged into the relegation battle this season, and O’Hara says top-flight survival is key to landing their former boss. The 39-year-old said: “Obviously, we’ve got to survive because Pochettino isn’t going to come and be Spurs manager in the Championship, but I think this is all geared up to get him in the summer.”

In the meantime, Tudor has been tasked with keeping Tottenham in the top-flight, and what better way to get started than in the North London Derby.

“I think it’s a bit of a risk when I look at the fact that he hasn’t managed in the Premier League,” said O’Hara. “We’re in a relegation scrap. It’s a little bit different if you’re trying to get European football. He knows his way around Europe, I get it.

“We’re in the Champions League, but we are in a relegation fight too. That’s a different set of skills, I think, that you need. That’s why you’ve seen teams go for managers like Sean Dyche and Sam Allardyce in the past.

“I’m not saying we should have gone and got one of them, but it just feels like it’s a risk because it’s an unknown quantity whether he can dig us out of a hole.

“He might do well in Europe. He might be a decent manager. However, I just have a slight worry that he does not have too much experience fighting relegation in the Premier League.”

Tudor has been without a job since October 2025, when he was sacked by Juventus after just 24 games in charge. Before taking the reins in Turin, the Croatian enjoyed brief spells in the dugout a the likes of Lazio, Marseille, and Hellas Verona.

“He’s the interim manager, and obviously, he has some credentials,” said O’Hara. “He’s been at some big clubs. “While it could be worrying that he does not spend too much time at clubs, his main aim will just be picking up wins.”

Tudor helped Marseille and Juventus qualify for the Champions League in 2023 and 2025, respectively, shortly after getting his feet under the table. He also enjoyed a strong finish to the Serie A campaign with Lazio in 2024, securing a place in the Europa League.

O’Hara continued: “From what I’ve seen, he can get results when he first comes in, so if he picks up instant results, then I think that will be fine. It’s a worrying time just because of where we are in the table.

“We’ve got enough decent players in the squad to win enough games. It’s as simple as that, and he will be aware of it to.”

Jamie O’Hara was speaking on behalf of 10bet. Search for 10bet for the latest football betting offers.

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