De Zerbi's support of Greenwood could cost him the Tottenham job
Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 29.03.26. | 14:38
Spurs' fan groups push back on the Italian's appointment
Three Tottenham Hotspur supporters' groups have spoken out against the club pursuing Roberto De Zerbi as their next head coach, citing the Italian's public backing of Mason Greenwood.
Proud Lilywhites, the official LGBTQ+ Spurs supporters' association, Women of the Lane, the women-focused fan group, and Spurs Reach, which represents fans from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, all released statements urging the club to consider its values in any managerial appointment.
People familiar with the discussions, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that Spurs are exploring De Zerbi, who left Marseille by mutual consent in February, as a possible replacement for Igor Tudor. The former Brighton coach has publicly supported Greenwood during their time together at Marseille, shortly after the forward joined the Ligue 1 club in July 2024.
Greenwood has not played for Manchester United since his 2022 arrest on charges of attempted rape, assault, and coercive control. The UK Crown Prosecution Service later discontinued the case, citing the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material, though Greenwood has consistently denied all allegations.
Despite the interest from Tottenham, sources suggest De Zerbi may prefer to wait until the end of the season before returning to football.
In their statements, fan groups stressed the wider implications of appointing a manager who has defended a player linked to serious allegations. Proud Lilywhites said:
"The manager plays a huge role in setting standards - shaping how people feel, who feels welcome, and what behaviour is seen as acceptable. When someone publicly defends a player like Mason Greenwood in a way that downplays the seriousness of what happened, it matters. We are not asking for perfection, but for accountability, transparency, and leadership that reflects the values this club claims to stand for."
Women of the Lane echoed these concerns, highlighting that leadership choices send a clear message about the club’s culture:
"De Zerbi's comments downplay the seriousness of male violence against women and girls. Who a club appoints sends a signal about what is expected, tolerated, and how people are treated. Spurs should not make this appointment - it introduces cultural risk without a proven track record to justify it."
Spurs Reach added:
"Framing serious allegations in a defensive or minimising way risks normalising harmful attitudes, diminishing survivors’ experiences, and sending a concerning message about what is tolerated in football."
Tottenham's current head coach, Igor Tudor, has taken just one point from five league games since replacing Thomas Frank, leaving the club one point above the relegation zone with seven matches remaining.