Written by Joe Austin for FootballFancast.com: February 2011 marked the ten year anniversary of the ENIC leadership of Tottenham. What I look back on today is what Daniel Levy, managing director of ENIC, has done for this club. The job of a football chairman is in many ways a poisoned chalice. Chairmen are criticised for their decisions based on short-term effects when they have made them for a long-term impact; this is true of Daniel Levy’s management.
As I write this, Tottenham are placed fifth in the Premier League table and are in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. This season has been one of their best for the last twenty years. In that sense Daniel Levy has got the fans to where they all wanted to be, but it has not been an easy ride. Here are some of the most important aspects of Levy’s reign that, at the time, might seem incorrect, but have proved to be astute decisions.
Director of Football Role
Before Arnesan and Comolli, Tottenham had been used to buying players like Chris Perry, Rebrov and Tim Sherwood. These signings were all very much reactive in the sense that players would fill a hole for a season or two. Under this transfer policy the club were not going anywhere. The director of football role got Tottenham planning for future success; that success in now being realised and Daniel Levy can take credit for that.
Under Frank Arnesen, Tottenham bought players like Carrick (£3m), Lennon (£1.5m) and Defoe (£7m). Then under Damien Comolli, players like Bale, Berbatov and Modric. If you look at the personnel bought under the ‘director of football’, almost all have developed into very good players. Occasionally, they might not have produced their best football for Tottenham, but they have been sold for more than they were bought for. The director of football role might have had a short-term negative impact on the way the team played on the pitch, but the long term results are there for all to see and importantly it brought a change in attitude to spending at White Hart Lane.
Sacking of Jol
Arguably the most controversial decision Daniel Levy made was sacking Martin Jol. Levy received a lot of criticism for the manner in which he sacked Martin Jol. Jol may have been a genuinely nice guy and popular amongst of the Tottenham fans, but the fact was that Jol did not have the capabilities to take Tottenham to the level that Levy wanted. He may have never let anyone down, but I don’t think Martin Jol would have led Tottenham to break into the top four and beyond, at least not consistently. Levy is ambitious and ruthless and while this may have meant that Jol was mistreated, in the end it appears to be the right decision.
Stadium Move
Levy has recently come under criticism for planning a move away from White Hart Lane to Stratford. Many have labelled this as ripping the heart out of the club. Much has already been written on this and will be fresh in people’s memories, but there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Tottenham need to increase their stadium capacity if they are going to regularly compete for a Champions League spot. Levy’s ambition to make Tottenham into a club that regularly finishes in the top four, may at times unsettle fans, but his desire to move stadium is based on the long term future of the club and is not just a get rich quick scheme.
Financial Management
There are benefits that Levy has brought to White Hart lane that I have not had room to go into detail in here. For example the club’s wage structure meaning that it runs at a relatively low debt. Tottenham’s spending has meant that they are not now in tatters like for example Portsmouth or West Ham. Importantly, Levy he has not invested huge amounts of borrowed money like some of the other foreign investors in the Premier League (Liverpool and Manchester United) and he is not relying purely on the money of ENIC to fund the expenses of the club (Chelsea and Manchester City). In fact, after Arsenal, Tottenham is, financially, the best run club in England.
In truth, Daniel Levy’s legacy will be judged by more than just one season. If he is to go down as a legend, Tottenham will have to maintain the standards they have set in the last two seasons. But considering the ambition and desire he has shown in the last ten years, there is no reason to expect Tottenham to fade away. In ten years he has taken Tottenham from a struggling club to one of the top clubs in the country. Tottenham now play exciting football under a great manager, have some of the most exciting talent in the country (as well as some awesome youth prospects) and all at a comparably low debt. Huge credit must go to Daniel Levy for this.
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Martin Jol did take Spurs to the brink of the Champions League – twice. Other than that, spot on. Levy has been brilliant and I dred the day he leaves.
“Has Levy been a force for good in his decade at Tottenham?”
Obviously..
The treatment of MJ, is my only real criticism of Jol.
Given the problems with the size of our ground compared to our target competitors grounds, I think it is fair to say that he has come close to working a miracle.
Meant to say “Levy” not “Jol”.
Whilst in control at Spurs ENIC have had their good and bad times but I think overall we are starting to see the fruits of long term labour. Along with your points, there have also been the major re-branding of the “brand” with the dropping of the clubs traditional crest and Latin motto. The future however is looking bright both on and off the pitch. The financial capabilities of THFC are stronger then ever and we have a manager and a squad that is the envy of 99% of Europe. The two grey clouds that hang over the club are, in my opinion, off the pitch, the continuing stadium redevelopment/relocation issue, on it, the future of Redknapp and the clubs ability to replace him with somebody of equal calibre that can continue the progress made over the last few years.
Definitely a force for good. Wasn’t his first significant decision to sack George Graham? I still feel the cold in my bones from sitting through a home 0-0 with Southampton (Jan 2001), part of Graham’s run of five 0-0s on the trot. Forward line of Rebrov & Dave McEwen (Ferdinand off injured early on). Doherty and Clemence part of the spine.
I think it’s safe to say we’re looking in better shape 10 years on.
Absolutely spot on
If we can build a “new WHL” and reach CL most seasons, our turnover would be similar to the Gooners……then the sky really is the limit, and Levy is the chief architect.