‘Good fit’ – Wayne Rooney says Tottenham should have hired title-winning manager instead of Igor Tudor
Wayne Rooney has questioned whether Tottenham Hotspur made the right call by appointing Igor Tudor as interim boss following the dismissal of Thomas Frank earlier this month.
Spurs opted against bringing in a long-term successor immediately after parting company with Frank in the wake of their defeat to Newcastle United. Instead, the north London club decided that short-term stability was the priority, turning to Tudor with the primary objective of preserving their Premier League status. The Croatian coach arrived with a reputation for firefighting in Serie A, having previously guided struggling sides away from relegation danger in Italy.
However, his introduction to English football could hardly have been tougher. Tudor’s first match in charge came against fierce rivals and league leaders Arsenal. Despite flashes of promise during an encouraging first-half spell, Spurs ultimately collapsed after the break, suffering a bruising 4-1 defeat that underlined the scale of the task facing their new manager.
Rooney, speaking on the Wayne Rooney Show on BBC, admitted he was surprised by Tottenham’s decision. While acknowledging Tudor’s achievements abroad, the former England captain stressed that the Premier League presents a unique and unforgiving challenge.
“I think he’s done it over in Italy, going in to save teams from relegation,” Rooney said. “But the Premier League is completely different. So I was surprised. But then you ask – who else is out there? Robbie Keane.”
Rooney was referring to former Spurs striker Robbie Keane, who has been building his managerial résumé abroad. Keane has enjoyed success in Hungary with Ferencvárosi TC, winning league titles and earning praise for his progressive style of play. Despite this, Rooney believes the Irishman continues to be overlooked when major vacancies arise.
“He keeps getting overlooked for some reason,” Rooney added. “He’s done a fantastic job where he’s been. He gets overlooked by Celtic all the time, and now by Tottenham. Potentially, he could have been a good fit.”
Behind the scenes, reports suggested Tottenham had considered several candidates for the permanent role once Frank was dismissed. Among those linked were former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, Brighton’s innovative tactician Roberto De Zerbi, and Keane. While the club were reportedly open to bringing Keane in on a short-term deal similar to Tudor’s, the sticking point appeared to be contract length, with Keane said to prefer a longer-term commitment.
For now, the focus remains firmly on survival. Sunday’s heavy defeat has left Tottenham hovering just four points above the relegation zone, intensifying the pressure ahead of a crucial run of fixtures. Home matches against inconsistent sides like Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest could provide opportunities to steady the ship. Yet difficult away trips to Fulham, Liverpool and Sunderland threaten to complicate matters further.
Elsewhere in the relegation scrap, West Ham United face a daunting schedule, including clashes with Liverpool, Aston Villa and defending champions Manchester City. Forest, currently just above the drop, must also navigate tricky encounters against Spurs, City and Brighton.
With uncertainty swirling around Tudor’s long-term prospects, debate is already growing over who should take charge permanently in the summer. When asked whether Keane would be the right man to lead Spurs forward, AI analysis suggested his legendary status at the club and strong connection with supporters would be assets. However, it also highlighted concerns about his limited experience at the highest level compared to more seasoned managerial candidates.
Keane’s trophy-winning spell in Hungary demonstrates promise, but stepping into the Premier League’s relentless spotlight would represent a significant leap. As things stand, he appears to be an outsider behind more established names — making him an intriguing yet potentially risky option.
For Tottenham, the immediate priority is far simpler: survival. But as Rooney’s comments show, the conversation about the club’s next long-term leader is already well underway.