A former Tottenham Hotspur star has praised Roberto De Zerbi as “the best manager I ever played for.”
De Zerbi is expected to be announced as Spurs’ new manager in the coming days, with the immediate task of steering the club clear of Premier League relegation. The former Brighton & Hove Albion boss is set to return to English football two years after leaving the Seagulls and will have seven games to save Spurs.
The club are believed to have offered him a highly lucrative deal, despite earlier plans to wait until summer before making a decision. His arrival is also expected to be warmly received by former Spurs midfielder and fan favourite, Sandro.
Sandro worked with De Zerbi for one season at Benevento Calcio in Italy’s second division and admitted he “fell in love in a week.” Speaking in 2023 on talkSPORT, he said De Zerbi was “100 per cent” the best coach he had played under.
“I worked with him and fell in love with him in the first week. He’s full of passion and is there every day like a teacher. He focuses a lot on training and repetition,” he said.
He later told BBC Sport: “He’s a manager who always wants to control the ball — very intelligent and detailed in his approach. He helps players by giving them the information they need to hurt opponents.”
Reflecting on their time at Benevento, Sandro added: “We were in a difficult situation, but he selected players to improve the team, and I was part of that. I didn’t expect to meet one of the best coaches I’ve had. It was incredible — I learned so much and truly enjoyed playing for him.
“When I arrived, I was already experienced and had worked with many coaches. But he made me go into games with excitement, wondering what he would teach us next. You have to be special to do that — it made me want more and made me want to play for him.”
