Roberto De Zerbi has spoken for the first time since becoming Tottenham's new manager - declaring Spurs "one of the biggest" clubs on the planet. The Italian is tasked with steering the Premier League club away from relegation after his predecessor, interim manager Igor Tudor, failed to spark the team into life and left after just 44 days, and seven matches, in charge.
The 46-year-old former Brighton manager only left Marseille in February and had been identified as a top target for the summer. But Spurs have acted to entice him in before then as they seek to avoid dropping out of English football's top flight for the first time since 1977-78. They are only one point and one position above West Ham with seven games to go.
And after being announced as the new head coach on Tuesday evening, De Zerbi said: "I am delighted to be joining this fantastic football club, which is one of the biggest and most prestigious in the world.
"In all my discussions with the Club’s leadership, their ambition for the future has been clear - to build a team capable of reaching great achievements, and to do that playing a style of football that excites and inspires our supporters. I am here because I believe in that ambition and have signed a long-term contract to give everything to deliver it.
"Our short-term priority is to climb the Premier League table, which will be the complete focus until the final whistle of the last game of the season. I’m looking forward to getting out on the training pitch and working with these players to achieve that."
It comes after it emerged there is no relegation release clause in De Zerbi's five-year contract, suggesting he will remain in charge should Spurs be relegated to the Championship in May.
Spurs' sporting director Johan Lange added: "Roberto was our number one target for the summer and we are very pleased to be able to bring him in now.
"He is one of the most creative and forward-thinking coaches in world football, and brings with him a wealth of experience at the highest level, including in the Premier League."