Tottenham have appointed Roberto De Zerbi as head coach on a five-year deal following the sacking of Igor Tudor.
Spurs sit just one point above the Premier League relegation zone and have seven matches left to preserve their top-flight status.
De Zerbi’s first game in the dugout will be Sunderland away on April 12.
The Italian, previously in charge at Brighton and Marseille, becomes Tottenham’s third manager of a turbulent season.
De Zerbi excited by Spurs project
“I am delighted to be joining this fantastic football club, which is one of the biggest and most prestigious in the world,” De Zerbi told the club’s website.
“In all my discussions with the club’s leadership, their ambition for the future has been clear – to build a team capable of reaching great achievements and to do that playing a style of football that excites and inspires our supporters.
“I am here because I believe in that ambition and have signed a long-term contract to give everything to deliver it.
“Our short-term priority is to climb the Premier League table, which will be the complete focus until the final whistle of the last game of the season.”
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Favoured choice for head coach role
De Zerbi was the club’s top choice for head coach thanks to his Premier League experience and attacking style of play.
The 46-year-old was initially hesitant about joining mid-season, especially after leaving Marseille earlier this year, but decided that the opportunity was too good to pass up.
Tottenham sporting director Johan Lange said the club are delighted to finally secure their man after failing to bring him in when Thomas Frank was sacked in February.
“He is one of the most creative and forward-thinking coaches in world football and brings with him a wealth of experience at the highest level, including in the Premier League,” Lange noted.
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Merson: Tottenham signing a ‘top manager’
Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson gave his thoughts on the appointment, saying: “I was quite bullish about Tottenham staying up and then after the Nottingham Forest game, you’re like: ‘Wow, they’re in real trouble.’
“It just shows you what a big club Tottenham is.
“I know they’re struggling at the moment, but to get someone like De Zerbi – who’s a top, top manager – to get him to come to the club just tells you everything about how big Tottenham is. So they’ve got a chance now.
“I don’t care how much money he gets. Whatever he gets, if he keeps them up, it’s the best money they’ve ever, ever, ever spent.
“He wanted to come in at the start of next season, he’s going to come in now, so they have to throw the kitchen sink at him. They have to. They can’t afford to go down.”
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