The legacy of Daniel Levy

Daniel Levy’s exit marks the end of an era at Tottenham

Tottenham Hotspur’s executive chairman Daniel Levy, who has stepped aside after almost 25 years in charge, will remain one of the most divisive figures in the club’s history.

Author | Greg S

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium | The ground Levy helped build

He oversaw the creation of the world-class infrastructure Spurs now enjoy, from the £1bn stadium that ranks among the finest in world football to the training headquarters at Hotspur Way in Enfield.

Yet for all these achievements, his tenure will always be judged by many through the lens of underachievement on the pitch.

Although retaining a minority stake, Levy will no longer be involved in the day-to-day running of the club. His exit will be celebrated by a sizeable section of the fanbase, who long associated his chairmanship with stagnation as much as progress.

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When his legacy is eventually assessed, it will be defined by financial strength and structural progress but also by a lack of tangible success on the field.

Levy presided over a period of constant upheaval, with 12 managers dismissed, while Spurs reached 16 semi-finals and seven finals, not counting the recent Uefa Super Cup. Silverware remained elusive, and that absence casts a shadow over his reign.

Spurs protests during 24/25 season (weeks before Europa League win)

History may look kindly on his off-field achievements, but there is no disguising the failures on it. Spurs regularly competed in Europe and became a permanent fixture in the Premier League’s upper reaches, but only two trophies were secured: the League Cup in 2008 under Juande Ramos, and last season’s Europa League. Even that long-awaited triumph ended in controversy, as Levy dismissed Ange Postecoglou just 16 days after victory against Manchester United in Bilbao.

So close, yet so far in the chase for glory

Spurs came within touching distance of football’s biggest prize in 2019, reaching the Champions League final, only to lose 2-0 to Liverpool in Madrid. 

What seemed like the beginning of a new era soon unravelled, with Mauricio Pochettino’s pleas for greater backing falling on deaf ears. His sacking six months later deepened the rift between Levy and many supporters.

Spurs fans watch the 2019 Champions League on a big screen in North London

For critics, Levy’s insistence on financial discipline too often translated into a lack of ambition compared with rivals who turned their wealth into regular success. His financial stewardship was widely admired built on revenues from the new stadium, a lean wage structure and cautious spending. But profitability never delivered the consistent trophies fans craved, and over time Levy became the target of increasing anger.

A constant quest for success

Levy’s pursuit of glory brought in proven winners such as Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, but neither delivered the breakthrough. Mourinho’s dismissal, just days before the 2021 Carabao Cup final against Manchester City, epitomised the erratic decision-making that came to define his reign. The short-lived tenure of Nuno Espírito Santo only added to the sense of drift.

Until the Europa League triumph, the pattern was one of repeated near misses. Thomas Frank became the 14th permanent manager to serve under Levy when he replaced Postecoglou, underlining the instability of the past two decades.

With ownership questions still swirling around the club, Levy’s departure after more than two decades marks a seismic moment for Tottenham Hotspur.