Tottenham give update as search for new sporting director is paused | OneFootball

Tottenham’s search for a new sporting director has been paused.

Spurs hired Fabio Paratici last October to work alongside Johan Lange in a dual sporting director structure, but the Italian left the Premier League club in February to return to Italy for personal reasons.

The search will now continue at the end of the summer transfer window, according to minutes from a recent Fan Advisory Board (FAB) meeting.

Another sporting director was set to be brought in this summer, but during a meeting with FAB on June 16, chief executive Vinai Venkatesham confirmed it was no longer a key priority.

Lange, head coach Roberto De Zerbi and Rafi Moersen, who has joined as director of football operations, are leading the club’s recruitment this transfer window.

Asked about the sporting director search, Venkatesham said in minutes from the FAB meeting: “The club has confidence in our people, but if we find someone who can complement our existing team and make it better, we will do that at the right time (and in a summer window is not that time).

“No-one has been in a process and turned us down. Many names in the media linked with us, we have never even spoken to.”

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Roberto De Zerbi (PA)

Several topics were discussed during a wide-ranging meeting. Non-executive chairman Peter Charrington and Venkatesham both labelled the 2025-26 campaign “unacceptable” after Spurs only narrowly avoided relegation with a final-day win over Everton.

Charrington also said every decision made at Tottenham was “judged by the metric, ‘Does this make us a better football team?’”

Venkatesham said in the meeting minutes that the season was “unacceptable and cannot happen again”, and that “the ambition is to compete for major trophies and play the style of football our supporters want to see”.

Venkatesham also provided a strong defence of under-fire Lange, who has taken the brunt of criticism from fans after Tottenham finished 17th in each of the Dane’s two full seasons at the club.

“Players are not bought or sold because ‘the club’ wants to or ‘Roberto’ wants to,” he said. “Johan and his team work hand in glove with Roberto to develop and deliver a joint plan.

“Roberto joined because he believes in what we can do together as a team. He had no retention bonus, he has never asked for control over any decision-making, and he was completely committed to the club if we were relegated.

“Johan played a critical role in his appointment. Roberto was always the number one choice and we are delighted with the impact he has made so far.”

It was also revealed new director of football operations Moersen started on June 16 after a period of garden leave following his exit from City Football Group.

Moersen said during FAB meeting: “(My) remit includes recruitment, player transactions, infrastructure, player care and responsibility for the women’s team.”

Ex-Manchester City executive Moersen also emphasised “the importance of player welfare, relationship-building and improving football outcomes” during the meeting which occurred on his first day at Spurs.