Key Points
- Tottenham Hotspur have parted ways with head coach Thomas Frank following an eight-game winless run in the Premier League, leaving the club in 16th place and five points above the relegation zone.
- Frank’s dismissal was confirmed last Wednesday after a 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle United, marking just two wins in his side’s last 17 league matches.
- Johnny Heitinga, the former Everton defender and recent assistant to Frank appointed on 15 January 2026, was considered for the interim role but not selected.
- Heitinga joined Tottenham after Matt Wells departed for the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer (MLS); he had prior experience with David Moyes at West Ham United and Arne Slot at Liverpool, plus a brief, unsuccessful stint as Ajax head coach in 2025.
- Igor Tudor, the 47-year-old Croatian dubbed “Antonio Conte-lite,” has been appointed interim head coach until the end of the 2025/26 season, subject to work permit, with a mandate to stabilise the squad and avoid relegation—the first since 1977.
- Tudor has finalised his coaching staff, potentially including Javoric as coach, Cardo Ragnacci as physical coach, and Tomislav Rogic as goalkeeping coach, pending approvals; Fabian Otte remains goalkeeping coach, alongside set-piece coach Andreas Georgson and others.
- Departing with Frank are coaches Justin Edwin, John Hea (likely Heitinga), head of performance Chris Haslam, and first-team analyst Joe Newton.
- Tudor, a former Juventus player and Croatia international, was out of work since October 2025 after his Juventus sacking; previous roles include Marseille (third in Ligue 1 2022/23), Lazio (Europa League qualification), Galatasaray, and Udinese.
- In a club statement on Tottenham’s official site, Tudor said: “It is an honour to join this Club at an important moment. I understand the responsibility I have been handed and my focus is clear. To bring greater consistency to our performances and compete with conviction in every match. There is strong quality in this playing squad, and my job is to organise it, energise it and improve our results quickly.”
- Sporting Director Johan Lange stated: “Igor brings clarity, intensity and experience of stepping into challenging moments and producing impact. Our objective is straightforward – to stabilise performances, maximise the quality within the squad and compete strongly in the Premier League and Champions League.”
Tottenham Hotspur, (North London News) February 18, 2026 – Tottenham Hotspur have officially confirmed significant coaching changes, with new interim head coach Igor Tudor beginning work immediately after the club parted ways with Thomas Frank amid a perilous Premier League campaign.
The Croatian’s arrival comes as Spurs sit precariously in 16th position, advancing in the Champions League but staring down the barrel of relegation for the first time since 1977.
Tudor steps into a high-pressure environment, tasked with arresting a slide that saw Frank sacked following an eight-game winless streak (four draws, four losses), their longest since 2008 under Juande Ramos.
Why Did Tottenham Sack Thomas Frank?
Thomas Frank’s tenure at Tottenham unravelled dramatically, culminating in his dismissal last Wednesday after just seven months in charge.
As detailed by ESPN’s coverage,
“Results and performances have led the board to conclude that a change at this point in the season is necessary,”
with Spurs taking only 11 points from their last 17 league games.
The final straw was a 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle United on Tuesday, extending the winless run to eight matches and piling pressure on the Dane, as reported in Gazeta Express.
Frank’s project, which promised stability, instead flirted with disaster, leaving Tottenham hovering near the drop zone, according to beIN Sports.
Who Is Johnny Heitinga and His Role in This?
Johnny Heitinga was drafted in as Frank’s assistant on 15 January 2026, nearly a month after Matt Wells left for the Colorado Rapids in MLS.
The former Ajax and Everton defender, who worked under David Moyes at West Ham United and Arne Slot at Liverpool during their title-winning campaign, brought head coaching experience despite a brief, unsuccessful spell as Ajax boss in 2025.
ESPN confirmed Heitinga’s appointment, noting his two interim stints at Ajax in 2023 and 2025, where he was dismissed after five months amid struggles.
Regarded as a “safeish bet” for the interim role due to his short time at the club and lack of entanglement with Frank’s “penchant for mediocrity,” Heitinga was ultimately overlooked in favour of Tudor.
Coaches Justin Edwin, John Hea (understood as Heitinga), Chris Haslam, and Joe Newton are departing alongside Frank.
What Is Igor Tudor’s Background?
Igor Tudor, 47, arrives with a reputation for short-term stabilisations, having been out of work since his October 2025 sacking by Juventus.
A Serie A title-winner as a Juventus player and Croatia international, Tudor’s managerial CV includes leading Marseille to third in Ligue 1 2022/23 for Champions League qualification, and strong finishes at Lazio (Europa League spot after taking over from Maurizio Sarri in March 2024, winning five of nine games) and Juventus (fourth place and Champions League from fifth).
Sky Sports’ Patrick Kendrick highlighted Tudor’s preference for a defensive 3-4-2-1 formation, fitting his track record at Galatasaray, Udinese, Hajduk Split, Hellas Verona, and others.
The Guardian noted Tudor’s immediate improvements at Lazio and Juventus mid-season, despite no Premier League experience raising fan concerns.
Football.london sources indicate Tudor has finalised his staff: Javoric (coach), Cardo Ragnacci (physical coach), Tomislav Rogic (goalkeeping coach, pending permits); Fabian Otte stays, as do set-piece coach Andreas Georgson and academy transition coach Campbell Lewis.
What Did Key Figures Say About the Changes?
In Tottenham’s official announcement, Tudor emphasised:
“It is an honour to join this club at an important moment. I understand the responsibility I have been handed and my focus is clear. To bring greater consistency to our performances and compete with conviction in every match. There is strong quality in this playing squad, and my job is to organise it, energise it and improve our results quickly.”
Sporting Director Johan Lange added:
“Igor brings clarity, intensity and experience of stepping into challenging moments and producing impact. Our objective is straightforward – to stabilise performances, maximise the quality within the squad and compete strongly in the Premier League and Champions League.”
Sky Sports quoted Tim Sherwood on Soccer Saturday:
“If he beats Arsenal in the first game, everything’s happy… The downside is so catastrophic, would you want your fingerprints all over Tottenham getting relegated?”
Paul Merson remarked:
“They’ve got to start playing like Arsenal play – they’ve got to come from a base and nick a point here… So they’ll stay up, but they have to get it right next time.”
Reddit discussions via OptaJoe highlighted fan concerns:
“Since October, they’ve only secured two victories,”
with comments on the Kane and Son goal drought exacerbating issues.
What Are Tottenham’s Upcoming Challenges?
Tudor’s first test is Arsenal at home on 22 February, live on Sky Sports, followed by Fulham (a), Crystal Palace (h), Liverpool (a), Champions League last-16 first leg, and Nottingham Forest (h).
Spurs advanced to the Champions League last 16 despite league woes, adding pressure to balance domestic survival with European progress.
With no obvious long-term candidates emerging post-Frank, Tudor must steady the ship, as the club eyes a summer successor.
This shake-up reflects Tottenham’s desperation to harness squad quality amid a toxic atmosphere, as Sherwood noted, with fans disgruntled by results.
