Tottenham could replace Igor Tudor with Robbie Keane amid interest from Crystal Palace
Tottenham are making plans to replace Igor Tudor, either in the summer or soon, with the tactician facing a make-or-break game against Crystal Palace.
Spurs could sack Igor Tudor if they fail to beat Crystal Palace
Tonight’s clash with Palace is about as high-profile as a relegation battle can get – because for Tudor, it could be his last chance.
Reports emerged this week suggesting that Tottenham’s board are willing to make another managerial change if Tudor fail to deliver three points against Oliver Glasner’s side.
The midfielder has overseen two defeats since taking over from Thomas Frank in February – a 4-1 humiliation at Arsenal and a 2-1 defeat at Fulham – leaving Spurs without a Premier League title in 2026 and sitting just one point above the relegation zone.
If there was ever a must-win game for the manager at this football club this season, this is it.
Palace arrives at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with a respectable nick, despite the recent pressure on Glasner after the lack of 2026. They are seven points clear of trouble, and recently gave in-form Man United a very close run at Old Trafford.
Glasner’s team are not the best players, but they are organized, hard to beat, and tonight they will face a Spurs team full of anxiety.
Anything other than a win and the Spurs board, if reports are to be believed, will act quickly.
The club are keen to stop Bayern Munich’s title-winning former manager from joining Tottenham after being linked
It is reported that the Spurs have arrived.
That would mean a third permanent or interim management appointment in a single Premier League season – a scenario that is unthinkable even by the levels of turmoil that has engulfed the club in 2025-26.
As the summer gets more attention, no matter what happens tonight, the names linked to the permanent role continue to increase.
Mauricio Pochettino is still a target, an option for a returning hero who would go down well with fans looking for something to believe in.
Roberto De Zerbi is also understood to be top of the list, his attacking principles and track record at Brighton making him an attractive candidate.
Others have dropped out of the conversation – Andoni Iraola, Niko Kovač and Xavi to name a few – but talkSPORT reporter Ben Jacobs backs up reports of another intriguing name in the mix.
Robbie Keane to ‘watch’ for Tottenham manager job
According to Jacobs, in an interview with GiveMeSport, Robbie Keane, the Spurs star who scored 122 goals in 306 games in two seasons at the club, is described as a ‘dark horse’ and ‘observed’ in the race for a permanent job.
Jacobs reports that Keane has been discussed within Tottenham, although Pochettino and De Zerbi are currently placed above him in the club’s thinking.
The 45-year-old suspect has won those negotiations.
Since taking over at Hungarian side Ferencvaros in January 2025, Keane has quietly excelled – winning the league title in his first season and guiding the club to the knockout stages of the Europa League with just one defeat in eight group games. Fast growing CV.
When asked about speculation linking him with a Spurs job back in February, Keane kept his cards close to his chest.
“I can’t help speculating,” he said simply, before walking out of the interview.
There is also competition.
Palace have shortlisted Keane as a possible replacement for Glasner, who has confirmed he will leave Selhurst Park at the end of the season.
Keane’s favored 3-5-2 formation mirrors the system Glasner used at Palace, making him a natural fit there as well.
Meanwhile, Keane has made it clear that he is happy with Ferencvaros and intends to see out the season. But come summer, the queue for his signature could be long.
First, Tudor must keep his job long enough for anything to matter.
Tottenham have now sent a multi-level appeal to the Premier League after their defeat by Fulham
Spurs have reportedly made inquiries at a number of levels…
