LONDON: Daniel Levy has stepped down as Tottenham chairman, the club announced Thursday, ending the nearly 25-year tenure of a divisive figure known for keeping the Premier League team profitable but being unable to turn it into a trophy-winning force.
The 63-year-old Levy, who was the longest-serving chairman in the Premier League, said he has left his role with Tottenham now a “global heavyweight competing at the highest level.”
“It hasn’t always been an easy journey,” Levy said, “but significant progress has been made. I will continue to support this club passionately.”
Levy’s departure comes several months after Tottenham ended a 17-year trophy drought by beating Manchester United 1-0 to win the Europa League final. It was the first major title for Spurs since they won the English League Cup in 2008, and first European triumph since they won the UEFA Cup — the equivalent of the Europa League now — for the second time in 1984.
Known as a fierce and uncompromising negotiator in the transfer market, Levy also was accused by many Tottenham fans of chasing profits over silverware in failing to fully back some of the most high-profile managers in soccer that he employed in recent years, such as Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.
There were protests against his tenure last season, when Tottenham finished 17th in the Premier League — one place above the bottom three — despite the club being among the so-called “Big Six” in English soccer and owning one of the best stadiums in world soccer.
Levy oversaw the move from White Hart Lane to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, their home since 2019 and now a venue for concerts and other sporting events like boxing and NFL.
Tottenham said there would be “no changes to the ownership or shareholder structure of the club” in light of the departure of Levy, who reportedly owns around 30 percent of the share capital of ENIC, the club’s majority owner.
Peter Charrington has become non-executive chairman, and he thanked Levy and his family for “their commitment and loyalty to the club over so many years.”
Daniel Levy steps down as Tottenham chairman after divisive 25-year tenure
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Daniel Levy steps down as Tottenham chairman after divisive 25-year tenure
- The 63-year-old Levy was the longest-serving chairman in the Premier League
- He said he has left his role with Tottenham now a “global heavyweight competing at the highest level”
Commando Group leads standings on second day of Abu Dhabi World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship
- Al-Jazira Jiu-Jitsu Club secured second place, with Al-Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club taking third at Mubadala Arena
ABU DHABI: Commando Group on Monday finished top of the standings at the Abu Dhabi World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship, capping off a day of competition in the blue and purple belt divisions at Mubadala Arena.
The second day of the event also saw Al-Jazira Jiu-Jitsu Club secure second place, with Al-Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club taking third. The youth tournament is part of the 17th Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
The championship is held under the patronage of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.
Mansoor Al-Dhaheri, board member of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: “The seventeenth edition of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship continues to strengthen Abu Dhabi’s status as the world capital of jiu-jitsu. The event plays an important role in developing the sport and bringing communities together, and the participation of more than 10,000 athletes from 130 countries shows the growing confidence of the international sporting community in Abu Dhabi’s capabilities to organize major events. The championship’s constant high technical quality levels and the rise of new talents give the sport strong momentum locally and internationally.
“The championship reflects the UAE leadership’s vision to support younger generations through sports, especially jiu-jitsu, which instils values such as discipline, focus, confidence and patience in athletes. These values help mold a generation that is ready to compete at the highest levels and prepared for the future.”
One of the VIP guests, Carlos Vizioli, deputy chief of mission at the Brazilian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, said: “I am honored to attend this championship. It reflects the strong and growing relationship between the United Arab Emirates and Brazil. The UAE has become the main destination for thousands of Brazilian athletes who find a supportive environment here and feel at home.
“Abu Dhabi has shown that it can organize and host major global sports events at the highest level. This is why all participants appreciate and admire it. The hospitality and professional organization are key to the championship’s success every year.
“The performances we saw today from the blue and purple belt athletes were very strong and impressive. They are making clear progress, and their level shows the quality of training in clubs and academies from around the world.”
Competitions for the Masters category will start on Tuesday.
