Revealed: Roberto de Zerbi misses out on top three as supporters favour World Cup winners for Tottenham Hotspur boss in fan vote

Spurs could find themselves in the relegation zone before De Zerbi’s first match at Sunderland on Sunday, if West Ham record a win over Wolves on Friday night.

The Italian will be keen to get off to the perfect start, but was he the first-choice candidate among supporters for the job?

TNT Sports asked fans who should lead the charge at the north London club and there were some surprising names who were more popular than De Zerbi.

”I have a big responsibility, but it is a big challenge for me and I look forward to starting and working with the players, and to win some games,” he said in his first words as Spurs boss.

”I believe in the players, I think we have to remember who we are and who the players are, because we have very big players and we have to work on their confidence and their qualities.

”I signed a five-year contract because for me, it is a big challenge and I will be the coach of Tottenham next season no matter what.”

But are supporters happy with the appointment?

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According to the TNT Sports poll which simply asked fans “yes” or “no” in favour of appointing each manager, the Italian received the support of 49% of fans, which saw him miss out on a place in the top three.

De Zerbi was pipped to those spots by a World Cup-winning duo who have zero experience of managing in the Premier League, although one of them did ply his trade in the English top flight.

In the vote, 58% of fans were in favour of appointing former Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez, which saw him earn a third-placed spot.

Xavi’s former international team-mate Xabi Alonso finished in second place after earning 60% of the positive votes.

Alonso has endured an eventful start to his managerial career. The midfield icon led Bayer Leverkusen to the first league title of the club’s history after enjoying an unbeaten campaign.

When it comes to the fans’ favourite for the Spurs job, few will be shocked to learn the winner was Mauricio Pochettino.

The Argentine remains a popular figure among the Spurs fanbase despite his recent spell with bitter rivals Chelsea during the 2023/24 season.

During his five years at the club, Spurs qualified for the UEFA Champions League four times and reached the final in 2019, where they suffered defeat at the hands of Liverpool in Madrid. They also finished second in the Premier League in the 2016/17 season.

But Pochettino was sacked by the club in November 2019.

“I miss the world of football in England. I love ​the country, its culture, the football culture,” Pochettino explained.

“For anyone with a competitive spirit who ​wants to measure themselves against others and test their abilities, it’s the ideal ​place. You have to constantly give your best.”

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Oliver Glasner completes the top five, with the current Crystal Palace boss receiving 45% of the vote.

The Austrian will become unattached this summer after confirming his departure from Selhurst Park at the end of the season.

Glasner will go down as a club legend after leading Palace to FA Cup glory for the first time in the club’s history, which was followed by winning the Community Shield at the start of this season.

Gareth Southgate (43%), Enzo Maresca (42%), Harry Redknapp (39%), Andoni Iraola (35%) and Ruben Amorim (31%) completed the top 10 list of preferred candidates for the Spurs job.

Can the fans’ fourth choice in De Zerbi become the number one for Spurs avoiding relegation this season? Only time will tell.

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