Tottenham Hotspur, once a formidable force in the Premier League’s upper echelons, now finds itself teetering on the brink of an unprecedented collapse. The club’s recent 1-3 defeat at home to Crystal Palace in the 29th round of the 2025-2026 Premier League season has sent shockwaves through North London and beyond, marking their fifth consecutive league loss and extending their winless streak to a staggering 11 matches. The last time Spurs endured such a barren run was back in 1975—over half a century ago.
How did it come to this? The answer, many pundits and fans argue, lies in the seismic departure of club legend Son Heung-min and the subsequent managerial turmoil that has left the club rudderless and vulnerable to relegation—a fate they haven’t faced since the 1977-78 season.
Son Heung-min’s move to LA FC in Major League Soccer last summer remains a sore spot for Tottenham supporters. British outlet Hotspur HQ didn’t mince words, reporting on March 5, 2026, that “Tottenham is struggling due to the absence of Son Heung-min after his transfer to LA FC in the MLS.” The criticism was sharp: “Tottenham committed the foolish mistake of letting Son go without signing an experienced left winger,” the publication lamented, adding that even Matisse Thiel, acquired as a potential replacement, has rarely featured in the starting lineup. The blow has been compounded by the injury of right winger Mohammed Kudus, leaving Spurs’ attack in complete disarray.
Son’s absence is felt in every phase of play. Since joining LA FC, he’s set the league alight, scoring 12 goals and providing 3 assists in just 13 matches after joining midway through last season. This year, he’s already notched 1 goal and 5 assists in 4 official games. “If a healthy Son were to return to Tottenham right now, he’d instantly reclaim his place as the starting striker,” Hotspur HQ asserted. The publication went further, emphasizing, “The only proven superstar for big moments was Son Heung-min. No one else can be trusted to decide the fate of the season like him.”
Son’s legacy at Tottenham is undeniable. Since arriving in 2015, he amassed 173 goals and 94 assists in 454 official appearances, earning a spot in the PFA Team of the Year in 2020-21 and becoming the first Asian player to win the Premier League Golden Boot in 2021-22. Last season, he led the club to its first major trophy in 17 years, lifting the UEFA Europa League. Yet, despite his heroics, Son’s final campaign was marred by injuries and a dip in form—he managed 11 goals and 11 assists, his lowest return since his debut season. His departure, announced before a preseason friendly in Korea, was met with mixed feelings. Some believed the time was right, given his advancing years; others, in hindsight, now see it as a premature exit.
The club’s attempts to fill the void have fallen flat. New signings Sambi Simons, Randal Kolo Muani, and Matisse Thiel have failed to impress, with Hotspur HQ noting, “Tottenham is suffering from Son’s absence not only in scoring and experience but also in chance creation, dribbling, and team atmosphere.” The malaise is evident in the numbers: after 29 rounds, Spurs sit 16th in the table with just 29 points—only a single point above the relegation zone. West Ham United and Nottingham Forest, both on 28 points, have recently shown signs of life, while Tottenham continues its downward spiral. According to Opta, the club’s relegation probability has surged to 13.94%, up from single digits just a day earlier.
The managerial merry-go-round has only deepened the crisis. Thomas Frank, once hailed as a rising star after guiding Brentford to their first top-flight promotion in 74 years, was appointed Tottenham manager in June 2025, succeeding Ange Postecoglou. Frank’s tenure, however, proved disastrous. His win rate at Spurs was a disappointing 34% (13 wins, 10 draws, 15 losses), and he was dismissed after a 1-2 loss to Newcastle United in the 26th round. Under his leadership, the club crashed out of the FA Cup in the third round for the first time since 2013-14 and hovered perilously close to the drop zone in the league. “Frank left Tottenham with a record of 13 wins, 11 draws, and 14 losses from 38 official matches, a win rate of just 34.21%,” reported The Sun on March 4, 2026.
Despite his ignominious exit, Frank’s Premier League journey may not be over. The Sun and Football Insider both report that Crystal Palace has added Frank to its shortlist for next season’s manager, with current boss Oliver Glasner expected to depart after ongoing tactical disagreements and a lack of long-term league competitiveness. “Frank wants to return to the Premier League to prove that his short tenure at Tottenham was not the entirety of his managerial career,” The Sun stated, noting that his name now sits at the top of Palace’s shortlist. The club is said to be seeking a manager with a tactical style similar to Glasner, and Frank’s previous success with Brentford—achieving mid-table stability with limited resources—remains a significant point in his favor.
Meanwhile, Spurs’ woes continue to mount. Their latest defeat to Crystal Palace was a microcosm of their season: an early lead from Dominic Solanke was wiped out after Mickey van der Pen’s red card for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity, leading to a penalty and an equalizer. Two more goals conceded in first-half stoppage time sealed their fate. Despite outshooting Palace 12-9, the numerical disadvantage proved insurmountable. The match also marked Tottenham’s fifth straight loss—their worst run since 2004—and extended their winless streak to 11 games, the longest since 1975.
The specter of relegation now looms large. Should Tottenham slip into the Championship, it would be their first demotion since the inception of the Premier League and their first in any form since 1977-78. The club’s current trajectory has left fans and pundits alike questioning not just the wisdom of Son Heung-min’s sale, but also the club’s broader recruitment and leadership strategies. As one Hotspur HQ article put it, “Tottenham’s failure to replace Son adequately has been criticized as a serious mistake.”
With just a handful of matches remaining and the gap to the relegation zone shrinking, Tottenham’s storied top-flight status is under threat like never before. The coming weeks will be crucial—both for the club’s survival and for the reputations of those charged with steering it through these stormy waters. For now, all eyes are on North London, where history, heartbreak, and hope collide as Spurs fight to avoid a fall that once seemed unthinkable.