Daniel Levy has stepped down as Tottenham's executive chairman after almost 25 years at the club, with iconic Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson's opinion on the savvy negotiator clear
Daniel Levy has stepped down as Tottenham's executive chairman, and legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson's admission encapsulates what a hard nut he was to crack.
Levy, who joined the Spurs board in December 2000, has been the driving force behind the north London club's transition from White Hart Lane to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. He now steps down after almost 25 years without any alterations to his ownership or shares in the club.
This follows closely on the heels of Vinai Venkatesham's appointment as chief executive officer, while Peter Charrrington has joined the board and assumed the role of non-executive chairman, in what is being portrayed as a move prioritising sporting success.
During his tenure with Spurs, Levy was known for his hardball approach to transfers, earning a reputation as a savvy negotiator with a knack for striking a deal.
However, these tactics irked iconic United manager Ferguson when the two clubs were pitted against each other in negotiations over Dimitar Berbatov 17 years ago.
Berbatov eventually completed a move from White Hart Lane to Old Trafford for £30million, although the acrimonious aftermath saw Tottenham lodge a complaint with the Premier League over the transfer. Subsequently, Ferguson was less than flattering when reflecting on the negotiations.
"That whole experience was more painful than my hip replacement," he wrote in his book, Leading, highlighting the challenging nature of dealing with Levy and indirectly praising his negotiation skills.
Upon the announcement of his departure, Levy issued a heartfelt statement: "I am incredibly proud of the work I have done together with the executive team and all our employees.
"We have built this club into a global heavyweight competing at the highest level. More than that, we have built a community," he added.
"I was fortunate enough to work with some of the greatest people in this sport, from the team at Lilywhite House and Hotspur Way to all the players and managers over the years.
"I wish to thank all the fans that have supported me over the years. It hasn't always been an easy journey but significant progress has been made. I will continue to support this club passionately."
Berbatov was Ferguson's record buy and enjoyed a successful four years under the Scot's management. He registered 56 goals and 27 assists in 149 games for the Red Devils.
He departed for Fulham in 2012 with a considerably bolstered silverware collection. He'd picked up medals for two Premier League triumphs, two League Cups, two Community Shields and a Club World Cup.