Mauricio Pochettino has disclosed that he sent a message to Daniel Levy following his exit as Tottenham Hotspur chairman. The club announced on Thursday evening that the 63-year-old had "stepped down from his role as executive chairman after nearly 25 years."
As football.london reported back in May, a substantial summer of upheaval was expected, and Levy's departure from the North London outfit represents the pinnacle of this transformation. A turbulent summer at N17 has witnessed head coach Ange Postecoglou being sacked, with Thomas Frank selected as his replacement.
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At boardroom level, Vinai Venkatesham has been named as the club's chief executive officer, whilst Scott Munn has been placed on gardening leave from his role as chief football officer. And Pochettino, who led Tottenham under Levy between 2014 and 2019, has now addressed the exit of a chairman he characterises as having enjoyed a "very good" relationship with.
"I knew the news about Daniel Levy yesterday," he said, via Sky Sports. "I am a little bit in shock, because he was my former president. I don't know what happened there.
"Of course, I sent a text to him and I sent a text to different people that were very close to him. Still no answer (from Levy). I don't have more information.
"What I want to say is I wish all the best for his life and his family time. My relationship was always very good. I was in shock like many people that know him."
The Argentine was touted for the vacant position at Real Madrid following Zinedine Zidane's departure after the Frenchman's initial tenure at the club in 2018. Yet when Los Blancos came knocking, a pledge Pochettino had given to Levy ultimately contributed to derailing the most significant managerial opportunity of his career.
"As a player, I had the chance to play for Madrid , but it didn't happen. As a coach, I had a couple of opportunities, but sometimes, that's how things happen in football," the current USA manager revealed in an interview with Chiringuito TV.
"I don't know whether to tell the story or not. Zidane is leaving and logically there's the possibility of signing for Real Madrid. Surely other coaches too.
"I had given Levy my word that I would stay until Tottenham's new ground was finished. At that moment I told him that I would go to Madrid if Levy gave the OK. I don't know what happened afterwards. Surely he didn't give the OK."
He continued: "I don't know how Florentino Perez took it; it wasn't my fault. I wasn't out of contract. But it's never too late if the luck is right."