Tottenham Hotspur confirmed former Brighton and Marseille boss Roberto de Zerbi as the new head coach of the club. De Zerbi signed a five-year deal and would oversee the Spurs team as they fight against relegation from the Premier League.
Spurs are just a spot away from the relegation zone and have only seven games left to make their way out of the danger zone. However, there is a growing opposition among the club’s official fans group over his controversial statement about Mason Greenwood.
The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust held an emergency board meeting on Monday night and contacted the club to express their disapproval of De Zerbi as the new head coach. The group also told BBC Sport that it had received “a lot of emails from supporters” lodging complaints.
Ali Speechly, co-founder of Women of the Lane, also said her group opposed the appointment. She threatened to stop attending matches over the issue.
De Zerbi supported Greenwood after charges against the former Manchester United star, including attempted rape and assault, were dropped.
Why De Zerbi’s support for Greenwood was controversial
Greenwood, who was regarded as one of United’s most promising players, was arrested in January 2022. He was 20 years old at the time. However, all charges against him were dropped in February 2023.
Greenwood left Old Trafford and joined Getafe on loan. In July 2024, he moved to Marseille after signing a deal worth up to £26.6m. His signing which happened when De Zerbi was appointed head coach with the club, was met with some opposition in the French city. The mayor, Benoit Payan, said Greenwood’s signing was unacceptable and he did not want the club to be “covered in shame.”
“I don’t want to get involved in anyone’s private life. I don’t even get into the private lives of my children, because I want to give everyone their freedom,” De Zerbi told a pre-match news conference before the Champions League game against Newcastle United.
“All I can see is that Mason seems a good lad, he paid in a strong way for what happened. He has probably here found the right environment for him, which gave him affection, and held out its hand to him.
“When I look at him as a person, I feel sad for what happened in his life, without getting into the details. Because the person I know here is very different to the one that has been described, especially in England.”
De Zerbi’s comment was met with criticism, with many fans accusing him of downplaying the allegations and painting Greenwood as a victim. Meanwhile, Greenwood has scored 47 times in 74 appearances across all competitions. The 24-years-old was Ligue 1’s joint top scorer last season alongside Paris St-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele, with 21 goals.
