It’s important to acknowledge that Tottenham’s last-minute decision to appoint Roberto De Zerbi is not exactly a testament to their exceptional persuasive abilities.

While it’s true they’ve managed to coax the Italian manager into assuming the role sooner than he intended, he had initially expressed a desire to begin his next venture during the pre-season. This period is typically a more strategic time to start, rather than diving into the chaos of an ongoing campaign.

Something has shifted his perspective. If it isn’t merely the result of a month-long hiatus or the allure of a lucrative contract that places him among the highest-paid coaches globally, it likely involves the influence and recruitment power he stands to gain given the current circumstances.

Previously, they favored Thomas Frank over De Zerbi during the summer when the latter was with Marseille, yet still open to discussions just like the Brentford manager.

Despite Fabio Paratici, the Italian sporting director who departed Spurs for Fiorentina in early February, advocating for a coaching change before Christmas and feeling optimistic about extracting De Zerbi from his role in France, they remained committed to Frank.

Tottenham’s decision to hire Roberto De Zerbi is a seismic U-turn on a manager they have had multiple chances to hire in the last 12 months 

Ultimately, De Zerbi was overlooked again in favor of Igor Tudor in February. By then, De Zerbi had already exited Marseille and was contemplating a much-needed break from the game.

Most pertinently, when Tudor arrived to replace Frank, there were sources at Spurs making it clear they were not interested in De Zerbi in the slightest, and for two reasons.

Firstly, they were put off by his notoriety as an incendiary character as laid bare by the visit of his Brighton team to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium three years ago.

It was an occasion when De Zerbi’s finger jabbing and jibes sparked a row with interim Spurs boss Cristian Stellini which ended in an unseemly touchline skirmish involving both benches and red cards for the two Italian coaches.

Secondly, and more recently, there were people at Spurs very uncomfortable with De Zerbi’s part in helping Mason Greenwood to restore his reputation at Marseille after the striker left Manchester United in disgrace despite charges of attempted rape and assault being dropped.

When they were together in France, De Zerbi described Greenwood as ‘a good guy’ who ‘paid a heavy price’.

Last week, three Spurs fan groups – Proud Lilywhites, Women of the Lane and Spurs Reach – registered their opposition to the idea the Italian might soon be bringing those views to their club, claiming his comments had raised ‘serious questions about judgment and leadership’.

If Spurs have abandoned their morals while slamming on the handbrake and screeching off in a different direction it is a decision, no doubt, fuelled by sheer desperation.

There were people at Spurs very uncomfortable with De Zerbi’s part in helping Mason Greenwood to restore his reputation at Marseille

‘Those are my principles and if you don’t like them, well, I have others,’ as Groucho Marx said.

Needs-must. The ignominy of relegation beckons. They will slide into the Premier League’s bottom three if West Ham beat Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday week, two days before they play again at Sunderland.

What are a few principles compared to the millions that will be lost if they end up in the Championship? Really, who cares about the moral high ground just so long as it’s not the relegation swamp?

So, De Zerbi it is. Another hire carrying the fingerprints of Paratici, who appears no less influential at Spurs today than he did before his exit on February 5, nor during his 30-month worldwide ban for his part in financial irregularities during his time at Juventus.

His lingering influence will invite further scrutiny upon the leadership team of chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange, who have fired and hired two head coaches in less than two months since Paratici left London and failed to come up with a candidate they might call their own.

None of this bodes particularly well for the future of Spurs under the regime installed since chairman Daniel Levy was ousted in September.

Lange’s position looks particularly vulnerable as Spurs step up their search for a successor to Paratici.

De Zerbi’s incendiary character was laid bare when he had a row with Spurs’ caretaker boss Cristian Stellini on the touchline in 2023

Lange, a Dane closely aligned with Frank, is a sporting director with his eyes most closely trained on data and emerging talent while Paratici, who had the same title during his latest spell at Spurs, was prized for his network of contacts and a knack for closing a deal.

There will be changes as the club restructure and reinforce their executive tier in the months ahead.

In the short term, however, De Zerbi certainly will boost their chances of survival. And when push comes to shove that is what the bulk of supporters care most about.

He is a strong leader, who takes no nonsense from his players.

Unlike Frank, the style of football he likes to play is unashamedly expansive and aggressive. Unlike Tudor, he should be tuned in to the demands of the Premier League.

He spent the best part of two seasons at Brighton, replacing Graham Potter and finishing sixth, and leading the club’s inaugural European campaign before leaving in May 2024 amid tensions over recruitment.

De Zerbi’s Brighton were quick, fearless and exciting to watch. Seldom boring, which should appeal in N17.

Although Brighton, like Brentford, are one of those modern clubs so well run that it is often difficult to figure out exactly what part of the success is down to the head coach and how much down to the data and algorithms of Tony Bloom and Matthew Benham driving recruitment and performance.

Serious questions must now be asked over the decision-making of executives Johan Lange (left) and Vinai Venkatesham (right)

De Zerbi though has enough on his CV to support his ability. Success in Italy and Ukraine, and a good year at Marseille, finishing last season as runners-up, 19 points behind European champions Paris Saint-Germain.

So, leave your morals at the door as Spurs shift from the plan for another Tudoresque interim towards a long-term appointment.

The dream return for Mauricio Pochettino, who remains committed to the United States until after this summer’s World Cup, will have to be shelved yet again.

At least the Spurs crowd will have someone to sing for if they find it all goes awry once again under De Zerbi.