The 0-3 loss left Spurs hovering just above the relegation zone, prompting the board to act decisively ahead of the season's decisive run-in. De Zerbi now arrives with the immediate task of stabilising results and steering the club away from danger.
However, Tottenham's move is not purely short-term. The Italian has signed a five-year contract, underlining the club's commitment to a long-term project built around his philosophy and style of play.
De Zerbi brings significant experience, having most recently managed Olympique Marseille, as well as previous spells at Brighton in the Premier League, Shakhtar Donetsk and several Italian clubs, including Sassuolo and Palermo.
"Our short-term priority is to climb the table, and that will be our focus until the final whistle of the season,” De Zerbi said in his first statement. "I am eager to get on the pitch and work with the players."