Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy says he expects fans to appreciate his legacy only once he’s stepped away from the club.
Levy has held the reins at Spurs since 2001 and has frequently been a divisive figure among supporters.
While the club has seen major infrastructure advancements during his tenure – most notably the construction of the £1 billion state-of-the-art Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – fans have voiced frustration over the lack of trophies and the inability to capitalise on strong seasons such as their Premier League title pushes in 2016 and 2017, or the memorable run to the 2019 Champions League final.
Last season encapsulated much of that tension. Despite a disappointing 17th-place league finish – the club’s lowest in the Premier League era – Spurs managed to end their long silverware drought by defeating Manchester United in the Europa League final.
However, that success wasn’t enough to quell criticism. Then-manager Ange Postecoglou, who was dismissed just days after lifting the trophy in Bilbao, avoided much of the blame for Spurs’ domestic collapse.
Instead, fans directed their anger at Levy, holding him responsible for the club’s perceived stagnation.
Speaking to Gary Neville on The Overlap, Levy addressed that criticism.
“I think it’s one of those situations [in which] when I’m not here I’m sure I’ll get the credit,” he said.
“When you come here and look at this wonderful [stadium], and the fact that other clubs are now trying to copy what we’re doing, that should be a sign that maybe we did do something bold, and something right.”
Opened in 2019 on the site of the old White Hart Lane, the 60,000-seater venue has quickly established itself as one of Europe’s premier stadiums.
It hosts NFL games, major concerts, and other events, helping elevate Tottenham’s global profile.
Still, that off-pitch growth has not been mirrored by consistent on-field achievement.
“Nothing has changed in terms of our ambition,” Levy insisted. “Having won the Europa League – thank you to Ange – you get a taste of it, but it’s not enough. It’s never been enough.
“We’ve been in 16 or 17 semi-finals, seven finals, and we haven’t won enough.
“We know we need to use that as a springboard to keep winning. We’ve won two trophies in the last 20-plus years. We’ve been so close, so many times.”
Pressed on why Spurs have struggled to translate potential into consistent success, Levy offered a candid admission.
“I can’t really answer [why], because I’m not the one that picks the team, motivates the team.”
Another New Era
Looking ahead, Levy is placing his faith in new head coach Thomas Frank, who joined from Brentford following Postecoglou’s departure.
Frank will lead Spurs into the 2025-26 Premier League campaign with his first competitive match set for August 16 at home to Burnley.
He will do so without club icon Heung-Min Soh, who is leaving after a decade of service. The South Korean forward received a heartfelt farewell in Sunday’s pre-season match against Newcastle in Seoul.
As Spurs enter a new chapter, Levy called for patience and realistic expectations.
“He gets the style of football we want to play,” Levy said of Frank. “He understands that Rome wasn’t built in a day. We haven’t set him, ‘You’ve got to win the league this year.’ We just want to compete at the highest level.
“We will support him to the best of our ability. If you look at transfer fees, we’ve been in the top four spenders since the stadium opened, we’ve spent close to £700 million net on new players.”
