The Cézanne, completed around 1890, is one of several cherry-based still-lifes the post-Impressionist painter produced in his lifetime – though this one rare because it employs watercolour, which he only embraced during his final years, according to the foundation.

Igor Tudor has been sacked by Tottenham after just seven games across 44 days at the helm, with his forgettable spell as interim boss being brought to a close.

The former Juventus and Marseille manager was appointed by Spurs on February 13 as successor to Thomas Frank, but has been moved on with the threat of Premier League relegation continuing to loom over the north London outfit.

Tudor’s record as Spurs boss: One Premier League point

Decisive action has been taken at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with seven fixtures in the 2025-26 campaign remaining. Spurs are perched just one place and solitary point above the drop zone following a worrying run of form.

Tudor picked up just one point from his five Premier League matches at the helm – in a 1-1 draw with Liverpool – and also oversaw a last-16 exit from Champions League competition following a 7-5 aggregate defeat to Atletico Madrid.

Spurs announce Tudor’s departure

Spurs have decided that another change in the dugout is required, as they face tumbling into the Championship, with Tudor’s deal — that was due to run until a permanent appointment was sought in the summer — being brought to a premature conclusion.

A statement on the club’s official website read: “We can confirm that it has been mutually agreed for Head Coach Igor Tudor to leave the Club with immediate effect. Tomislav Rogic and Riccardo Ragnacci have also left their respective roles of Goalkeeping Coach and Physical Coach.

“We thank Igor, Tomislav and Riccardo for their efforts during the past six weeks, in which they worked tirelessly. We also acknowledge the bereavement that Igor has recently suffered and send our support to him and his family at this difficult time. An update on a new Head Coach will be provided in due course.”

When will Tottenham appoint a new manager?

According to The Athletic, “Spurs expect to appoint a new coach in the coming days, in time for the majority of the first team squad’s return to the training centre after the international break”. They go on to state that “the plan is for Tudor’s successor to have 10 days to prepare for their next fixture, away at Sunderland on April 12″.

Before another manager is acquired, Tudor’s former assistant Bruno Saltor “will lead training for the few players who have remained at Hotspur Way during the three-week hiatus between games”.

A 3-0 defeat to fellow basement dwellers Nottingham Forest proved to be the final straw for Tudor, with that reversal — which was endured on home soil — seeing Spurs slip to 17th in the Premier League standings.

Who will become Tottenham’s third manager of the season?

Tudor’s short reign at Spurs opened with three successive defeats to Arsenal, Fulham and Crystal Palace — making him just the second head coach in Tottenham’s history to open with such a run, following Martin Jol enduring the same fate in November 2004.

A third manager of the season is now being lined up, with 2022-23 the last time that happened — when Antonio Conte, Cristian Stellini and Ryan Mason all passed through the dugout.

The Athletic are among those to have claimed that former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi, who is out of work after leaving French giants Marseille, has been identified as a top target by Tottenham’s board.

He would, however, prefer to make a return to coaching in the summer — rather than join a late-season rescue mission — and has been the subject of objections from three Tottenham fan groups following his support of ex-Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood during his spell at Marseille.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium (ATLANTA) — Christian Pulisic wants this responsibility. The one that requires him to carry the pressure weighing on the U.S. men’s national team as it embarks on what is expected to be a historic World Cup on home soil this summer.

Pulisic, 27, has been in the senior national team for 10 years. He entered as a 17-year-old “next big thing” and has morphed into the face of the program. He’s seen unprecedented success playing in Europe, and at one point this season was AC Milan’s scoring leader.

But on Saturday, following Belgium’s 5-2 dismantling of the American squad in a World Cup tuneup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Pulisic was forced to once again explain a poor performance from the U.S.

“I think we played well for big stretches of the game, but it’s just fine margins,” a frustrated Pulisic told a group of reporters. “I mean, I have to be a bit more clinical and, yeah, defend. I mean, overall, it’s a tough result for us, but I don’t feel like it was a 5-2 game necessarily. So there are some things that we can definitely take positives from. But some things for sure we have to work on.”

(Photo by Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)

The Americans were actually the better team for most of the first half against Belgium. Weston McKennie, who has been close friends with Pulisic since their youth soccer days, scored the first goal in the 39th minute off a corner from Antonee “Jedi” Robinson to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead. Belgium quickly responded, equalizing moments before halftime. 

Pulisic had scoring chances early. There was a header that soared over the top of the goal in the seventh minute, and he looked dangerous when a low shot went wide in the 14th. In the 52nd minute, Tim Weah did the dirty work and beat Maxim De Cuyper deep near the right corner of the field and flicked a pass with the outside of his left foot to Pulisic near the box. Pulisic dribbled inside with excitement and speed, but couldn’t get the ball exactly where he wanted and skied his shot over the crossbar.

Less than a minute later, Aston Villa midfielder Amadou Onana gave Belgium a 2-1 edge when he needed just one touch to slip a strike past U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner. Eventually, the game got out of hand and fans found the exits before the final whistle.

Pulisic doesn’t need to be reminded of the importance of finishing chances. No one is more disappointed than him when he doesn’t. He expects more from himself. He knows the U.S. will need to beat talented teams like Belgium in order to go far in the World Cup, and he will have to play a major role in that.

“If we score there, we’re talking in a different way,” U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino said after the game. “2-1 or 3-1 to us, we get the result. But sometimes you get what you want or you get things you don’t like. If you remember, the next section we concede [a goal]. 

“To feel the pain sometimes is good.”

(Photo by Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)

There is a silver lining following Saturday’s result. The squad gets right back to it with another match Tuesday vs. Portugal, a World Cup dark horse. Regardless of how that game shakes out, there’s still time for the U.S. to get things right before the tournament begins — its first match vs. Paraguay is on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

There have also been similar situations in the past where the U.S. hasn’t played well enough in one game and made adjustments quickly. In 2024, Colombia thrashed the team 5-1 in a friendly ahead of Copa América. A few days later, the squad regrouped and drew Brazil, 1-1, and Pulisic scored the equalizing goal. Last year, the squad was embarrassed by both Türkiye and Switzerland in friendlies before the Gold Cup, but then made a run to the tournament final.

[Clash of Colors?: USA-Belgium Jersey Combo Was An Eyesore For Players]

Pochettino himself has said on multiple occasions that it’s more important for the team to play its best during the World Cup and not peak in matches beforehand. He never wants to lose and has often stated he wants players to believe and dream that they can win the World Cup. He’s still in the process of whittling the player pool down to a final 26-man roster, which will be announced on May 26, so these matches are also important for him to get last looks at different player combinations. At some point, he’ll have to work on building chemistry with more specific lineups. 

All of that is to say, losing now is not necessarily indicative of how the team will perform this summer.

(Photo by Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)

Even so, Pulisic is the team’s biggest star, and it needs more from him. He has been in a scoring drought for the national team – his last goal came in 2024, and he hasn’t scored for AC Milan yet in 2026. He started his club season in fine form, scoring eight goals between August and December, but has hit a speed bump. 

He’s motivated to turn things around and has more to give. He’ll recover, watch film, and do everything possible to be better next time.

“We have to take this on the chin,” Pulisic said. “It was a tough loss. It’s a very good team, but in a lot of ways there’s things that we can do better. 

“I have to improve. The team has to improve. All we can do is go push and try to get a result.”

We’ve confirmed the photos were taken at the Prince Sultan air base about 100km (62 miles) south-east of the Saudi capital Riyadh. Features seen in the pictures, including pylons, storage units and markings on paved areas, matched with satellite imagery.

Alexi Lalas doesn’t want the United States men’s national team to brush aside goalkeeper Matt Turner’s performance in its 5-2 loss to Belgium in Saturday’s friendly.

With the World Cup just over two months away, Lalas believes Turner’s outing on Saturday was devastating enough that it should cost him the opportunity to compete for the United States’ starting goalkeeper job with Matt Freese

“Some day may start today for certain people, but I don’t think it starts today when it comes to Matt Turner,” Lalas said on the latest episode of “State of the Union.” “You are going to be associated with shipping five goals. You, unfortunately, Matt Turner, don’t get the benefit of the doubt because I do think that Freese is the incumbent.

“I think we would all agree that this position has been such a position of quality and talent over the years — we’re going into the second World Cup in a row, from a men’s perspective, where there are questions about our goalkeeping, and that’s not something we’ve had to worry about in the past.”

Saturday’s outing was actually Turner’s first start in net for the men’s national team since June of last year. In that start, Turner gave up four goals in a 4-0 loss to Switzerland. 

Freese started in net for the USA in the 12 games after that showing, including all six matches in the nation’s run to the CONCACAF Gold Cup final last summer. Freese averaged a goal allowed per match during that tournament, and has largely provided solid play in net for Team USA since he took over for Turner. The 27-year-old New York City FC goalkeeper has eight wins in those 12 starts, including three clean sheets.

But U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino sounded as if he wanted to see Turner so he could evaluate his form in case Freese gets hurt. The U.S. was ahead before Belgium got a 45th-minute equalizer, the first of five straight goals.

“Matt Freese was playing a lot in the last year with us and I think we thought that it was necessary to provide the opportunity to another keeper,” Pochettino said. “For the World Cup, circumstances can happen.”

Turner, 31, was the U.S. starter at the 2022 World Cup, giving up four goals in four matches in that tournament. But he’s had some struggles since late 2023, allowing 23 goals in his last 12 appearances for the national team.

Still, Pochettino emphasized the desire to get a full look at his squad as the 2026 World Cup nears. 

‘It’s not that when you concede a goal, it’s only the keeper or mistake of the keeper,’ Pochettino said. “It is good to see him to perform after a long period. We all know that he has experience in the national team and in the previous World Cup, and that is a point that we need to use, use being in the starting 11 or not.”

Turner hasn’t gotten off to a great start to 2026 with his club team, either. He’s surrendered nine goals in the New England Revolution’s first four matches this season, and holds a 65.4 save percentage. Last season, Turner gave up 16 goals in 10 matches for the Revolution after rejoining the squad in August.

Despite the struggles, Turner’s confidence hasn’t wavered.

“My overarching theme for earning that opportunity again is just to continue to be myself, to go out there,” Turner said. “Obviously, they’ve seen something that they like that I’m doing in training. They’ve seen something they like in my performances in New England.

“I understand and feel in my bones that this coaching staff is very fair and they’re going to give people that deserve chances a chance,” Turner added. “So just stay calm. I know that a lot can change in three months time and it did from September to November back in the last go-around.”

Lalas, however, believes Turner should return to the bench for the United States’ next match against Portugal. 

“I don’t think Matt Turner did anything to win the job back or change anyone’s mind — in fact, he might have gone the opposite direction — but Freese is the incumbent simply because he’s played the last 13 games, not because he’s necessarily a great goalkeeper,” Lalas said. “If there was ever a moment to shine, obviously it’s going to be this summer. I would absolutely play Freese in this next game.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Elsewhere, there is believed to be an interest in appointing Sean Dyche on a short-term basis.

Dyche, who is available after his sacking by Forest in February, has a record of keeping clubs in the Premier League – a relevant trait given Tottenham‘s relegation fears.

However, it is understood Dyche would seek a minimum 18-month contract if he was to replace Tudor, which could prove a stumbling block towards any agreement.

Mauricio Pochettino would be the choice of many supporters given his relatively successful previous reign at the club, but his commitments to the USA national team before this summer’s World Cup would make such an immediate move extremely difficult.

Candidates with Tottenham connections such as Ryan Mason, Harry Redknapp and Tim Sherwood would be open to taking the job on an interim basis until the end of the season, while current player Ben Davies has also been considered as a possible short-term fix.

Former Monaco head coach Adi Hutter is another potential candidate, while former players Glenn Hoddle and Chris Hughton have also been touted as interim appointments.