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New Tottenham manager Igor Tudor is preparing for a baptism of fire against rivals Arsenal but is used to arriving at teams mid-season
Igor Tudor has been appointed as Tottenham's head coach until the end of the season. And an Italian football expert knows what fans can expect after the manager's brief spells with Juventus and Lazio.
After Thomas Frank's position became untenable, Tudor was installed to fight the fire until this campaign's end. Spurs sit dangerously close to the relegation places, and their next Premier League match is a daunting North London derby at home against rivals Arsenal.
The Croatian has never managed in England before, but is experienced in taking over sides mid-season. His last position came in Turin, where he tasted early success before faltering at the beginning of this term.
Daniele Fisichella, an expert in Italian football, witnessed Tudor's methods with both Juventus and Lazio, another of his recent teams. While many supporters may not have heard of the 47-year-old before his appointment, Fisichella thinks things will go swimmingly.
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Fisichella exclusively told football.london: "It's a great chance for him. It's a chance to go to the best league in the world, midway through the season, to a team that needs an identity and needs a proverbial kick on the backside, which I'm sure he's going to give them.
"He's a manager who is very direct. He's very honest, open, sometimes perhaps even too much if you like. He always speaks his mind. He might come across as a little bit brash, but I don't think he will sit on the fence.
"This is a man who can fix you a problem. At Juventus last year, he came in in March and achieved the results. He qualified them for the Champions League, which was what he needed to do. This was in nine games, only losing one.
"When he came to Lazio, they were a team that was doing a slow build-up, keep possession, keep the ball, the players perhaps were not as aggressive. In only a few games he managed to transform Lazio into a much more proactive and pressing side."
Tudor's time with Juventus did not end harmoniously. He was sacked in October last year after an eight-game winless run. But Fisichella thinks there was a reason for this downfall.
He added: "There have been some issues with him as well, but I think maybe in the end he was given a bad hand. He wanted Juventus to buy a playmaker in the summer and they didn't.
"We also have to say that this season, when Tudor was in charge, Juventus had a very, very tough run of fixtures. The expectations perhaps were a bit high, although I think he didn't help himself with some choices and a bit of confusion."
What success will look like for the new Spurs boss remains to be seen. His side are still in the Champions League and although winning that would be a tall order, Fisichella does not rule out Tottenham progressing further in the competition.
"If the aim is to win the Champions League, well, I think Tudor might struggle with that," he said. "Although potentially there could be a tie with Galatasaray or Juventus in the last 16, so maybe it is not impossible for them to progress."
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