Spurs on the Brink of Crisis: De Zerbi Under Threat, Slot and McKenna Emerge as Replacement Candidates

Pressure on Roberto De Zerbi at Tottenham Hotspur has intensified sharply after a string of poor results at the start of the 2026/27 season. The north London club has yet to win a single match in the Premier League and has already been knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Liverpool, triggering serious questions about the direction of the project the management has built.

These repeated failures are not merely a matter of tactics. De Zerbi, brought in with high expectations, has received far greater financial backing than his predecessor, Ange Postecoglou. Yet instead of showing progress, Spurs' performances are seen as having regressed. The ENIC management, known for being pragmatic and unafraid to make tough decisions—as shown by the dismissal of Postecoglou shortly after he delivered a European trophy—is now under scrutiny to determine its next move.

The name Kieran McKenna has surfaced after the former Spurs academy coach was seen at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. McKenna, currently out of work after leaving Ipswich Town, is said to be open to talks with club officials. His presence in the stands is a signal that replacement options are being mapped out seriously.

However, one name draws more attention: Arne Slot. The Dutch coach was once the leading candidate for the Spurs job in 2023 before ultimately choosing to stay at Feyenoord. When Liverpool offered him the job a year later, he could not refuse. Slot himself admitted that his decision to turn down Spurs at the time was 99 percent influenced by family factors. "I would have been happy to go to Spurs, because who goes straight from Feyenoord to Tottenham, but when Liverpool came closer, the situation was very different," he said in an interview.

Slot is now without a club after his tenure at Anfield ended. Even so, his track record cannot be underestimated. He won the Premier League title in his first season with Liverpool and finished fifth the following season—an achievement that, before the Klopp era ended, would have been considered satisfactory. The only black mark is his failure to sustain momentum after heavy spending in 2025, though at the time the squad he managed was considered unbalanced.

Slot's aggressive, attacking style of play is an attraction in itself. Dutch football expert Marcel van der Kraan called Slot an "ultra-attacking" manager inspired by Pep Guardiola. "He is very similar to Guardiola, his ideas are similar, he is a huge fan of Pep and plays the same style. He is ultra-attacking, almost like a maniac. Not on the touchline, but it is remarkable to see how he turns an ordinary team into a formidable attacking machine," van der Kraan said.

For Tottenham, hiring Slot is not without risk. He once failed to maintain consistency at Liverpool after heavy spending, and his successor, Andoni Iraola, also struggled. However, with De Zerbi unable to make Spurs sharp in the final third, the Slot option could be an attractive way out. The club has a chance to land the man who slipped through its grasp three years ago.

Indonesian context: The dynamics of the coaching seat at big Premier League clubs always affect the Asian football market, including Indonesia. If Spurs switch to Slot or McKenna, transfer policy and playing style could change, affecting the chances of Asian players—including those from Indonesia—to break into the squad. In addition, Liga 1 clubs that partner with English teams often use management stability as a reference in forming strategic partnerships.

Going forward, ENIC's decision will be a test of their ambition. Will they give De Zerbi time, or repeat the same sacking cycle as in the Postecoglou era? If Slot is genuinely approached, will he leave Liverpool's shadow to rebuild Spurs? The answer will determine the club's direction in the years to come.