Tottenham assistant sacked as Tudor reshapes coaching teamfocus key: Tottenham assistant sacked

Published: 17 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Tottenham Hotspur interim boss Igor Tudor has acted swiftly to overhaul his backroom staff following the club’s disappointing run in the Premier League, bringing in three new coaches after the dismissal of Justin Cochrane, John Heitinga, and Chris Haslam. The changes come just days after Thomas Frank was sacked, marking a rapid shift in the North London club’s coaching structure.

Heitinga, who joined Spurs on 15 January, had an exceptionally brief spell at the club, lasting only a month. Previously, he was part of Arne Slot’s coaching staff at Liverpool when the Reds clinched the Premier League title last season. Heitinga left Anfield last summer to pursue a managerial role and had a short stint as Ajax boss, which ended after just 15 games due to a poor run of results. His time at Tottenham was similarly fleeting, following Matt Wells’ departure to the Colorado Rapids and the appointment of Frank.

Frank’s seven-month tenure concluded last Wednesday, a day after a 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle United left Spurs languishing in 16th place, only five points clear of the relegation zone. Cochrane and Haslam, who joined the club last summer alongside Frank, have now also departed. Cochrane, who began his coaching career at Tottenham and had helped bring Frank to the club, had been billed as making a “special return,” but he and Haslam have now followed Frank out of the exit door.

Tudor has announced his new coaching team, introducing Ivan Javorcic as assistant coach, Riccardo Raganacci as physical coach, and Tomislav Rogic as goalkeeper coach. All three are familiar faces to the Croatian manager, having previously worked with him at Juventus. Their official start at Tottenham is pending the securing of work permits, but the club expects them to integrate quickly into the coaching setup.

The swift changes reflect Tudor’s determination to imprint his philosophy on the squad and address Tottenham’s early-season struggles. By bringing in trusted personnel who have previously collaborated with him, Tudor aims to stabilise the team, enhance tactical consistency, and boost player morale. Club insiders suggest that the restructuring is part of a long-term plan to reshape Spurs’ performance culture and improve results in the Premier League.

Fans have reacted to the backroom overhaul with a mix of surprise and cautious optimism. Heitinga’s brief tenure, in particular, drew attention for its unusual brevity, underscoring the high-pressure environment surrounding top-flight football management. Observers note that Tudor’s approach to staffing is reflective of a trend among elite clubs, where managers are increasingly seeking trusted collaborators to implement their systems efficiently and with minimal disruption.

The club’s immediate focus will be preparing for upcoming fixtures, while the new coaching team works to establish tactical cohesion and fitness regimes aligned with Tudor’s vision. The Premier League season is entering a critical phase, and Tottenham’s ability to climb the table will depend on how quickly players adapt to the new coaching structure. Analysts say that securing positive results in the next few matches will be vital to solidifying Tudor’s authority and setting the tone for the remainder of the campaign.

While Tottenham faces challenges on the pitch, the restructuring signals a clear commitment to change at executive and coaching levels. By integrating experienced coaches familiar with Tudor’s methods, the club hopes to instill discipline, modern training practices, and strategic clarity across all departments. Long-term, the intention is to build a sustainable foundation that balances immediate performance needs with the development of young talent in the academy system.

As the Premier League intensifies, attention now turns to Tudor and his new staff to deliver both stability and competitive results. Supporters will be watching closely to see whether the changes can reverse Tottenham’s precarious position in the league and restore confidence in the club’s management and long-term strategy. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining the success of Tudor’s coaching reshuffle and the team’s ability to regain form at a critical juncture of the season.

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