Roberto De Zerbi’s tenure as Tottenham Hotspur manager has begun with an immediate setback, as a 1-0 home defeat for Sunderland — their first victory over Spurs in 16 attempts since April 2010 — deepened the London club’s relegation crisis on April 12, 2026.
De Zerbi, who was appointed on a five-year contract at the end of March following the brief reign of Igor Tudor, watched his side struggle to create clear-cut chances despite showing occasional traces of the possession-based, attacking football he has become associated with throughout his managerial career.
The decisive moment came 11 minutes into the second half when Nordi Mukiele’s deflected strike gave Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland side the lead. That single goal proved sufficient, with Le Bris’ team recording back-to-back league victories while Spurs were left with nothing to show from their efforts at the Stadium of Light.
The first half had offered some encouragement, with both sides creating opportunities. Brian Brobbey, Richarlison, and Dominic Solanke all went close, and Spurs had a penalty decision overturned in the 21st minute. Ultimately, however, Tottenham’s inability to convert pressure into goals — a recurring theme throughout the season — proved costly once again.
According to The Athletic’s football account, the defeat makes De Zerbi only the second manager in the last 11 Spurs appointments to lose his opening game in charge, underscoring the scale of the challenge he inherited.
Tottenham now sit 18th in the Premier League table, one point above the safety line with only six fixtures remaining. The result extends a dismal run that has seen the club go over 100 days without a top-flight win in 2026 — a streak that has persisted across three different managers this season.
De Zerbi had spoken of bringing an energetic, progressive style to the club, drawing comparisons to the approach implemented by his predecessor Ange Postecoglou during his time in north London. The stark reality, however, is that time is running short to translate philosophy into results. What would constitute one of the most remarkable relegations in modern Premier League history remains a genuine possibility.
The 46-year-old Italian previously built his reputation with Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League before a spell at Marseille, where his forward-thinking methods attracted widespread attention across European football.
His next opportunity to secure a first win comes on April 18, when Tottenham host Brighton — his former club — in what represents a fixture loaded with significance on both a personal and a sporting level. A home win would be essential to any realistic survival bid, while further dropped points could prove terminal for Spurs’ top-flight status.
