After nearly 25 years in charge, Daniel Levy has stepped down as Tottenham Hotspur chairman, marking the most dramatic shift in the club’s modern history.

His departure signals a wider restructuring at Spurs, both on the pitch and in the boardroom.

Why Daniel Levy is leaving

Although Levy’s statement framed the decision as a natural step, the reality is that the move was driven by the Lewis family, who control Spurs through Tavistock and ENIC.

Following an independent review of the club’s operations, the conclusion was that Tottenham needed a more modern, corporate structure with a CEO-led board rather than one dominated by a single powerful chairman.

The Lewis family were concerned about the inconsistent success on the pitch during Levy’s tenure.

While Spurs grew into a global brand with a state-of-the-art stadium and world-class training facilities, the club won just two trophies in 24 years under Levy, the most recent being the Europa League triumph in May.

For the owners, the feeling was that new leadership was required to match their ambitions.

The wider summer of upheaval

Levy’s exit caps off an extraordinary summer in N17. Ange Postecoglou was sacked despite winning silverware, replaced by Thomas Frank, while Vinai Venkatesham joined as CEO.

Meanwhile, Scott Munn was placed on gardening leave and Levy’s long-time advisor Donna-Maria Cullen also departed after three decades at the club.

This reset at both football and boardroom level was designed to break with the past.

Spurs are now aligning themselves with the model seen at many elite European clubs: a CEO-backed structure that allows the owners to provide strategic support without being deeply involved in day-to-day football operations.

Levy’s legacy

Daniel Levy leaves behind a complicated legacy. On one hand, he transformed Spurs financially, oversaw the building of arguably the finest stadium in the Premier League, and helped elevate the club into Europe’s elite circles.

On the other, his reign will be remembered for near-misses: Mauricio Pochettino’s side falling short in the 2019 Champions League final, consistent top-four finishes without sustained title challenges, and a lack of trophies to match the club’s infrastructure.

What it means for Spurs going forward

The Lewis family see this as a turning point. With Venkatesham now in place as CEO, Tottenham are set to operate under a more modern governance model, giving Frank a clearer footballing structure to work under.

The hope is that this shift, coupled with the club’s financial power, will finally translate into consistent on-pitch success.

For supporters, Levy’s departure will be met with mixed emotions. Some will view it as overdue, given frustrations over transfer policies and managerial appointments, while others will acknowledge the transformative role he played in taking Spurs from mid-table mediocrity to a club operating at the top financial table of European football.