Ex-Spurs star who played for Roberto De Zerbi this season made thoughts clear on new boss

A former Spurs star has lifted the lid on what it's like playing under Tottenham's new boss Roberto De Zerbi

Former Spurs star Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has given a glowing review of new Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi.

Hojbjerg left north London permanently last summer after an initial season on loan at Marseille, where he linked up with the Italian coach. The former Brighton boss had taken the reins in the summer of 2024.

He left the French giants in February by mutual consent following a 5-0 drubbing by Paris St-Germain and a Champions League exit at the hands of Club Brugge. Hojbjerg was a mainstay in De Zerbi's midfield throughout the 46-year-old's spell at the helm.

Speaking back in November 2025 to Onze Mondial, the Danish star eulogised over his now former boss, and his words will no doubt stoke the flames of excitement in Spurs fans. “I’ve been lucky enough to have coaches like [Pep] Guardiola, José Mourinho, and Antonio Conte. And I put Roberto De Zerbi in the same category," he said.

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"Over the next 20 years, coach De Zerbi is going to contribute enormously to football. And for me, it’s an honour to work with him. The coach… I don’t know how to explain it. He has a connection with the dressing room, he has an emotional relationship with the dressing room, Mourinho had the same thing.

"Roberto De Zerbi has a feel for the dressing room, he understands the atmosphere, he grasps the behaviours, he knows in advance what’s going to happen the next day… (he pauses). Okay, I’ll stop there, otherwise I’ll end up saying too many wonderful things (smiles). It’s an honour to work with such a coach, in any case.”

Hojbjerg's words echo those of Brighton defender Lewis Dunk. The centre-back also spoke glowingly of De Zerbi, suggesting he has changed the way he looks at the game, no doubt whetting Spurs fans' appetites over what's to come.

"I see football in a completely different way, I picture it in a different way and that is the biggest thing," Dunk said in 2023. "Football is not what I thought it was. Just how we play now. The idea of what I did before, I thought it made sense.

"But when you learn something completely different, you believe in it and this makes sense. You think, 'Why didn't I know this?' And, 'Why didn't I do this before?' The style of play, really. Before, I didn't really know about that. It's all about the finer details."

It was reported that De Zerbi wanted to hold off taking the Spurs job until the summer. However, he was convinced to sign on immediately during negotiations with the club hierarchy.

He has now become one of the Premier League's highest-paid managers thanks to a lucrative five-year deal. Fears that the Italian might leave should Spurs face the drop this season have also been quelled by the new head coach.

"I signed five years of contract because, for me, it is a big challenge and I will be the coach of Tottenham next season, no matter what," De Zerbi said upon his announcement.

"Tottenham, especially in this moment, is maybe the the most important challenge in my career - I'm ready to start this challenge. It's a difficult moment for everyone at Tottenham but I think we have the right qualities to come out of this moment."