Tottenham pause sporting director search as Venkatesham calls last season 'unacceptable'

Tottenham have paused their search for a new sporting director until after the summer transfer window, with chief executive Vinai Venkatesham telling the club’s Fan Advisory Board the appointment is no longer a key priority this summer.

Spurs had been expected to fill the role vacated by Fabio Paratici, who was hired last October to work alongside sporting director Johan Lange in a dual structure before leaving in February to return to Italy for personal reasons. According to minutes from a FAB meeting held on June 16, the search will resume once the transfer window closes.

“The club has confidence in our people, but if we find someone who can complement our existing team and make it better, we will do that at the right time — and in a summer window is not that time,” Venkatesham said. He also moved to dispel speculation over rejected candidates: “No-one has been in a process and turned us down. Many names in the media linked with us, we have never even spoken to.”

In the interim, Lange, head coach Roberto De Zerbi and Rafi Moersen — who joined as director of football operations on June 16 after a period of garden leave following his exit from City Football Group — are leading the club’s recruitment. Moersen’s remit covers recruitment, player transactions, infrastructure, player care and responsibility for the women’s team.

The meeting also produced a frank assessment of Tottenham’s 2024-25 campaign, in which the club finished 17th and avoided relegation only with a final-day victory over Everton. Both non-executive chairman Peter Charrington and Venkatesham described the season as “unacceptable”. Venkatesham added that it “cannot happen again” and that “the ambition is to compete for major trophies and play the style of football our supporters want to see”.

Venkatesham offered a pointed defence of Lange, who has faced sustained criticism from supporters after Spurs finished 17th in each of the Dane’s two full seasons overseeing the squad. “Players are not bought or sold because ‘the club’ wants to or ‘Roberto’ wants to,” he said. “Johan and his team work hand in glove with Roberto to develop and deliver a joint plan.”

He also sought to underline De Zerbi’s commitment to the project, noting the head coach had no retention bonus, had never sought control over decision-making, and remained committed to the club even when relegation was a genuine possibility. “Roberto was always the number one choice and we are delighted with the impact he has made so far,” Venkatesham said.