Who is Tottenham Hotspur's interim manager Igor Tudor?

Igor Tudor will take charge of Tottenham until the end of the season after they decided to appoint an experienced interim head coach to replace Thomas Frank.

The imposing former Croatia and Juventus centre-back emerged as the leading candidate for the role as Spurs reportedly assessed a range of options.

Tudor has been out of work since he left Juventus in October after the Serie A club went eight games without a win.

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Here, DAZN News profiles the vastly-experienced 47-year-old ex-Udinese, Marseille, Juventus and Lazio boss following his interim appointment at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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Background and playing career

Tudor was born in Split in 1978 and came through the ranks at hins hometown club Hajduk Split in the mid-Nineties.

In 1998, he made a career-defining move to Italian giants Juventus, spending the majority of his career and winning several trophies along the way.

Capable of playing either as a defender or defensive midfielder, Tudor was a part of the Croatia national team at Euro 2004, the 2006 and 1998 World Cup, but missed the 2002 World Cup due to injury.

Tudor announced his retirement on 22 July 2008 at age 30, after problems with his right ankle reappeared.

He spent his final season playing for his boyhood club, Hajduk Split, but was considered one of Croatia's best defenders in the period between the late 1990s and mid-2000s.

Standing 6ft 4in, Tudor was noted as an uncompromising centre-half who excelled in the air, making him a dangerous goal threat during set pieces.

He was also a tight man-marker and a hard tackling defender with a great tactical nous who could play across the backline and as a defensive, holding midfielder.

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Managerial career

After hanging up his boots, Tudor returned to Hajduk Split to take charge of them from 2013 to 2015 before spending eight months with PAOK in the 2015–16 season.

In Turkey, he managed Karabükspor from 2016 to 2017, and Galatasaray in 2017 and then, from April to June 2018, Tudor managed Serie A side Udinese, saving the club from relegation to Serie B.

In March 2019, he came back to Udinese and, after he returned to Hajduk in January 2020, Andrea Pirlo invited Tudor to join his coaching staff at Juventus in August 2020.

Tudor then took charge of Marseille in 2022 before leaving the club after one season in 2023.

In March 2024, he returned to Serie A and was appointed as manager of Lazio before resigning at the end of the season.

In March 2025, Tudor returned to Juventus in the position of manager but was sacked in October after a poor start to the season.

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Coaching style

Tudor is known for adopting an aggressive style of play in his teams and that could be precisely what Tottenham need.

Describing his preferred style of play whilst manager of Marseille, he said: “I want courageous and intensive football, not only uniquely based on the defence.

“I want people who come to the stadium to be entertained and not disappointed.”

What will he bring to Spurs?

Tudor will take charge of a Tottenham side who are struggling for confidence and wobbling alarmingly.

Having axed Thomas Frank following their midweek home defeat to Newcastle, Spurs lie just five points above the drop zone and in serious danger of being relegated.

Tudor’s renowned defensive strength – first as a player and latterly as a manager – is a quality he must seek to transmit to a Tottenham team who have conceded 37 goals in 26 Premier League games this season.

Spurs host bitter rivals Arsenal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the Premier League on Sunday, 22 February (16:30 GMT) in what will be Tudor’s first game in charge.

Then they make the trip to Craven Cottage to take on Fulham on 1 March (14:00) as Tudor bids to guide them away from relegation danger.

Tudor will hope to have a shot at earning the job on a permanent basis if he proves a success.

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