Tottenham Hotspur began the process of appointing a new manager after Thomas Frank was sacked on Wednesday morning following a 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle the previous night.
Similar to Manchester United and some of this season’s big clubs, sources told ESPN that Spurs ideally want to keep an interim coach in place until the end of the 2025-26 season, then choose a more established manager next season. Also, there is still a season left to recover. Spurs’ fall in the league leaves them in 16th place, just five points out of the relegation zone.
There was also the question of the Champions League knockout stages to contend with, with Spurs finishing fourth in the league with five wins from eight games and going straight into the Round of 16.
– Ollie: Spurs’ job was too big for Frank, but the club’s problems run deeper
But who will Spurs turn to immediately and in the summer? Consider their options.
Mauricio Pochettino
Current job: USMNT Manager
Previous managers: Espanyol, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea
Five years after Pochettino first left the club, the stars could finally return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Pochettino will lead the USMNT to the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted this summer, but he has no contract beyond this summer and sources told ESPN he is keen to return to club management.
Tottenham are interested in Pochettino’s return. The Argentine manager had one of the best years in the club’s history, leading a thrilling run to the 2019 Champions League final, where they lost 2-0 to Liverpool. He also helped the team reach the League Cup final in 2015. Featuring the likes of Harry Kane, Heung-min Son, Moussa Dembélé, Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld, the squad remains revered among the club’s fan base.
Sources told ESPN that Pochettino is open to returning to Tottenham if the right conditions are met.
Roberto Di Zerbi
Current job: unemployed
Previous management: Sassuolo, Shakhtar Donetsk, Brighton & Hove Albion, Marseille (and others)
The list of elite coaches available during a season is rarely long, but timing may be on the Spurs’ side. Roberto de Zerbi, who previously enjoyed success with Brighton, resigned as Marseille manager on Tuesday.
Spurs have struggled to recruit coaches in the past – the club tried to hire Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola last summer, but he ignored them – but sources told ESPN that De Zerbi is interested in the role. The Italian manager remains highly regarded at Tottenham and was previously appointed by sporting director Fabio Paratici, who recently left the club.
Marco Silva
Current position: Fulham manager
Previous managers: Estoril, Sporting CP, Olympiakos, Hull City, Watford, Everton
Marco Silva has helped Fulham become a mid-table powerhouse over the last few seasons, and this season is much the same as they finished 12th. However, his contract is set to expire this summer and he has not yet signed an extension. He is expected to be in the slot for Tottenham.
Fulham vice-chairman Tony Khan told British radio station TalkSPORT last week: “We have Marco Silva and he’s done a great job coaching this team. I love working with Marco. This team is going incredibly well.”
“I have a great relationship with Marco. I love working with Marco and I absolutely want Marco to be here for a long time. I think he will be and I believe in that.”
“We’ve got a lot of work to do, we’ve recently made some great signings and we’ve just put in a lot of time… We’re very united as a club and working together. I absolutely believe in the way we all work together and the way we’re all enjoying it.”
Oliver Glasner
Current position: Crystal Palace Manager
Previous managers: SV Josko Ried, LASK Linz, VfL Wolfsburg, Eintracht Frankfurt
Oliver Glasner has had a great run at Crystal Palace – winning the FA Cup last season and qualifying for European football for the first time in the club’s history – but unlike Silva, his future is set in stone. He will definitely leave when his contract expires this summer.
Glasner has publicly (and repeatedly) expressed his dissatisfaction with Palace’s transfer activity this season, angered by the departures of Marc Göhi and Ebelesi Eze. The manager himself will follow them from Selhurst Park in search of a new challenge, but his next move is not yet known.
Like Silva, Mr Glasner is likely to be among the candidates in north London.
Andoni Iraola
Current position: AFC Bournemouth manager
Previous management: AEK Larnaca, Mirandes, Rayo Vallecano
The list of managers who have been linked with Tottenham is long. Near the top of that list last summer was Bournemouth’s Iraola, who has played a key role in the south coast club’s recent promising campaign. Last summer, the Spanish manager turned them down, leaving Tottenham to sign Frank instead. The club will be wary of making the same mistake again.
robbie keene
Current job: Ferencvaros Manager
Previous management: Maccabi Tel Aviv
Manchester United are considering whether to hand over the reins to one of their former players, and Tottenham could do the same. Michael Carrick made 464 appearances for Man United between 2006 and 2018 before returning to Old Trafford, first as first-team coach and then last month as caretaker manager, winning his first four games.
Tottenham will likely consider Robbie Keane for a spot in the dugout. The former Republic of Ireland striker spent two years at the club, scoring 122 goals in 306 games and will be a throwback to yesteryear. But Keene is not a free agent like Carrick. He was appointed manager of Hungarian club Ferencváros in January 2025, and has won 22 out of 37 games in all competitions to date, including advancing to the Europa League finals. However, his other managerial experience is limited to a year at Maccabi Tel Aviv and various assistant coaching jobs at Leeds United, Middlesbrough and Ireland.
John Heitinga
Current position: Tottenham assistant coach
Previous management: Ajax
Heitinga arrived at Tottenham just as Frank’s form was deteriorating. The Dutch manager joined Frank’s staff just three weeks ago amid growing calls from fans for the manager to be sacked. Heitinga may be well placed to lead the club in an interim capacity.
He made an interim appearance at Ajax in 2023, during which time he won 14 of 22 games. He performed well enough to be appointed as the club’s first full-time manager in May 2025, but things did not go to plan. He stayed for only five months and left the club at the bottom of the Champions League.
ryan mason
Current job: unemployed
Previous managers: Tottenham Hotspur (interim, twice) West Bromwich Albion
Is this the case with the third amulet? Mason has already been appointed caretaker manager of Spurs twice, in 2021 and 2023, but for the first time he became the youngest manager in Premier League history (at 29), taking over from Jose Mourinho just before the club lost to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final.
Wouldn’t you know it: Mason is a free agent again, just as the Spurs are looking for a temporary appointment these days. At 34 years old, Mason is still a young coach. He knows the club well as a player, having graduated from the academy and spent eight years in the first team before suffering a fractured skull in a game against Chelsea in January 2017 that ended his career.
His previous tenure as interim manager was short-lived, taking charge of seven games in the first round and six in the second round. He has since spent six months in charge of Championship side West Bromwich Albion, being sacked after just 27 games.
