Roberto De Zerbi is set to begin his new manager job at Tottenham, as the Italian looks to help Spurs avoid relegation and stay in the Premier League. The deal is said to be a massive one for the former Marseille coach, with Spurs reportedly now making him the third-highest paid manager in the Premier League, only behind Arsenal's Mikel Arteta and Man City's Pep Guardiola. There are also reports that De Zerbi will have total control over football operations at the club, similar to the power enjoyed by Sir Alex Ferguson during his legendary stint at Manchester United.
Let us now analyse his coaching style, and also look back at the last time when he was part of the Premier League when he managed Brighton.
Roberto De Zerbi: looking at his tactics and style of management
Roberto De Zerbi is known for his attacking, possession-based style that focuses on building play patiently from the back rather than relying on quick counter-attacks. His teams often use a 4–2–3–1 formation with a deep double pivot in midfield and an aggressive high press when out of possession.
A key feature of his system is using the goalkeeper almost like an extra centre-back, helping the team play out from the back. This allows full-backs to push high and wide, stretching the opposition. Meanwhile, attacking players like the striker and number 10 constantly interchange positions to exploit spaces created when opponents press. His players are also encouraged to stay calm under pressure and are comfortable receiving the ball deep in their own half.
In build-up play, De Zerbi’s teams adapt their shape depending on the situation. During slower build-ups, they use a structured setup that creates width through wingers and midfield control through central players. When building higher up the pitch, they shift into more attacking shapes to overload the midfield and disrupt the opponent’s defensive structure, often creating one-on-one chances out wide or numerical advantages centrally.
Overall, his approach is flexible, intelligent, and focused on controlling the game through positioning and movement. His style has earned widespread praise, with top managers like Pep Guardiola calling him one of the most influential coaches of the past two decades.
De Zerbi's time as Brighton Manager
Roberto De Zerbi took charge of Brighton & Hove Albion in September 2022, replacing Graham Potter and quickly making an impact in the Premier League. His first game ended in an entertaining 3–3 draw against Liverpool, setting the tone for his attacking and fearless approach. Although he initially faced mixed results, including an early home defeat to Tottenham, he soon secured an impressive 4–1 win over Chelsea, showing his ability to compete with top sides.
During his debut season, De Zerbi led Brighton to several memorable moments. They enjoyed a strong run against Liverpool, reached the FA Cup semi-finals, and pushed for European qualification. Despite some controversies involving refereeing decisions and touchline incidents, he kept the team focused. Brighton eventually secured a historic top-seven finish, qualifying for European competition for the first time in the club’s history—an achievement De Zerbi described as one of the club’s greatest milestones.
The 2023–24 season started brightly, with strong league performances and Brighton’s first-ever European campaign. While they initially struggled in Europe, they soon found form, earning notable results including a win over Ajax and progressing to the knockout stages. However, their domestic form became inconsistent due to a long list of injuries to key players, which disrupted momentum.
De Zerbi also faced challenges off the pitch, including frustration with refereeing standards and disagreements with the club over transfer strategy. Despite guiding Brighton to the Europa League knockout rounds, their season ended without further silverware or European qualification for the following year.
In May 2024, De Zerbi and Brighton mutually agreed to part ways after two memorable seasons. Despite the split, his tenure is widely regarded as transformative, having elevated Brighton’s playing style, competitiveness, and status in English and European football.
Will Roberto De Zerbi save Spurs from relegation?
This is one of those risky managerial appointments that could either end up as a masterstroke or either a complete disaster. De Zerbi plays an attacking style of football that Tottenham are traditionally known to be playing, that would be a major boost for the fans as well after being frustrated with the defensive style of Thomas Frank. However, Spurs are in a tricky situation right now, and whether De Zerbi can get them out of the relegation zone remains to be seen. The Italian is known to have a short-tempered personality as well. Whether that would make the current Spurs players perform better or not remains to be seen.
It is too early to conclude if De Zerbi is the guy that can help Spurs stay in the Premier League. We'll have to wait and see how the club performs in his first few games in-charge, and that would probably give us an indication if Tottenham will end up in the Premier League or Championship next season.
