Daniel Levy and ENIC took over Tottenham Hotspur back in 2001. At that time, the club was in a difficult financial situation, but despite this, they were winning trophies and attracting fans with their exciting style of play. In the early years of ENIC’s ownership, under Daniel Levy’s leadership, the club experienced a number of successes – it became financially stable, built the incredible new stadium, and established itself as a member of the so-called ‘Big Six.’
However, the last few years have been particularly disappointing for the club, revealing several weak points in ENIC’s management. The club has not won a trophy since 2008, has frequently changed managers, and the fans are frustrated, calling for a change in ownership. All of this has significantly damaged the legacy that Daniel Levy had built, and there’s a growing likelihood that he will be remembered as one of the worst club owners in Tottenham’s history. Whether that’s true or not, it doesn’t matter if that’s how fans will remember him. Here are 5 reasons why Daniel Levy is on track to tarnish his legacy.
The Club Has Fallen Behind the Others
In 2019, Tottenham Hotspur reached its peak by making it to the Champions League final. Since then, however, the club has entered a period of long and painful stagnation. Daniel Levy continued changing managers one after another but refused to significantly invest in players during the transfer windows. He believed that the squad was strong enough to win something, and that the only issue was the managers. However, the managers brought in after Mauricio Pochettino were all highly regarded.
In recent years, the club has consistently stagnated, only managing to break into the Champions League once since Pochettino’s era ended. This current season has become one of the worst in ENIC’s tenure and has essentially set the club back to the beginning of Daniel Levy’s ownership. All of this is the result of a series of poor decisions from the leadership that have led the club to this point.
Creating a Negative Image
Under Daniel Levy’s leadership, Tottenham Hotspur has become a target for mockery from fans of other clubs, the media, and even neutral observers. Have you ever heard the term “Spursy” before Daniel Levy and ENIC took over? Probably not. The term is relatively new and has deeply ingrained itself into popular culture. This is not the image a club needs if it wants to be successful and win trophies.
Many might argue that it’s just teasing and not worth paying attention to, as we are all adults. However, this image of the club works against us in the transfer market and during contract negotiations. Would a top player want to join a team with such a negative reputation in world football? When players are asked about their goals during their introductory transfer interviews, they are often reluctant to mention ambitions of winning trophies with Tottenham, as they immediately become targets for ridicule on social media. Ambitious players already know, even without the formal introduction, that Tottenham isn’t winning trophies. And this is a dreadful result of Daniel Levy’s management.
Daniel Levy Doesn’t Back His Managers
At the most crucial moments of the Pochettino era, Daniel Levy failed to support his manager. When the club was on the verge of winning trophies, Levy chose to sell players instead of strengthening the squad. And this wasn’t a one-off—it happened time and again with every manager brave enough to take the Tottenham job.
José Mourinho didn’t get the players he wanted and, for the first time in his career, failed to win a single trophy. Levy believed that the existing squad was capable of success, despite a weak bench—a belief that proved to be a major miscalculation. Antonio Conte became the next victim. Despite big promises, he too was denied the signings he requested. It all culminated in his now-infamous post-match interview after the draw with Southampton—a brutally honest rant that served as a warning to any manager thinking about taking the Spurs job.
Finance Over Football
Levy’s decisions have always revolved around a single priority: money. Financially, Tottenham are one of the richest clubs in the world. But on the pitch, the results have been mediocre, with only occasional moments of brilliance. The team has been regressing in football terms—and now, that decline is beginning to impact the financial side as well.
Spurs had the potential to become a global brand, capable of generating even greater revenue. Instead, the club has become synonymous with failure in the footballing world. By prioritizing profits over performance, Levy is now on the brink of losing both. If this trend continues, the legacy of the Daniel Levy and ENIC era could end in disaster.
Unprofessional Football Management
Within football circles, there are long-standing stories about Levy’s unique and often problematic approach to football operations. He’s known for dragging out negotiations, refusing to pay signing bonuses, and generally making life difficult for potential recruits. The most famous example is the failed Willian signing—who ended up at Chelsea instead.
For years, fans have called for Levy to stick to the financial side of the club and hand over footballing decisions to professionals. We briefly experienced that dynamic during the tenure of Fabio Paratici, who brought a more football-focused approach. However, after Paratici was suspended from footballing activities, Levy appears to have once again taken charge—and the club’s performances have suffered as a result.
READ MORE: 5 Devastating Ways Daniel Levy Has Destroyed His Own Legacy at Tottenham Hotspur
Sadly, it’s fair to say that Daniel Levy’s era at Tottenham has been a frustrating one. So many hopes, so much potential—yet it all seems to be ending with an overwhelming desire from fans to see new ownership. And for that, Daniel Levy and ENIC have no one to blame but themselves.