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Daniel Levy once blocked the arrival of a manager at Tottenham Hotspur, with his nationality playing a significant role in the rejection.

Tottenham Hotspur, currently 17th in the Premier League, are battling relegation this season after underwhelming managerial stints from Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor.

It has now been revealed that back in the early 2000s, club chairman Daniel Levy enforced a coach selection criteria that could have prevented Tottenham Hotspur’s relegation-fighting woes this season.

No Dutchmen, no Danes at Tottenham Hotspur

Frank Arnesen, once director of football at Spurs, revealed in his book ‘Total Football’ that Daniel Levy blocked the arrival of a Danish manager in 2004 due to nationality concerns.

As reported by Ekstra Bladet, Morten Olsen was considered by Arnesen, his fellow Dane, to manage Spurs after guiding Denmark to the World Cup 2002 and Euro 2004.

Despite Arnesen’s insistence that Olsen was the right fit for the club, Daniel Levy had other ideas and enforced a coach selection criteria that ruled out two nationalities.

“Tottenham needed a new head coach the summer I joined the club. I wanted Morten Olsen, but I was not allowed to take a coach from Denmark or the Netherlands,” said Arnesen.

“It was a requirement. If things didn’t go well in the first three or four months, I would come under extra pressure because I had chosen a coach from a country I was attached to, Daniel Levy thought. There was no reason to take any risks,” he continued.

Olsen corroborated Arnesen’s recollection of events, stating that Spurs pursued him as both a player and as a manager during his footballing career.

“They wanted to take me at some point while I was still playing,” claimed Olsen. “I ended up going to Cologne instead.

“I would not have accepted the offer if the offer had come. The offer would have came in the middle of a contract. And I did not want to leave in the middle of a contract period,” he continued.

Olsen, who managed the Denmark national team from 2000 to 2015 and was named Danish Player of the Year in 1986, couldn’t recall the exact details of Spurs’ approach, however, he confirmed that if an offer had arrived, he would have rejected it due to his commitment to Denmark.

Watch Tottenham Hotspur vs Leeds United today as Spurs eye a third successive Premier League win to boost their fight against relegation, with FourFourTwo bringing you all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

Roberto De Zerbi's survival mission is in full flow after Spurs backed up their 1-0 victory at Wolves with a 2-1 triumph at Aston Villa.

At home game against a Leeds side who are all-but safe looks inviting, particularly after West Ham's 1-0 defeat to Arsenal has secured safety in 2025/26.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information on how to watch Tottenham Hotspur vs Leeds United online, on TV, and from anywhere.

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Watch Tottenham Hotspur vs Leeds United from anywhere

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Watch Tottenham Hotspur vs Leeds United in the UK

Tottenham Hotspur vs Leeds United will be shown live on Sky Sports today. It's an 8pm kick-off and will be broadcast on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event.

Watch Tottenham Hotspur vs Leeds United in the US

As mentioned above, Tottenham Hotspur vs Leeds United will be available live in the United States on USA Network.

How to watch Tottenham Hotspur vs Leeds United in Australia

Premier League fans in Australia can watch Tottenham Hotspur vs Leeds United through Stan Sport.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Leeds United: Premier League preview

When Tottenham conceded a last-gasp equaliser to draw 2-2 at home to Brighton & Hove Albion on April 18, the situation looked bleak. A team devoid of confidence had failed to hold on to what would have been a first Premier League victory of 2026, and while they were only a point behind 17th place, they were only going one way.

Fast forward just 180 minutes of football and suddenly things are looking up. A nervy 1-0 win at Wolves was followed by a deserved 2-1 triumph at Aston Villa, which lifted Spurs out of the bottom three.

Tottenham's improvement under Roberto De Zerbi is clear to see, even in the four matches between the manager's first game, a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland, and that victory at Villa Park. If they had just held on a little longer against Brighton, Spurs would have already picked up nine points under the Italian.

However, that will all mean nothing if they fail to finish the job. Tonight's visit of Leeds is a great chance to keep that winning run going and move closer to Premier League safety.

That opportunity has been furthered by Sunday’s results, with Arsenal’s late winner against West Ham — a goal that was cheered across all of North London. Win tonight, and they will be four points clear of the Hammers with two games to play.

See also ► Premier League TV guide

When De Zerbi took charge of his first game less than a month ago, Leeds were one of the teams in Tottenham's sights. That is no longer the case.

The Elland Road outfit arrive in north London having taken 10 points from four matches since the March international break and they are now assured of Premier League safety following West Ham's 1-0 loss.

Still, you feel there is something to play for with Daniel Farke and his side surely wanting to keep Spurs under threat of relegation going into the final weeks of the season.

Having appeared at risk of the sack earlier in the campaign, the German deserves great credit for turning his and Leeds' fortunes around.

See also ► These are the cheapest ways to watch the Premier League this season

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FourFourTwo's prediction

Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Leeds United

This one could go either way, but we're backing Spurs to continue their recent good form under De Zerbi and secure a vital win.

Mauricio Pochettino’s coaching journey has seen him manage some of Europe’s biggest and most high-profile clubs.

But like any career, it contains some tantalising ‘what ifs’.

One such crossroads came during the peak of his Tottenham tenure when the biggest club in the world came knocking.

Pochettino on turning down Real Madrid

At the end of the 2017/18 season, Pochettino had led Tottenham to third place in the Premier League, his third top-three finish on the bounce. Spurs also reached the semi-final of the FA Cup and the last-16 in the Champions League.

This had got him on the radar of Real Madrid, who were looking for a new manager after Zinedine Zidane stepped down, just days after winning his third consecutive Champions League title with the club.

In 2018, I had the opportunity to join Real Madrid after Zinedine Zidane left,” Pochettino reveals to FourFourTwo.

The Argentine had Spurs punching above their weight at the time, with the club continuing to progress on both the domestic and European fronts in the middle of a potentially disruptive new stadium project.

And it was amid this backdrop that Pochettino made his decision.

“However, Daniel Levy had always asked me to stay until the inauguration of the new stadium,” he continues.

“When Real Madrid called, I told them that I’d given my word to the chairman that I’d remain until the works were done.

“The only way I could have left was if Levy had authorised the negotiations, but I already knew that he wouldn’t accept it – and I wasn’t going to break my contract either.”

Pochettino’s final call, therefore, came down to him valuing his word over ambition.

“My ethics, my way of acting, told me I couldn’t leave under those circumstances.”

Roberto de Zerbi is already making summer transfer plans for Tottenham Hotspur - operating on the assumption they will still be in the Premier League, of course.

Spurs moved out of the relegation zone with a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday, but remain just one point ahead of West Ham United with three games left to play.

If Tottenham do get the results they need from their remaining fixtures against Leeds, Chelsea and Everton, they will be hoping to put two awful league campaigns behind them - and de Zerbi knows who he wants signing first to build a new era around.

Roberto de Zerbi wants Joao Palhinha on a permanent deal at Tottenham Hotspur

Joao Palhinha's recent performances in the Tottenham midfield have stood out after a series of disjointed and incoherent performances from the team side over the course of the campaign.

The Portuguese international joined on loan from Bayern Munich last summer having struggled to make an impact at the club following his move from Fulham.

Tottenham are reported to have an option to make Palhinha's move permanent this season for a £27m fee.

De Zerbi was unequivocal when asked if he wants to club to trigger that clause, saying: "One hundred per cent. We have to start from this type of people.

"More than players, we need reliable people, reliable players

"Palhinha is one of the best, as a player for sure, but as a guy. I want to see players with the same passion, the same attitude, the same spirit and the same personality. We are lucky to have him with us."

Palhinha had found himself out of favour for a spell under Thomas Frank, and appeared from the bench in De Zerbi's first three games in charge.

However, his late winning goal after coming on away to Wolves on April 28 earned Spurs their first Premier League win in exactly four months, and he went on to play the full 90 minutes of their win at Villa Park.

Realistically, Tottenham now just need to match or better West Ham's results for the rest of the campaign to stay up after a serious relegation scare.

The Hammers round off the season by hosting Arsenal, visiting Newcastle, and finally welcoming Leeds to London Stadium.

Watch Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur today as the West Midlands side look for a third win of the season against Spurs, with FourFourTwo bringing you all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

The threat of relegation hangs over the shiny Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and this match having to be rearranged for Sunday evening, and consequently Tottenham Hotspur knowing where they'll end the week depending on this game, might not be helpful.

The travails of opponents Aston Villa, who have won twice in that ground this season, might offer some hope. As Villa prepare to welcome Spurs to their home, Unai Emery's Champions League hopefuls are wobbling again.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information on how to watch Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur online, on TV, and from anywhere.

Watch Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur for free

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Watch Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur in the UK

Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur will be shown live on TNT Sports today. It's a 7:00pm kick-off and will be shown on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max.

Watch Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur in the US

Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur will be available live in the United States on USA Network.

How to watch Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur in Australia

Stan Sport will broadcast Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur in Australia.

Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur: Premier League preview

Ultimately, Villa are two wins away from a return to the top table of European club football and a second season in the Champions League. The pressure is on, with a clutch of teams now chasing a top-five spot, and two wins will start to sound like a lot if they have to come from three games rather than four.

It shouldn't be an issue at this late stage. Villa are in the process of fumbling a position that was starting to look strong. Losing at Fulham last weekend was a good example of what they face now: Villa have matches they can lose but need to win if they're to hit their targets.

Strikers Ollie Watkins and Tammy Abraham each had a golden opportunity to hit their target at Craven Cottage and get something from the game, but both fired over the top when their chances – always at a premium for Villa – finally arrived.

They're unlikely to create a wealth of opportunities against Spurs tonight, but the ones they do get must win them the game. Those are the stakes now.

See also ► Premier League TV guide

Spurs' position is more precarious and for much more severe reasons. They start the night in the Premier League relegation zone, and the prospect of another ever-present finally dropping out of the league is looming large.

Finally finding a way to win against Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out could be crucial to Spurs beyond the points it harvested. It was their first league win of 2026 and their first under Roberto De Zerbi. Emery, in particular, will be aware that Spurs could respond any which way to that victory.

If Spurs lose this match, they'll still be on the dismal run that has put them in such trouble in the first place, and Villa have been a troublesome opponent this season, albeit under a different Spurs manager.

On both occasions, Villa went to north London and won 2-1. Spurs scored first in the Premier League fixture and last in the FA Cup, but the outcome was the same each time, and it stung. It cannot happen again.

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See also ► These are the cheapest ways to watch the Premier League this season

FourFourTwo's prediction

Aston Villa 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur

Villa aren't at the level they want to be at the moment and Spurs could easily capitalise.

Given the challenges that Tottenham have faced since Mauricio Pochettino’s 2019 departure, the better the Argentine’s five-year tenure in charge of the club looks.

Appointed by chairman Daniel Levy as Spurs’ tenth manager in a 12-year span in May 2014, Pochettino departed in November 2019, having led the club to top-five finishes in each of his seasons in charge and came close to leading the club to their first Champions League final, when his side were beaten by Liverpool in the 2019 final.

This combination of progress, promise and near-misses made his spell one of the most debated managerial stints in recent history, one which Pochettino himself still reflects on.

Pochettino on his Tottenham highs and lows

“It was almost six years of work in which I wasn’t just a coach,” he tells FourFourTwo when asked how it felt to be sacked just five months after the Champions League final.

“I’d arrive with my staff at 7am and leave at 10pm, often alongside Daniel Levy. We’d walk out asking ourselves how we could improve this or that. Our life was Tottenham, but that level of intensity also contributed to how it ended.

“I felt disappointed, of course, but I understand that for him it was also a difficult decision to make.”

As well as making the final of Europe’s biggest competition, Pochettino’s Spurs also lost the 2015 League Cup final and were Premier League runners-up in 2016/17, adding to the club’s near-misses under the former Southampton boss.

“It hurts because of the expectations and the momentum that built around us,” Pochettino adds when asked if failing to winning a trophy hurt.

“However, when we first spoke with Levy about the project, the plan was to equip the club with the best facilities in the world. At the same time, we wanted to build a team capable of challenging the biggest clubs in England within five years. Because we were so far ahead in the sporting process compared to the infrastructure side, huge expectations were created – and perhaps not enough value was given to what we actually achieved.

“For a period of time, having a new stadium was more important than winning a title – the club’s financial focus was on that. Even so, we delivered strong results. In my view, those years should be spoken about as a huge success.”

That elusive trophy came in Pochettino’s next managerial stint, when he won the French Super Cup shortly after his appointment at Paris Saint-Germain in January 2021.

“It wasn’t a relief – it came with the responsibility of having to win it with the players I had at PSG,” he continues. “The external perception of a coach changes once he wins a trophy, but that doesn’t always reflect his journey.

“It’s a bit unfair to draw that parallel – that the one who wins does everything right and the one who loses does everything wrong.”

Watch Brentford vs West Ham United today as the Bees put their European hopes up against West Ham's relegation scrap, with FourFourTwo bringing you all the details on live streams and TV channels, wherever you are in the world.

One of the most important Premier League matches of the weekend is this afternoon's all-London affair between Brentford and West Ham at the Gtech Community Stadium, where the top and bottom halves of the table will both be affected.

Brentford are pushing for the European spots while the Hammers are embattled in what increasingly looks like a two-team shoot-out to not get relegated. West Ham and Tottenham Hotspurs are fighting it out to avoid joining Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley in the Championship next season.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information on how to watch Brentford vs West Ham United online, on TV, and from anywhere.

Can I watch Brentford vs West Ham United for free?

Yes. YouTube TV's 21-day free trial will provide access to USA Network, who will shown Brentford vs West Ham in the US.

Abroad today? Use NordVPN to unlock your stream.

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Is Brentford vs West Ham United on TV in the UK?

Brentford vs West Ham United is not being televised in the UK. The game is being played on Saturday at 3pm, a time when football matches cannot legally be broadcast in the UK. This is known as the '3pm 'blackout''.

The irony is you can watch the game in pretty much every country other than the one in which it's being played. If you're visiting the UK you can use NordVPN to access your usual coverage.

Watch Brentford vs West Ham United in the US

Brentford vs West Ham United will be available live in the United States on USA Network.

How to watch Brentford vs West Ham United in Australia

Football lovers in Australia can watch Brentford vs West Ham United through Stan Sport.

Brentford vs West Ham United: Premier League preview

It took some time for Nuno Espírito Santo's work to bear fruit at West Ham, but they've been the eighth-best team in the Premier League since the start of 2026 in terms of points collected.

The Hammers start the day outside the relegation zone, two points above a Spurs team they'd love to bury under a mountain of pressure by beating Brentford and making Spurs stew on it for more than 24 hours until they face Aston Villa on Sunday evening.

Villa are the only team to have beaten West Ham in their last six league matches, a run that totalled just four goals conceded and included wins over Fulham, Wolves and Everton. Only Villa scored twice against the Hammers as they took those crucial steps towards safety.

These teams have already met twice this season. Brentford came away from the London Stadium as 2–0 winners in October, Nuno's first home game in charge, but were knocked out of the FA Cup on penalties after a rollercoaster 2–2 draw in the fifth round.

See also ► Premier League TV guide

Before last week’s loss at high-flying Manchester United, Brentford had drawn five Premier League matches in a row and were unbeaten in six.

Indeed, drawing has become a habit at home too. Brentford’s last home loss was against Brighton & Hove Albion in February, and their last home win was over Sunderland just one week into 2026.

Their remaining home fixtures take West Ham and then Crystal Palace across the capital to face the Bees, who have only good things left to scrap for in what’s left of the campaign. They probably need to win today to keep up in the chase for Europe, but Keith Andrews has done an incredible job as a first-time manager.

There are 12 points between these teams, and both Andrews and Brentford as a club can reflect on that this afternoon with a good deal of pride, given the players they cashed in on last summer.

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See also ► These are the cheapest ways to watch the Premier League this season

FourFourTwo's prediction

Brentford 2-2 West Ham United

We can't call this one so we're getting behind goals instead of picking a horse.

There’s no denying it’s been another hugely disappointing season for Tottenham Hotspur.

The north Londoners are currently languishing in the relegation zone with just four matches still to play. While many Premier League fans are basking in the schadenfreude, Tottenham Hotspur fans are facing up to the very realistic possibility that they could be playing Championship football next campaign. This, just one season after staying up by the skin of their teeth - a Europa League victory barely masking their shortfalls.

While the next four games will determine their fate, former Tottenham gaffer Harry Redknapp believes serious change is required regardless of the outcome of the survival race.

Article continues below

‘Roberto De Zerbi is a good coach but he doesn't have a magic wand’ ex Tottenham boss Redknapp wants Spurs to stick by the manager no matter what happens

“If Tottenham stay up, they need to hope they do a lot better with injuries, as that hasn't helped them this season,” Redknapop tells FourFourTwo on behalf of iD Mobile.

“Maddison needs to get fit, Dejan Kulusevski needs to get fit, and they need some good recruitment.

“They’ve bought good players but never the big targets, like Arsenal getting Declan Rice. Spurs can’t compete with that.

“When Antoine Semenyo moved to Manchester City, everyone could see that was a good signing. That’s the sort of player Spurs might have got if they’d moved earlier. He had a buyout clause.

“But Spurs are never in the conversation, always shopping just below the top level.”

Tottenham have been through four managers in the past year, after sacking Europa League winner Ange Postecoglou last summer, his successor Thomas Frank in February and interim replacement Igor Tudor after only 44 days.

Redknapp wants to see new man Roberto De Zerbi given time, no matter what happens in the relegation battle.

“De Zerbi will do well but it’ll take time,” says Redknapp. “He’s a top coach and he’ll do well if he gets that. He doesn't have a magic wand. They can still stay up because their rivals have tough games left as well, especially Nottingham Forest.

“The gap is small, just a couple of points. But if they do survive this cannot happen again. They need to make sure of that.”

A key West Ham player could play at the World Cup 2026 this summer after an untimely injury has granted him the possibility of a call-up.

West Ham are fighting tooth and nail to ensure Premier League survival in the race to avoid 18th place against a withering Tottenham Hotspur side, and a key attacker’s prospects of playing World Cup 2026 football could end up the difference.

The Hammers secured a vital win during last weekend’s clash against Everton, with Callum Wilson striking in injury time to secure a 2-1 victory at the London Stadium.

Crysencio Summerville could be called up to the Netherlands World Cup 2026 squad

In a cruel twist of fate, Crysencio Summerville could find himself called up to the Netherlands World Cup 2026 squad - with Ronald Koeman's March selection showing a now vacant place for him.

That is due to West Ham’s direct relegation run-in rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, suffering a season-ending injury to Dutch international Xavi Simons.

The Spurs man will not just miss the World Cup 2026, but also the remainder of the year, meaning he will play no further part in Tottenham’s fight for Premier League survival.

Ironically, it is West Ham who will benefit from this untimely event, with Crysencio Summerville surely now being considered for a call-up to the Netherlands World Cup squad in Simons’ place.

In March, ESPN reported that Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman was considering a call-up for Summerville prior to Simons’ ACL tear, and a further decrease in attacking competition surely places the West Ham man in good stead.

Koeman said: ‘Of course, [Summerville] is a player on our radar. Offensively, the competition is somewhat less intense, and he is a player who plays in the Premier League, is important at West Ham, and can play on both the right and the left.’

If Summerville didn’t already have enough incentive to etch his name into West Ham history by keeping the Hammers up, it’s almost certain he will now with the prospect of playing World Cup football at his doorstep, knowing Ronald Koeman will be closely watching.

The Dutch winger has six goal involvements and two penalties won in 27 Premier League games for West Ham this season, including a crucial strike in the Hammers’ 1-0 victory against Fulham in early March.

With just four games left to play, and the World Cup 2026 looming, Summerville will know that his performances could come under intense scrutiny if they’re not up to standard, perhaps influencing Koeman’s squad selection as a result.

Tottenham Hotspur have faced an injury crisis this season, with Randal Kolo Muani the latest of many scares during a relegation-battling campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur, currently 18th in the Premier League table with four games left to play, claimed their first domestic victory of 2026 last weekend against Wolves, but suffered key injuries to Xavi Simons and potentially Randal Kolo Muani in the process.

The win came in the form of a tight 1-0, finished in the 82nd minute by Joao Palhinha and assisted by Richarlison.

Relegation threatened Spurs remain at panic stations despite Kolo Muani truth

To dampen the mood ahead of what could be Tottenham Hotspur’s most vital win of the 2025/26 season, Randal Kolo Muani exited the pitch at Wolves at half-time.

Suggestions of a hamstring injury emerged after the French international’s early exit, whose role in Spurs' race for Premier League survival could be instrumental.

According to Tottenham Hotspur expert Alasdair Gold, rumours of an injury to Kolo Muani are ‘wide of the mark’ and the attacker is expected to be available this weekend.

The Frenchman’s supposed injury, now confirmed to be a false alarm, would have been one of many absences at Spurs heading into their final Premier League fixtures.

Roberto De Zerbi, tasked with leading Spurs back from the brink of relegation, suffered blows with a setback in Mohammed Kudus’ recovery from injury and Cristian Romero’s potentially season-ending knee issue.

England international Dominic Solanke was also forced to leave the pitch before half-time during Tottenham’s eventual victory over Wolves, however, his return is expected to come before the season’s conclusion.

Perhaps the largest of all concerns, Xavi Simons has been ruled out of action for the World Cup 2026 and the rest of the year after suffering an ACL injury during the Wolves clash.

Tottenham Hotspur, despite being unaffected in regard to the health of Kolo Muani, will remain alert heading into what could be their final Premier League games for the foreseeable future.

Despite a crucial win on the road, Spurs’ injury woes paint a gloomy picture as they battle relegation, and it remains to be seen at what cost Premier League survival will come for the North London club.