Tottenham have struck a deal with former Juventus boss Igor Tudor to take over until the end of the season.
Former Croatia international defender Tudor, 47, fits the Spurs brief with vast experience and a reputation for making an impact at short notice.
He is expected to be in the role by the time the players return on Monday for training for the first time since Thomas Frank was sacked.
If he can provide the bounce that would lift them clear of the relegation battle he will be a candidate for the job on a permanent basis in the summer.
Former Juventus and Croatia defender Tudor has been a manager since 2013 but has worked in 12 jobs in the last 11 years – at Hajduk Split (twice), PAOK, Karabukspor, Galatasaray, Udinese (twice), Hellas Verona, Marseille, Lazio, Juventus and now Tottenham.
Spurs chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange, who have led the search, want to consider a wider pool of candidates in the summer for the next permanent head coach.
Frank was sacked on Wednesday, less than 12 hours after a defeat at home to Newcastle.
Former Juventus manager Igor Tudor is taking the Tottenham job until the end of the season
Thomas Frank was sacked by the north London club after Tottenham’s 2-1 defeat by Newcastle
Spurs sit precariously at 16th place in the table, with 11 defeats from 26 league matches so far
Venkatesham and Lange have no margin for error in the first managerial appointment since Daniel Levy was ousted as the club’s executive chairman.
Spurs are five points clear of the relegation zone. Their next game is at home to Arsenal on Sunday week, by which time West Ham will have closed the gap to two points if they beat Bournemouth at home, 24 hours before the North London Derby.
Tudor was sacked by Juventus in October after seven months at the helm. He replaced Thiago Motta and led Juve to finish fourth in Serie A and qualify for the Champions League.
But things turned sour this season and he lost four straight matches without his team scoring a goal before his reign was abruptly ended.
Spurs have lost a strong network of football connections with the exit of Levy in September and co sporting director Fabio Paratici, earlier this month.
Former RB Leipzig boss Marco Rose and ex-Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic were among the names being linked to the job prior to Tudor’s appointment.
Rose was fired by Leipzig in March after two-and-a-half years which included winning the German Cup in 2023. He has also coached Borussia Dortmund, Borussia Monchengladbach and RB Salzburg.
Terzic, a former West Ham coach, quit Dortmund after leading them to the Champions League final in 2024.
Former RB Leipzig boss Marco Rose (left) and ex-Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic (right) were among the names being linked to the job prior to Tudor’s appointment
Roberto De Zerbi, who left Marseille this week, was ignored because of his combustibility
Meanwhile Roberto De Zerbi, another manager linked to the Spurs vacancy after his exit from Marseille this week, was ignored by Tottenham because of his combustibility in previous roles.
There were also concerns about his role in enabling Mason Greenwood to repair his career after leaving Manchester United in disgrace.
Tudor, who chalked up 55 caps as a player, has tended to adopt an aggressive and attacking brand of football during his managerial career.
During his 11-month spell at Marseille in 2022-23, the Italian said: ‘I want courageous and intensive football, not only uniquely based on the defence. I want people who come to the stadium to be entertained and not disappointed.’