Spurs legend offered himself up for Tottenham job before Igor Tudor was sacked

Lewis Henderson
Wed, 29 Apr 2026 13:45:34 +0000

Tottenham legend Glenn Hoddle has revealed that he offered himself for the Spurs managerial job before Igor Tudor was sacked.

The 68-year-old said that he and Ossie Ardiles approached Spurs following their humiliating 3-0 home loss to Nottingham Forest, a result that ultimately sealed Tudor's fate after a dismal seven-match spell yielding just a single point.

He told the Jeff Stelling Show: "Ossie and myself, after the Forest game, we felt there was a real problem there.

"Ossie and I made it clear that we would go in there if they wanted us to go in there."

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Hoddle's connection to Tottenham runs deep, having made 490 appearances for the club during a 12-year playing career spanning 1975 to 1987.

He was in the dugout at White Hart Lane, managing the side from 2001 to 2003 and guiding them to the League Cup final in 2002, where they lost to Blackburn Rovers.

His tenure concluded in September 2003 after consecutive mid-table finishes, and his most recent managerial position was with Wolves, ending in July 2006.

Since then, Hoddle has primarily worked as a television pundit.

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Ardiles also holds legendary status at the club but experienced a brief and turbulent spell as manager, lasting just over a year before being dismissed in October 1994.

Hoddle expressed his belief that the club required emotional investment and a unifying presence during their crisis.

"It looked to me as if it needed some love; it needed some people to go in there and unite the fans," he explained.

Despite the rejection, the former England manager harboured no resentment towards the decision.

He said: "I'm a Spurs man through and through since eight years of age.

"So as long as they've got the right man in... De Zerbi has gone in, and everyone's got to unite and get together.

"But they've got a real task on their hands haven't they? I just want them to stay up."

De Zerbi now faces a daunting challenge to preserve Tottenham's top-flight status, with the club sitting two points adrift of safety as the season enters its final stretch.

The Italian has won one, drawn one and lost one in his opening three games in charge.

Four crucial fixtures remain for Spurs to secure their survival and avoid an unprecedented relegation from the Premier League.

They face a testing trip to Aston Villa on Sunday before hosting Leeds at home.

The campaign concludes with matches against Chelsea and Everton, with every game a must-win for Tottenham.