Tottenham Hotspur has confirmed that long-standing executive chairman Daniel Levy has resigned with immediate effect.
Levy led the Spurs for 24 years, but now this era has come to an abrupt end. Under his leadership, the London club became a top European club, playing internationally in 18 of the last 20 seasons and becoming a globally recognized brand. In terms of sporting achievements, winning the Europa League last May (1-0 against Manchester United) stands out in particular.
But it was in economic terms that the English club often made the right decisions in recent years and decades: investments in the youth academy, the club’s own sporting infrastructure, and the construction of a new state-of-the-art arena for over a billion pounds, which also hosts official NFL games every year, all took place during Levy’s tenure.
He also has a reputation as a tough negotiator, as FC Bayern, among others, found out when Harry Kane’s transfer to Säbener Straße was being discussed in 2023. No details were given as to the reason for his sudden departure.
Levy looks back with satisfaction
Meanwhile, Levy’s conclusion is positive. “I am incredibly proud of the work I have done together with the management and all our employees. We have made this club a global heavyweight that plays at the highest level. What’s more, we have built a community,“ said the 63-year-old in a club statement, adding: ”It hasn’t always been an easy journey, but significant progress has been made. I will continue to passionately support this club.”
Despite his achievements, Levy, who is also a shareholder in Spurs, was not without his critics among the fans, not least because of some unpopular decisions. This summer, he sacked Ange Postecoglou, the very coach who, in his second year, won a title as previously announced. The Europa League trophy was Tottenham’s first title after a 17-year wait.
“That’s not enough. We want to win the Premier League. We want to win the Champions League,” argued Levy at the time, who was also completely dissatisfied with Spurs’ performance in the league. The North London club finished last season in an extremely disappointing 17th place in the Premier League.
However, the Spurs will now pursue their ambitious goals without the 63-year-old in a key role, as Levy’s position at the Premier League club will no longer exist in the future. His job will be split into two: Vinai Venkatesham will become the new chief executive officer (CEO), while Peter Charrington will take on the newly created role of non-executive chairman as a new member of the board.
“This is a new era of leadership for the club, both on and off the pitch,” said Charrington, emphasizing that the club is aware “that there have been many changes in recent months” and explaining that this was done to create “a new foundation for the future.” But now, he said, the focus is on restoring stability.
So while there are major upheavals at the management level, there will be no changes to the club’s ownership or shareholder structure.
