Opinion: Why Daniel Levy is unfit to run Tottenham Hotspur

 

Daniel Levy’s ENIC Group took over Tottenham Hotspur in 2001.

 

From an outsider looking in, it could seem on paper that Tottenham have been a somewhat sensibly-run club since 2001.

Rarely breaking the bank for players, making managerial appointments for both the long and short-term, opening a world-class training centre and one of the best stadiums in the country are just some of what local businessman Daniel Levy has been known for since taking the reigns in North London 24 years ago.

However, events off the pitch, including some in the last five years, have seen Tottenham fans at breaking point.

Levy, the longest-serving chairman in English football’s top flight, has developed a reputation for constantly looking for the ‘cheaper option’ of a player who fits the manager’s needs. Famously in January 2012, Harry Redknapp requested that the board sign Luis Suarez and Gary Cahill, two world-class options, but he was given the aging pair of Louis Saha and Ryan Nelsen on free transfers. Both would leave the club at the end of the season.

In more recent times, during the pivotal 2018/19 season, during which the move into the new stadium was completed, Tottenham Hotspur failed to sign a single player in either the summer or January transfer windows, becoming the first club to do so in the Premier League era.

In truth, the managerial magic of Mauricio Pochettino, a high of second place in the table and a memorable run to the 2019 Champions League final, papered over so many cracks in the frankly chaotic and disordered ownership of Levy in the late 2010s. While it may seem harsh to state that, especially about one of the few chairmen in the top-flight who grew up supporting the club they are in charge of, the fact that a club as big as Tottenham have just one major trophy in Levy’s reign of terror, a solitary 2008 League Cup win, is exceptionally poor for a so-called ‘Big Six’ club, and one who were historically frequent FA Cup and League Cup winners in the 20^th century.

Supporters crave silverware, and Levy has failed drastically on that front.

A graphic showing the richest clubs in world football (2024). Tottenham Hotspur also generate the highest matchday revenue of any club in the country.

 

Since the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium opened, which remains without naming rights despite a promise from Levy nearly a decade ago now, supporters have accused the board of severely neglecting the footballing side of things in order to focus on the many different events the stadium has to offer.

Before 2019, there was no such thing as boxing fights, NFL fixtures and music concerts in Tottenham, which are all examples of revenue sources when there is no football match being played on a particular weekend. The revenue generated from those events is extortionate, but, despite this, Tottenham still have the lowest net spend of any Big Six club in the past five years, by quite some distance.

After Mauricio Pochettino was sacked in 2019, another decision heavily criticised by the supporters, world-class managers were subsequently appointed in the following years – first Jose Mourinho, then Antonio Conte. Both described as ‘serial winners’, but with a need to work within a budget to give the squad an overhaul, both reigns ended in disappointment and with a lack of a real rebuild. Indeed, Conte left the club ‘by mutual consent’ following an explosive press conference where he seemed to call out the board following a 3-3 draw at Southampton.

And onto the reign of Ange Postecoglou. The Australian took over in June 2023, and while he received undeniably significant financial backing in his first transfer window, injury crises have come into play in both seasons he has been at the helm. After he was forced to play full-backs Emerson Royal and Ben Davies at centre back last year, in the absence of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, the club responded by signing Radu Dragusin.

This year, both starting centre backs have faced time out again at the same time, and, at the time of writing with three days remaining in the transfer window, with Spurs a lowly 15^th in the league and still in three cup competitions, the board have signed no defenders. The club haven’t even been linked with a defender. As far as Tottenham fans are concerned, this is gross negligence. The current squad is tired, with injuries being picked up left, right and centre because of Postecoglou’s demanding yet intriguing ways, and the only signing that has been made so far this January is young Czech goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky.

So, has Levy has taken the club as far as he can? It certainly seems from the outside as though his stubbornness has taken over, and as long as the NFL events in North London are a constant source of income to line his pockets, the man is content.

A banner on display outside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium shortly after the European Super League protests (2021).