The words “farewell, Roberto De Zerbi” would send a serious shockwave through Tottenham Hotspur, but there is an important reality check before the speculation runs wild: De Zerbi is currently still in charge. The Italian coach is preparing Spurs for the 2026/27 campaign, and Tottenham’s own updates show that he remains deeply involved in the club’s rebuilding project.
That’s exactly why the idea of his sudden departure would be so dramatic. De Zerbi only arrived in March on a long-term contract, taking over with seven Premier League matches remaining and helping Tottenham secure their top-flight status with 11 points from those final seven games.
Now, the situation looks completely different. Rather than preparing to leave, De Zerbi has been working on creating a new Tottenham side capable of competing much higher up the Premier League table. His message during pre-season has been clear: Spurs need more quality, stronger organisation and, above all, a team with personality.
“I think Tottenham deserve to compete for the top of the Premier League,” De Zerbi said during his first major interview of the new campaign. He also admitted that he feels a major responsibility to give supporters results and pride.
That makes any suggestion of a farewell particularly intriguing. Tottenham have spent much of the summer reshaping the squad around their new coach, bringing in experienced players who fit the direction De Zerbi wants to take. Andy Robertson arrived from Liverpool, Marcos Senesi joined from Bournemouth, and Martin Dubravka was added to strengthen the goalkeeping department.
The biggest statement of the rebuild, however, came with the arrival of Sandro Tonali. The Italy international midfielder joined Spurs from Newcastle United and has already spoken enthusiastically about working with De Zerbi, describing his first serious conversation with the coach as “close to magic.”
Those additions tell their own story. Tottenham aren’t behaving like a club preparing to abandon De Zerbi’s project. They’re building around it.
De Zerbi himself has made that ambition impossible to miss. He explained that the immediate objective is not simply to add talented players, but to create a squad with “soul” and “passion.” For a manager taking responsibility for a club that narrowly avoided a difficult situation last season, that represents a major change in expectations.
The transformation has also extended beyond the playing squad. Tottenham recently brought Andrew Crofts onto De Zerbi’s coaching staff as Assistant Head Coach, reuniting the pair after their previous time together at Brighton. Bruno Saltor and Andreas Georgson are also part of the coaching structure, alongside several other specialists.
And that could be one of the most important details of all. Clubs don’t normally build an expanded coaching structure and reshape an entire squad around a manager if they are preparing to say goodbye to him.
There is still pressure, of course. Tottenham supporters won’t judge De Zerbi solely on the rescue job he completed last season. The real examination begins when competitive football returns, with Spurs scheduled to open their Premier League campaign away to Brentford on August 22.
That opening fixture could therefore become an early indicator of whether the new Tottenham project is moving in the direction De Zerbi promised.
The Italian knows the expectations are enormous. He has inherited a club that wants to compete near the top of English football, and he has already acknowledged that simply surviving is no longer enough.
So, despite the dramatic “farewell” headline, the evidence currently points in the opposite direction. Roberto De Zerbi isn’t preparing to walk away from Tottenham — he’s preparing for one of the most important seasons of his coaching career.
But football can change quickly. A poor run, dressing-room problems, disagreements over recruitment or a breakdown in the relationship between manager and club could alter the picture in an instant.
For now, though, the real story isn’t De Zerbi saying goodbye to Tottenham.
It’s De Zerbi trying to build a Tottenham side that finally gives supporters something much bigger to celebrate.
