Ahead of the club’s launch of a new Fan Advisory board, Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy took part in video call with representitives of the club’s key supporter groups. During the call, Levy discussed several topics and has commented on the club’s recent appointment of former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou, defended his transfer spending under previous managers, and the impact UEFA’s FFP regulations will have on the European football eco-system.
Firstly, when asked about the aquisition of the 57-year-old, the English businessman explained: “We made a conscious decision that we wanted a coach who would understand what we really wanted as a Club, which was to play attacking football, to enable everyone to enjoy coming to a match and be entertained, and also someone who understood the importance of the Academy.”
The former defender, who has signed a contract as the Lilywhites’ new head coach until 2027, has successfully produced attacking football and won trophies in several of his previous managerial jobs, as he won consecutive A-League Championships with Brisbane Roar in 2011 and 2012, led Australia’s first team to their first and only AFC Asian Cup in 2015, and helped Yokohama F.Marinos claim their first J1 League title for 15 years in 2019.
Most recently, Postecoglou’s Celtic side scored 114 goals in the Scottish Premier League season as The Hoops completed a domestic treble in just his second season at the side.
Levy also referenced the North London sides player recruitment, stating: “The notion that Tottenham haven’t backed certain managers is incorrect. We’re currently paying the price, perhaps, where some of the acquisitions have not turned out to be as we hoped.”
Although this is perhaps in response to ex-Spurs manager Jose Mourinho recently critizing the chairman’s treatment of him during his time at the club, Spurs’ recent transfer dealings do reflect these comments. The side have spent just over €530m on players between the 2019/20 and 2022/23 seasons, the fifth most of any other Premier League side, according to Transfermarkt.
However, of the squad that has been made up with this investment, many are expected to depart this summer, with the incoming Australian coach prepared to lead a major summer clearout at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium. Yet, there is a chance that club record signing Tanguy Ndombele may stay on at the club, with Postecolgou said to be keen on watching the French midfielder before making a final decision on his future, which remains uncertain following his return from a year-long spell at Scudetto winners Napoli. This is not to mention the significant choice to be made over star man and record goalscorer Harry Kane, who is receiving interest from several top European sides, most notably Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United.
Further regarding their levels of expenditure, there is potential Spurs may not be able to maintain it in the future, with UEFA’s changes to the Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations last year meaning that clubs competing in their competitions will only be able to spend up to 70% of their revenue on transfers, wages, and agent fees. This cap will come into force at the start of the 2025/26 season, whilst gradual cost control will be implemented up until this point, with the percentage standing at 90% in 2023/24 and 80% in 2024/25.
Despite these FFP regulations possibly decreasing the amount his side are able to invest in their playing squad, Levy still sees these changes as positive, suggesting that the rules “need to be applied” in order to reduce the risk of clubs going out of business and to create a “much more sustainable business model” for all European sides.
The 61-year-old has scarcely spoken publicly since becoming chairman in February 2001 and these comments mark the beginning of what is set to be a monumental summer for the 2019 Champions League runners-up, as they look to bounce back from a disappointing eighth place finish and return to European football next year after missing out on qualification for the first time since the 2013/14 season.
Travis Levison | Get Football
