New Tottenham boss Igor Tudor made feelings clear on Liverpool star before transfer

It was reported that new Tottenham boss Igor Tudor was interested in signing Liverpool defender Giovanni Leoni when he was still the Juventus manager last summer

New Tottenham boss Igor Tudor(Image: Mondadori Portfolio/Archivio Massimo Insabato/Massimo Insabato)

Tottenham confirmed a somewhat surprising appointment this week as Igor Tudor was installed as an interim managerial replacement for the fired Thomas Frank.

Frank's removal certainly did not come as a surprise, after he presided over an abysmal sequence of results – only Burnley and Wolves have picked up fewer points than Spurs over the last 20 Premier League games.

But few had Tudor down as a possible next manager for the London club, and his appointment has raised eyebrows with a lot of people. One of those people was Spurs legend Teddy Sheringham, who expressed his shock at his old club's decision.

"I can’t believe it," Sheringham said. "I really cannot believe this appointment. Has he got any experience with the Premier League?

"Yes, proven manager with different clubs, Marseille, Juventus, yes, I hear it. What do they want to win the Champions League? Is that what they’re bringing him in for? I cannot believe this.

"They’re in a relegation battle in the Premier League. Does he know anything about who they’ve got to play in the next few games? Does he know anything about Brentford? Does he know anything about Aston Villa? Does he know anything?

"Yes, he’s going to understand football, but does he know anything about the Premier League? This game is going to hit him fast.

Spurs boss Tudor reportedly wanted to sign Giovanni Leoni for Juventus last summer

“Arsenal probably are licking their lips now in this and got them in 10 days’ time. I’m flabbergasted that they’ve gone for a name that does not and will not have an idea of what’s going to hit him in the Premier League in the next six weeks.

“It’d be miraculous if they get anything out of the game against Arsenal. That puts them under even more pressure.

"I think, off the top of my head, they’ve got Chelsea just after that as well, which they will love it even more to rub it in our faces to make sure that we don’t get anything out of that. I am... Wow.

“Who makes these decisions, so I’m not... I can’t have it. I can’t have it. This puts even more pressure on the situation. I am going to be glued to that game to see what happens next week against Arsenal. Wow, shocked me."

One thing that Tudor seemingly does know about, though, is top defensive talent, after it was reported in Italy last summer that Tudor was personally interested in signing Giovanni Leoni when he was the Juventus manager.

Leoni was attracting interest from a host of top clubs in Italy, including Juve and both Milan clubs, but the teenager ended up joining Liverpool.

However, unfortunately for the Reds, he sustained a serious knee injury in September, and he is unlikely to be seen in a red shirt again until next season.