Roberto De Zerbi ‘admired by Tottenham’ and wants Premier League job | Football | Sport

Roberto De Zerbi has left Marseille by mutual consent following a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain. But he appears to already be plotting his next job, according to reports. The Italian spent less than two years in Ligue 1 after leaving Brighton at the end of the 2024-25 Premier League season.

A mutual agreement saw De Zerbi depart the Seagulls after leading them to their highest-ever finish of sixth and to the Europa League last 16. Marseille finished second under the 46-year-old last year but are fourth and 12 points adrift of PSG at the time of his exit, and out of the Champions League after being thrashed by Club Brugge. And according to talkSPORT, though he is only recently unattached, De Zerbi is now keen to return to England. It is claimed De Zerbi was already preparing to leave the French giants upon the expiry of his contract in the summer. And it is added that he is admired by Tottenham, who may soon have a managerial vacancy with Thomas Frank under increasing pressure.

Spurs lost 2-1 to Newcastle last night, their 15th defeat under Frank across all competitions since he took charge last June. The loss leaves the north London club sat 16th and only five points above West Ham in 18th. Nottingham Forest, in between the two, can match Spurs on 29 points tonight if they beat basement dwellers Wolves.

That leaves Frank on the precipice, with an 11-day break between now and the next match, at home to league leaders Arsenal. De Zerbi is now a free agent and was looked at by former Spurs chairman Daniel Levy before Frank’s appointment.

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But the Dane, 52, insists he remains confident he will be in the dugout against the Gunners. Frank said: “Yeah, I am convinced I will be. I understand the question. It is easy to point on me but it is never only the head coach, ownership, players or staff. It is everyone.

“Everyone knows what position we are in and what we need to improve on. That is what we are working hard on.” He added: “I understand the fans’ frustration. It’s a position they don’t want to be in. We are working day and night to try and change. It’s a position the club have been in the last two years.

“The pattern is that the club are struggling to compete in Europe and the Premier League. One thousand per cent [I believe I’m the man for the job]. I’m also one thousand per cent sure I didn’t expect us to be in the position we are in with 11 to 12 injuries.

“There are a few before me up here at Tottenham and many other clubs that have lost their head. I have to stay calm. We have to get through this together.”

While Marseille’s statement confirming De Zerbi’s immediate departure read: “Olympique de Marseille and Roberto De Zerbi, coach of the first team, have announced the end of their collaboration by mutual agreement.

“Following discussions between all stakeholders in the club’s management—the owner, president, director of football, and coach -it was decided to make a change at the helm of the first team. This was a difficult collective decision, taken after careful consideration in the best interests of the club, in order to respond to the sporting challenges of the end of the season.

“Olympique de Marseille would like to thank Roberto De Zerbi for his dedication, commitment, professionalism, and seriousness, which were particularly evident in the team’s second-place finish in the 2024/25 season. The club wishes him all the best for the rest of his career.”

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