Why former Tottenham Chairman Daniel Levy can depart with pride | OneFootball

The surprise announcement on Thursday that Daniel Levy, Chairman of Tottenham Hotspur for almost 25 years, would be stepping down with immediate effect was largely greeted with delight by supporters. For years, chants of “Levy Out” echoed around the stands, and now fans finally have their wish.

Few figures in modern English football provoke such polarised opinions. Chairman since 2001, Levy presided over more than two decades of transformation at one of England’s most historic clubs. Spurs evolved from mid-table mediocrity into established members of the Premier League’s top six, constructed a £1 billion state-of-the-art stadium, and built a global profile to rival their competitors. Yet for all the off-field progress, Levy departs in 2025 with just two major trophies to his name, leaving his legacy fiercely contested.

The Architect of Modern Tottenham

Levy’s defenders point first to the sheer scale of the transformation he engineered. When ENIC acquired control in 2001 and installed Levy, Spurs were drifting. White Hart Lane, though atmospheric, was outdated; finances lagged behind the elite; and Champions League football seemed a distant dream.

Commercially, Tottenham are unrecognisable from the club Levy inherited. The club’s value rose from around £80m at the time of his takeover to roughly £4bn upon his departure, according to figures by Sky Sports. The 2019 move into the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, widely regarded as the finest football venue in the world, is Levy’s crowning achievement. With a retractable pitch for NFL games, a 62,000 capacity, and vast commercial revenue streams, the new home elevated Spurs into Europe’s financial elite.

Competitive Progress Without Silverware

On the pitch, Tottenham made strides, even if tangible rewards were scarce. Levy’s era delivered memorable moments: a Champions League quarter-final under Harry Redknapp in 2011, Mauricio Pochettino’s exhilarating side that reached the Champions League final in 2019, and squads featuring Luka Modrić, Gareth Bale, Harry Kane, and Son Heung-min.

Yet the stark statistic remains: in 24 years, Tottenham lifted only two trophies, the 2008 League Cup and last season’s Europa League. Considering the infrastructure, talent, and high-profile managers brought in under Levy, the return feels paltry. Rivals Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Liverpool surged ahead while Spurs remained defined by near misses.

The Criticisms: Conservatism and Short-Termism

Levy’s reign was often characterised by conservatism at decisive moments. The summer of 2018, when Tottenham signed no players despite being title contenders, epitomised his prudence. Many argue that Spurs were one or two quality additions away from becoming champions under Pochettino. Instead, the project stagnated, and the Argentine was dismissed just months after delivering a Champions League final.

His managerial appointments also revealed a lack of coherent footballing vision. From Mourinho to Conte to Postecoglou, Spurs lacked a consistent footballing philosophy. The decision to sack Mourinho days before the 2021 League Cup final highlighted the short-termism that too often defined Levy’s leadership.

Levy and the Fans: A Fractured Relationship

Perhaps the most damaging element of Levy’s tenure was his deteriorating relationship with the supporters. In later years, chants, protests, and boycotts became routine. Many saw him as a businessman first and football man second, more concerned with revenue than with trophies.

The European Super League debacle of 2021 crystallised the distrust. Spurs’ involvement, orchestrated under Levy, symbolised his detachment from the club’s traditions. Yet paradoxically, Spurs’ invitation to join that elite cartel was itself testament to the financial platform Levy had built.

Even among critics, there is recognition that his cautious stewardship shielded Tottenham from the financial crises that engulfed others. Leeds, Portsmouth, and even Barcelona crumbled under poor management, while Spurs remained stable, never breaching financial regulations. In today’s climate of PSR scrutiny, Tottenham suffer very little.

Legacy and What Comes Next

While Levy was never quite able to deliver success when it mattered most, he was undoubtedly a visionary builder. He transformed Tottenham into a global powerhouse with world-class infrastructure, commercial strength, and a financial model envied across Europe. Without him, Spurs would not have enjoyed the sustained Champions League participation of the last decade.

For Tottenham, the post-Levy years will reveal much about how he should be remembered. If silverware soon follows, his departure will rightly be seen as a masterstroke. But if success remains elusive without the financial discipline he imposed, fans may reflect on the old adage: Be careful what you wish for.

GFN | Finn Entwistle