Indeed, last season was so chaotic in that sense, the appointment of Igor Tudor showcasing how the wrong hire can actually even exacerbate a team's woes.

And yet, with Spurs already out of the Carabao Cup, and having failed to win a Premier League game this season, the heat is cranking up on Roberto De Zerbi.

The Italian demanded full control of proceedings after agreeing to take charge last term, hence why the buck stops with him in terms of the Lilywhites' dismal start to the campaign.

Why Spurs might have made a mistake with De Zerbi hire

There's no denying that De Zerbi has credit in the bank after steering Spurs to safety last season, the club having been nosediving toward relegation when he took charge.

Reports at the time of his appointment hinted that he was set to enjoy almost a 'Sir Alex Ferguson-style' grip on proceedings if he could keep the club up, having since been backed by a £350m+ summer of spending at N17.

It's right to be expecting more after such a mighty outlay, even if the new season is in its infancy, with there still the nagging issue as to whether the Italian has really earned such a show of faith. He's a rather fiery character too...

He was the man to lead Brighton and Hove Albion into Europe in 2022/23, yet things swiftly unravelled in his second season, having ultimately departed amid a falling out with owner Tony Bloom over the Seagulls' transfer policy.

It was a similar, albeit far more turbulent tale at Marseille, the 47-year-old leading the French to a second-place finish in Ligue 1 in his first season, before departing by mutual consent in February 2026 after a string of poor results and off-field issues.

Among the biggest concerns at the Stade Velodrome was just how quickly the polarising coach fell apart, having also struggled to find any sense of consistency in terms of selection, using 49 different players in just 69 games in charge.

He's already used 35 different faces in just 14 games in north London, seemingly a man who brings the chaos rather than does anything to steady the ship.

If Spurs do decide to make a change any time soon, therefore, there are managers on the market who they could look to.

How Spurs could hire Pep Guardiola 2.0

Part of De Zerbi's charm is his previously lauded style of play, although Spurs are yet to see the merits of that approach, having taken until the 86th minute of gameweek five to score a Premier League goal this season.

The players, notably the forward line, are just as culpable for that, yet having overseen a run of games last term, as well as a full pre-season, De Zerbi should seemingly have had enough time to put his ideas across.

There is precedent too for Spurs making a swift change in the dugout, having sacked Nuno Espirito Santo in November 2021, just a matter of months after he'd arrived in north London.

If the question is to turn to who might replace De Zerbi, therefore, one leading candidate might well be Arne Slot, the Dutchman having previously held talks with the Lilywhites back in 2023.

It very much looked like the then-Feyenoord boss would be taking the job, only for a deal to collapse late on, forcing Daniel Levy and co to pivot to Ange Postecoglou instead.

Slot, having won the Eredivisie title in 2022/23, ultimately ended up in English football in 2024, selected as the man to fill Jurgen Klopp's sizeable void at Liverpool.

That type of task has often been an almost impossible one in the modern era, be it replacing Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester, or Arsène Wenger at Liverpool, yet Slot did a more than creditable job, winning the title at the first attempt.

Even finishing fifth last term was no disgrace, albeit with the difference to Klopp in terms of style and personality having been a pertinent issue on Merseyside, as was the failure to kick on after such lavish spending in 2025.

Externally, it does feel as if Slot was somewhat harshly done by, with his title-winning credentials with both the Reds and with Feyenoord suggesting that he would be a wise pick for any potential suitor.

Indeed, by all accounts, the 48-year-old is keen to stay in club football after recent links to the Netherlands job, suggesting that he could be available if Spurs do wish to firm up their prior interest.

He's certainly a highly-rated coach, that's for sure, lauded by Dutch football expert Marcel van der Kraan as being "very similar to Pep Guardiola".

In terms of his career record too, the difference to De Zerbi is stark, with Slot winning the title in both England and Holland, while guiding Feyenoord to the 2022 Conference League final. He also win the KNVB Cup in 2023/24, the Dutch equivalent of the FA Cup.

De Zerbi to date has only secured one 'major' honour, having claimed the Ukrainian Super Cup at Shakhtar Donetsk, with the maverick Italian still a relative unknown quantity in that sense.

It's why the Guardiola-esque Slot might well be the upgrade Spurs are in need of, should they make a change in the near future.