On Thursday evening, Tottenham will take to their world-leading 62,000-seat stadium to face Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League last-16, with manager Jose Mourinho set to make changes as Premier League and Champions League qualification remain priorities. This marks a far cry from the club Daniel Levy inherited 20 years ago when he was appointed chairman.
Levy joined Tottenham in 2001 after ENIC bought out Alan Sugar for £22million. The club he took over was unrecognisable from today: gone are the days of mid-table mediocrity. Tottenham are now an established member of the 'big six', boast state-of-the-art facilities, and hired prolific trophy-winner Mourinho. While Levy remains a polarising figure, their rise to the Champions League final in 2019 is something he must take significant credit for.
Levy quickly stamped his authority by sacking manager George Graham within a week, but the season ended in 12th place. Worse followed as Sol Campbell moved to Arsenal on a free transfer. However, the appointment of Martin Jol proved pivotal. Jol guided Tottenham to successive fifth-place finishes, a real feat at the time, and almost secured Champions League qualification before a food poisoning incident on the eve of the final match.
Jol's reign ended unpleasantly when fans learned of his dismissal during a UEFA Cup defeat to Getafe. He was replaced by Juande Ramos, who won the Carling Cup in 2008 but is considered one of Levy's worst appointments. Despite this, Levy's 20-year tenure has seen Tottenham transform from a mid-table side to European contenders.
