Not long ago, Marseille supporters had genuine reason to believe that Ligue 1 success was possible this season.

Les Phocéens had won eight of their first 14 games across all competitions, scoring four or more goals on four occasions, and defeating Paris Saint-Germain in the league for the first time since September 2020.

Marseille’s impressive football under De Zerbi

With Mason Greenwood firing in goals at will—he currently leads Ligue 1 with 13—and Marseille playing some of the most exciting football at the Stade Vélodrome in years, the club looked set for a strong 2025/26 campaign.

But football can change quickly. PSG’s 5-0 demolition of Marseille last weekend proved to be a step too far for manager Roberto De Zerbi, who has now left the club. The departure came shortly after a 3-0 loss to Club Brugge, which eliminated Marseille from the Champions League, with both parties reportedly agreeing it was time for a change.

A manager with a reputation

This is not De Zerbi’s first high-profile exit. He left Brighton once he felt he could no longer take the club to the next level, moving on quickly from the AMEX Stadium.

Despite that, his talent is undeniable. Pep Guardiola has praised him for making teams play brilliantly regardless of their squad strength:

“I admire him because it doesn’t matter the team he plays, he proves you don’t need top, top players to play the way you want. I enjoy watching his teams play a lot. I learn from it, and what he does makes sense. His success is no surprise.”

Tottenham could be watching

With De Zerbi now available, Tottenham Hotspur might be a perfect fit. The club sacked Thomas Frank following a 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle—Spurs’ 15th loss of the season—leaving them just two places and five points above the relegation zone.

Frank’s side had scored 36 goals and conceded 37 in 25 league games, while De Zerbi’s Marseille scored 46 and conceded just 27 in 21 Ligue 1 matches, highlighting the contrast in attacking efficiency and defensive stability.

De Zerbi’s style and suitability for Spurs

Tottenham fans crave high-octane, attacking football—De Zerbi’s hallmark style. He has scored 308 goals across 158 games managing Brighton and Marseille, with 77 wins, 32 draws, and 49 losses. His win percentage ranged from 38% at Brighton to 58.3% at Marseille.

Some might worry about similarities to Ange Postecoglou, whose Spurs side started brilliantly before injuries derailed the team. Injuries remain a concern, with 12 players still unavailable, which partly explains Frank’s struggles.

Still, the timing is serendipitous. A manager of De Zerbi’s quality doesn’t come along often, and with Tottenham in urgent need of a tactical and attacking reset, this could be the right move at the right time.