Daniel Levy’s near quarter-century at the helm of Tottenham Hotspur has come to a dramatic close, marking the end of one of English football’s most enduring and controversial executive reigns. On September 4, 2025, the club announced that Levy, the Premier League’s longest-serving chairman, had stepped down with immediate effect. But as is often the case with high-profile departures, the official line only tells part of the story.
BBC Sport reports that while Spurs’ statement described Levy’s exit as a resignation, well-placed sources indicate the decision was made for him by the club’s ownership. The Lewis family, owners of Tottenham through the Tavistock Group, are said to have orchestrated the move, believing that new leadership could finally deliver the on-pitch success that has so often eluded the north London club.
Levy’s tenure began in March 2001, after he acquired Alan Sugar’s 27% stake in the club. Back then, Tottenham were far from the European regulars they are today, with their Premier League finishes often languishing in mid-table or flirting with relegation. In fact, prior to Levy’s arrival, Spurs hadn’t finished higher than seventh since the league’s inception in 1992-93. The transformation under Levy’s stewardship, then, is as much a story of ambition as it is of frustration.
“I am incredibly proud of the work I have done together with the executive team and all our employees,” Levy said in his parting message. “We have built this club into a global heavyweight competing at the highest level. More than that, we have built a community.” His words ring true in many respects. During his leadership, Tottenham reached the Champions League final in 2019, played in European competitions in 18 of the last 20 seasons, and opened the state-of-the-art 62,000-seat Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2019—a venue that now hosts NFL games and major concerts in addition to football, generating unprecedented revenue streams.
Yet for all the off-field progress, on-field glory has been in short supply. In 24 years, Spurs collected just one EFL Cup, one UEFA Europa League title—finally breaking a 17-year trophy drought in May 2025—and that memorable but ultimately unsuccessful run to the Champions League final, where they fell 2-0 to Liverpool. The club’s inability to consistently challenge for the game’s biggest prizes became a lightning rod for fan frustration, culminating in regular protests and chants of “Levy out” throughout the difficult 2024-25 season. That campaign saw Spurs finish a dismal 17th in the Premier League, prompting the sacking of head coach Ange Postecoglou and the appointment of Thomas Frank in the summer.
Levy’s reputation as a shrewd negotiator and tough operator earned him both admiration and animosity. Football finance expert Kieran Maguire described Tottenham as the “most profitable club in Premier League history” due to their new stadium, a historically low wage structure, and a cautious approach to transfer spending. However, critics argue that this financial prudence came at the expense of squad investment, with many supporters believing it hindered the club’s ability to compete with England’s elite.
“He’s faced his share of criticism, but I think when you look at the business side of things... it’s evolved, and you can’t take that away from what he’s done,” said former Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson on BBC Radio 5 Live. “The legacy Daniel leaves, everybody will think about the stadium and the training ground but also the underachievement on the pitch.”
Levy’s transfer strategy was often to buy promising talent, develop them, and sell for profit. Stars like Dimitar Berbatov, Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, and Kyle Walker all departed for bigger clubs, netting Tottenham substantial fees but also reinforcing the perception of Spurs as a “selling club.” Still, the club’s European consistency and ability to attract top managers and players reflected a stature that would have been unthinkable in the late 1990s.
This summer, Tottenham spent around £181 million on new signings, including attacking midfielders Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus, a sign that the club’s ambition remains undimmed. The leadership shakeup has also seen Vinai Venkatesham appointed as chief executive in April and Peter Charrington, a director of the club’s owners Enic, installed as non-executive chairman.
Ownership and shareholder structures remain unchanged, with Levy retaining a stake in Enic but relinquishing all direct involvement in club affairs. The Lewis family—particularly Joe Lewis’s children, Vivienne and Charlie, and grandson-in-law Nick Beucher—were instrumental in the decision to modernize the board and remove the role of executive chairman altogether. The move, timed carefully after the summer transfer window, signals a deliberate shift toward a more contemporary management structure.
“This is a new era of leadership for the club, on and off the pitch,” Charrington said, emphasizing the club’s focus on stability and empowerment under Venkatesham’s executive team. At the time of Levy’s departure, Spurs sat fourth in the Premier League after three games of the 2025-26 season—an encouraging start, but with plenty of the campaign still to play.
The club’s statement on Levy’s exit was effusive: “Tottenham Hotspur has been transformed over the last quarter of a century. It has played in European competitions in the last 18 of 20 seasons, becoming one of the world’s most recognised football clubs, consistently investing in its academy, players and facilities, including a new, world-class stadium and state-of-the-art training centre.”
Supporters’ reactions have been predictably mixed. Some, like Alex, praised Levy as “the great moderniser of the club,” while others, like Dan, admitted to being “a firm ‘Levy Out’ supporter in recent years because of the poor footballing decisions” but acknowledged the club’s growth under his stewardship. “Thankful for all he did on the financial side, making us a strong club. Thankful that he has now stepped down,” added Dave, capturing the duality of sentiment that defines Levy’s legacy.
Levy’s approach to running Tottenham was unique in the modern era. Unlike many rivals, Spurs did not benefit from the bottomless pockets of a nation-state or billionaire owner. Instead, Levy built a club that, by 2019, was too big for one person to manage—an organization that had outgrown the one-man-band model as the demands of modern football intensified. Despite a net spend deficit of around $760 million in the last five years, the club’s recruitment strategy came under fire, especially as sporting directors came and went and the women’s team struggled for investment.
As the dust settles on Levy’s departure, there’s a sense that his achievements may only be truly appreciated with the passage of time. He leaves behind a club unrecognizable from the one he inherited, boasting world-class facilities, a global profile, and a financial foundation envied by many. Yet, the question that lingers is whether the new era will finally deliver the consistent sporting triumphs that have so often slipped through Tottenham’s grasp.
For now, Spurs fans and football observers alike will watch closely as the club embarks on this new chapter, the echoes of Levy’s complex legacy still resonating from the boardroom to the stands.
