With Tottenham fans still rejoicing after the return of a certain Jermain Defoe, a transfer in which Daniel Levy played a big part, I thought it would be a good idea to look back at the Spurs chairman’s time at the forefront of a club that had vastly underachieved under previous regimes.

Levy has been Managing director of the English National Investment company (ENIC) since 1995, and six years after adopting the role, his company, headed by Joe Lewis, invested a signifiecent figure into the capital-based club, taking 29.9% in return. That same February, Daniel Levy was appointed chairman of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.

The new owners didn’t hang around, and not long into their reign, they sacked ex-Arsenal boss George Graham. Not all Spurs fans had forgiven Graham for his connection to the Gunners, the general consensus was that it was fantastic to see the back of the last manager installed by Sir Alan Sugar. Fan favourite Glen Hoddle was brought in to take the hot seat, and the Spurs faithful were in a buoyant mood as the club looked forward to a new era.

And with ENIC’s two front men, Joe Lewis and Daniel Levy, investing as much commitment as money, in they new-found roles as owner and chairman respectively. The company soon started upping their stakes in the North London club, and started slowly pulling out of other footballing commitments, such as their shares in Glasgow Rangers and Slavia Prague.

Managers

As I say, after the sacking of George Graham, Glen Hoddle took the helm of the club he endeard himself to so much during his illusive playing career. With his last job in football being the England job, when he took over at Spurs, there was not a witch doctor to be seen. Subsequently, his team made a fine start to the season, and went on to reach the League Cup final, only losing out in a tight encounter that saw Blackburn come away 2-1 victors. The Hoddle appointment was a move that grew ever popular with the fans of club, but the Lilywhites continued to underachieve in the Premier League, with fans growing impatient through hunger for the return of the glory years. Near the beginning of the 2003-04 season, though, Hoddle had lost his job after a poor start to the new campaign. I think every fan would agree with the decision, although it would be very reluctant agreement. It was hard to say goodbye to the man who had served his beloved club with 13 years of professional football.

David Pleat took the role of caretaker manager for the rest of the season, as Levy searched for the man that would bring out the club’s massive potential. This was a safe, but also clever and astute, move as he was evidently under the impression that nobody with the credentials to take this club where he felt the belonged was going to be available to take the post. But in the close-season, Jacques Santini resigned from his role as manager of the French national team. He was the man that Daniel Levy identified as his man. The Santini appointment was to see new ground being made in the Premier League, with Tottenham adopting a continental approach to the set-up of the football club. Martin Jol was to be Jacques’ assistant, and Frank Arnesen was installed as director of football. Daniel’s decision was met with widespread criticism, but the club chairman believed this was the only way forward.

Although it soon came to everybody’s attention that it was indeed Frank Arnesen that was dictating the job of managing the acquisition of players, Santini made an impressive start to the league campaign. Supposedly ‘parking the coach in front of the goal’, Spurs grabbed a goalless draw against Chelsea as just one of a number of impressive results. It was looking like an exciting appointment, and the atmosphere around White Hart Lane was one of jubilation and the hypothesis that it could finally be Tottenham’s year. The new continental set-up was coming to fruition, and one by one, Levy’s critics were falling silent.

But, just 13 games into Santini’s reign at the helm of the Premiership outfit, the Frenchman resigned from his position, laying the resignation in the hands of ‘personal problems’ (maybe he was offered the role of Doc Martin?). In truth, though, it has been widely speculated that a fall out with the Sporting Director was to blame. The hall story behind this is vastly esoteric, but if speculation is to be believed, part of the fall out was about Pedro Mendes. A player the manager hugely admired, it was reported that Arnesen was none too happy about the midfielder being played. The news shocked the borough of Haringey, as Jacques Santini was looking like the man to turn the club’s fortunes around.

Ever since Martin Jol adopted his position as at Tottenham, he had a hunger and a desire to take the reigns as boss. And upon the resignation of the previous gaffer, the Dutchman, who had gained himself quite a reputation as an up-and-coming manager in his native league, was handed the job. Jol also made an impressive start to his role, with his first game in charge ending in a 5-4 loss to bitter rivals, Arsenal. Nevertheless, it was evident that the new man was going to throw caution to the wind in an attempt to overthrow Santini’s defensive approach. That season ended impressively, with the club missing out on European football by no more than two points.

And as time wore on, Daniel Levy stood by the early precedent that he had set, of listening to the fans’ opinions more than any other chairman in the division, a very admirable approach that most fans respected him for. Martin Jol’s free-flowing football was winning a lot of admirers, and his contract was renewed in the summer of 2005. But that summer was also to be plagued with a huge disappointment for Daniel, the departure of Frank Arnesen to Chelsea. Levy clung on for deer life, and doing so secured a compensation package thought to be in the region of £10 million. Ex-Arsenal man, Damien Comoli, came in and adopted the same role, and indeed, the same ethos. That season, Spurs held fourth spot since November, and with Michael Carrick playing out of his skin (and literally out of his shirt, as Manchester United out to practise their dirty tricks in the following summer to land his services for £18m); never once looked like dropping out of a Champions League spot. Until on the last day of the season, when seven first team regulars went down with food poisoning ahead of Tottenham’s encounter with London rivals West Ham. Spurs just had to equal Arsenal’s result and they would have finished fourth. They battled hard, but lost 2-1, with Arsenal beating Wigan in Highbury’s last match.

The 2006-07 season saw the mighty Lilywhites play in the UEFA Cup for the first time since ENIC became majority shareholders. Daniel Levy had installed the man who would become the club’s most successful managers in the last ten or fifteen years. Although they never really challenged for fourth spot again this season, Martin guided his team to fifth for the second year in a row. The side also earned themselves a League Cup semi-final tie against their fiercest of rivals, Arsenal. They were also 3-1 up away to Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter-final, but let the lead slip, and were defeated in the subsequent replay. Jol’s side also reached the same stage on the European stage; only going down to a world-class display from the eventual winners, Seville, managed by eventual Spurs manager, Juande Ramos.

Daniel was adhering himself to Tottenham fans the nation over, and had finally installed that long lost sense of stability. But that was all about to change. Rumours were beginning to circulate in the close-season that the chairman was planning on replacing the current manager for Seville’s Juande Ramos. Jol had achieved two consecutive fifth place finishes, and Levy laughed off the rumours, seeming perfectly happy with the current set-up. But all was not well. Problems with his European hierarchy were beginning to show, with new Sporting Director Damien Comoli acquiring the likes of Darren Bent, players that were unwanted by the gaffer.

Eventually, a dire start to the 2007-08 campaign meant, in October, Martin Jol was removed from his position at the helm of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. It was just a matter of days before Jol’s replacement was flown in, and it was indeed Senior Ramos. After guiding Seville from being a lower mid-table La Liga side, into two successive UEFA Cups and eventually Champions League football. Daniel knew he was the man for the job, and nobody was to disagree. Some were still wretched over the loss of the Dutchman, but most excepted the chairman’s decision, as they felt Jol could take the club no further.

Europe via a league position seemed already out of the question after the poor league start, but Ramos started excellently. He never quite got Spurs playing like his previous free-flowing Seville team, but he did a fantastic job with the players at his disposal. He guided the club to another UEFA Cup quarter final, but undoubtedly gave the fans the best night for some time. And, indeed, the best night of my life so far. Going into the second leg of Spurs’ League Cup semi-final with Le Arsenal, the scores were level. But it proved to be a magical night, as Tottenham ran riot over their North London rivals, and ran out comfortable 5-1 winners. The players joined Irishman Robbie Keane in an Irish jig upon the full time whistle. But Ramos really proved what a master tactician he was, in the final of the same competition. Playing against Chelsea, the scores were level, and Juande made the bold move to take off Pascal Chimbonda. It was a shock move, but his master plan resulted in a 2-1 victory after extra time.

Levy invested heavily once again, in the summer that was to follow. But the European set-up coming under yet more scrutiny. Damien Comoli was bringing in players that Juande didn’t want, and this subsequently, you could argue, cost him his job. And like I said, after 2 points in their first 8 games, Spurs were looking like serious relegation candidates. Signs of dressing room unrest were coming to everybody’s attention, with Ramos clearly not getting his message across with his distinct lack of English, despite having Gus Poyet to translate

After just 12 months in charge, Ramos had been sacked, along with Gus Poyet, his assistant. But Levy mode the bold move to accept his own mistake, and he sacked Damien Comoli as well, scrapping the director of football role all together in the process. It was probably his hardest decision as chairman, but he knew there needed to be a change, as the players just weren’t playing for the manager. Harry Redknapp came in just hours after the sacking, and an immediate turn around was evident. In his first official game in charge, Harry masterminded a superb comeback to draw 4-4 at the Emirates. He has taken Tottenham to a third consecutive League Cup semi-final, and has taken the club out of the relegation zone going into the New Year.

Transfers

Daniel Levy has always proved a very astute businessman when it comes to transfer dealings, boasting a first class honours degree from Cambridge University in Land Economics.

The ten most expensive signings in Tottenham’s history are as follows:

Eight of the top ten have been brought in with Daniel in charge. Dimitar Barbatov, it must be noted left two seasons later for almost three times the amount. So he has never been afraid to splash the cash, and has acquired many successful talents. He accepted that he made a mistake in leaving the signings in the hands of Comoli, and in the summer he personally flew to Croatia to convince Luka Modric to make the move to North London. Levy has also attracted some of the best young talent going to this club, most notably young John Bostock.

        So, it seems, Daniel Levy has always aimed to please the fans, and, supposedly being a lifelong fan of the club, has never had any trouble doing it either. He has proved a very shrewd businessman, as well as a man who knows about football. Although he hardly speaks to the media, Daniel has never been afraid to admit his mistakes. He has also recently released plans to move to a 60,000 capacity stadium, which, still standing in Haringey, has helped to endear him to the Lilywhite faithful. Personally, I think we have one of the best chairmen going.

Match Report

Burnley went into to the first leg clash on the back of three Premiership giant-killings: Chelsea, Arsenal and Fulham had all been dispatched by the plucky Championship side. However Tottenham proved too strong last night, despite going one nil down to Owen Coyle’s men.

Martin Paterson scored the only goal of the first half after some good work from the impressive Chris Eagles. His pass led to a simple finish for Paterson, and Eagles remained a threat throughout the first half. He terrorised the Tottenham back line- Gareth Bale in particular looked very vulnerable. Aaron Lennon also had a dreadful first half, looking out of sorts and, despite his blistering pace, his final ball remained poor and fuelled speculation that Harry will turn to a winger with a better delivery in the January transfer window (Stewart Downing anybody?).

Spurs were booed off at the break and some heated words followed in the dressing room.  “At half-time I had to get in to them big time and sort a few of them out. We were a different team (after the break) but we’ve got to play like that all the time,” Harry told journalists.

Indeed, Spurs didn’t take long to equalise after half time. English defender Michael Dawson has impressed recently and delighted the fans with a powerful header just two minutes after the break.

The goal renewed Tottenham’s confidence and the side began to flood forward, eager to take a lead into the second leg. Jamie O’Hara was the man who put Spurs in front, thanks to volley just five minutes after Tottenham’s first. However O’Hara had a lot to thank Burnley goalie Jensen for, he really shouldn’t have let the shot squirm past him.

Following O’Hara’s goal Burnley pressed; Burnley forward Blake was unlucky to see his shot miss it’s designated target.

Alas; confidence was flowing through the white shirted players, and the Londoners started to play with a swagger. Roman Pavlyuchenko scored a fine goal to put Spurs 3-1 up, driving the ball pass the hapless Jensen.

Jamie O’Hara continued to threaten and his free kick led to Tottenhams fourth; unlucky Burnley defender Michael Duff headed the ball into his own net whilst trying to defend O’Hara’s effort.

Match Reaction

Harry Redknapp: “I was impressed with Burnley - I thought they were terrific. In the first half they were fantastic, they played five in the middle, they broke and they passed the ball.

“But we can’t play like we did in the first half. We squeezed up second half, got in contact with them and put them under pressure.

It was nice to get that early goal after half-time. It gave the crowd a lift because the first half was a real disappointment. We really were poor.”

Owen Coyle: “We did everything which was asked of us and had looked a good side. But I do not think anyone would have for seen what was going to happen at the start of the second half. However we have now given ourselves a mountain to climb, and there is more than a long way back.”

Match Facts:

Att: 31, 377

Teams: (Match Rating out of ten)

Tottenham:Gomes 7, Corluka 7, Dawson 8, Woodgate 7, Bale 4, Lennon 5, Modric 7, Zokora 7, Bentley 4 (O’Hara 46 8), Pavlyuchenko 8, Campbell 7.
Subs Not Used: Alnwick, Gunter, Giovani, Taarabt, Boateng, Rocha.

Goals:Dawson 47, O’Hara 52, Pavlyuchenko 65, Duff 68 og.

Burnley:Jensen 4.5, Alexander 5, Duff 5, Carlisle 5, Jordan 5, Gudjonsson 5(McDonald 30 6), Eagles 8, Paterson 8 (Akinbiyi 86 -), Elliott 6, Blake 6 (Rodriguez 75 5), McCann 5.
Subs Not Used: Penny, Kalvenes, Mahon, MacDonald.

Booked: Duff.

Goals: Paterson 15.

Men of the Match: Chris Eagles/Jamie O’Hara

Match Trivia: Roman Pavlyuchenko has now netted in every round of this years Carling Cup.

Tottenham are aiming to become the first side since Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forrest (1989/1990) to defend successfully defend the trophy.

Tottenham had five more shots then Burnley (9 to 4) but Burnley had two more on target (4 to 6)

Burnley have knocked out three London giants on their road to the semi final, and are aiming to make Tottenham their fourth giant killing. Fulham, Arsenal and a strong Chelsea side have all been dispatched and Burnley gaffer Owen Coyle is confident that his side can register a shock final appearence, in all probability against the world club champions: Manchester United.

“I know that the group of players I have will give everything they’ve got to try to achieve a result,” Coyle told journalists ahead of the game.

“We are under no illusions that we are massive underdogs on Tuesday. If Tottenham play to their maximum and we do, they will think they have the better players.”

Burnley certainly go in to the game with nothing to lose and the news that Stephen Jordan is set to return from injury has given the side a boost.

However Steven Caldwell, Chris McCann, Kevin McDonald and Remco van der Schaaf are all doubtfuls.

Meanwhile Tottenham are missing a couple of first team regulars through injury (Jermaine Jenas and Benoit Assou-Ekotto) and Tom Huddlestone failed a late injury test.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp says he is looking forward to the clash and also spoke of his determination to lead Spurs to a second sucseesive cup triumph.

“Of course we want to win it. However we won’t take them (Burnley) lightly, they’ve done well. I watched them on Saturday against QPR and they are well organised and have experienced players. They’ve had a fantastic run - Chelsea, Fulham and Arsenal - so we won’t be underestimating them.”

New signing Jermain Defoe looks set to be paraded before the fans ahead of the tie, no doubt that if this was a league game he would be in the starting line up.

Spurs (from): Gomes, Alnwick, Cesar, Corluka, Woodgate, Dawson, Bale, Gunter, Rocha, Bentley, Modric, Zokora, O’Hara, Ghaly, Taarabt, Boateng, Giovani, Campbell, Pavlyuchenko.

Burnley (from): Jensen, Alexander, Duff, Carlisle, Jordan, Gudjonsson, Eagles, Paterson, Elliott, Blake, McCann, Penny, Kalvenes, McDonald, Akinbiyi, Mahon, Rodriguez, MacDonald.

“He had a bit of a problem with his knee but he is fine now - he’s fit and looks okay,” Redknapp said “If he is fit he’s a terrific player.

“He is going to train with us and we’ll have a chat and see what the deal is.

“I watched him an awful lot for Ghana - about six times - but I ended up taking Sulley Muntari because Juventus were asking £14 million for Appiah.”

Appiah is currently a free agent after a contract row at his most recent club, Fenerbahce, ended in the midfielder leaving Turkey upon the expiery of his contract. Appiah earned the nickname ‘Tornado’ because of the way he would dominate the midfield, primarily a defensive midfielder, he is also creative and scores goals from midfield. For his first professional club, Hearts of Oak, the Ghana captain banged in 19 goals in 21 appearences. Making an instant impact in Italy with Udinese and Parma, Juventus snapped him up in 2003. He also received the honour of being handed the captaincy of his national team, ahead of the likes of Michael Essien.

I think most Spurs fans would take this transfer with open arms, although it would severly limit Didier Zokora’s first team oppertunities, if not spell an end to his carear in North London.

Defoe left Spurs after he struggled to break into the Tottenham first team- his palf blocked by Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane. However he will probably now move straight into the Spurs first team, most probably playing alongside Roman Pavlyuchenko with both Bent and Campbell used as back-up.

The transfer looks set to involve a number of complicated causes; the initial transfer fee is set at £15million but Spurs have to forget the £4million clause involved in Defoe’s original move from Spurs to Pompey, which would have seen Spurs paid after Defoes first transfer away from Portsmouth. Tottenham will also have to forget about money owed to the club for Pedro Mendes, Younes Kaboul and Noe Pamarot meaning Portsmouth could indirectly receive around £25 million, not bad for a £7.5 million signing!!

It’s been a busy day in the gossip columns, with a number of transfer tit-bits Tottenham related. Stewart Downing is rumoured to be on his way to the Lane, with the club reportedly agreeing a £13million transfer deal with Middlesbrough.

Luis Valencia is also rumoured to be joining Spurs and even Pascal Chimbonda and Edgar Davids have been rumoured soon to return- how many ex-players does Redknapp want??? Next will be hearing of a Jimmy Greaves return!

But the semi-finals of the competition involve two legs, with both home and away matches deciding who reaches that illusive final. This will probably suit the North London-based club, and with the first leg at home, Harry Redknapp will be looking to take a strong lead to Lancashire.

The Team

Although he has continuously persisted with the out-of-form David Bentley, Harry Redknapp has pinpointed Aaron Lennon as the weapon that can tear Burnley to shreds.

He said: “I have been pleased with Aaron and very impressed by him. He has that ability to go at people.

“And there is more to come from him.

“His final ball needs working on and we are doing that on the training ground.”

Other than that, Benoit Assou-Ekotto is still suspended after being handed an early bath in the match against West Brom, so expect Gareth Bale to keep his place in the back four. With Darren Bent a doubt after picking up an injury against Wigan on Friday, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Fraizer Campbell have been working well together and have developed an understanding. Campbell’s pace can also be a key weapon in unlocking the stern Burnley defence. Tom Huddlestone and Jermaine Jenas are both still on the physio’s table, so 4-4-2 is the most likely formation. Harry has been hesitant when it comes to playing Luka Modric in a traditional central midfield role, but he was happy with the way he performed in that role against Wigan.

Harry told tottenhamhotspur.com:”I played Luka in a basic 4-4-2 as a central midfield player and I’ve never done that with him before.

“It was a gamble but he showed enough at West Brom when we went down to 10 men, I dropped him into midfield and he coped great, it wasn’t a problem for him.

“I thought ‘let’s see if he can play in there’ with Zokora to give protection - he covers the ground, shuts players down.

“I think we can play Luka in there because he’s so good on the ball, he keeps the ball and is a great little footballer.

“He’s strong enough and certainly good enough. I can’t see any reason why he can’t play in there for us. He was terrific.”

The gaffer has also recently declared his admiration for flamboyant young Frenchman Adel Taarabt, and he could be handed a cameo role sometime in the second half if all goes well. I expect the team to look something like:

                           Gomes

Corluka     Dawson     Woodgate     Bale

Lennon      Zokora      Modric          Bentley

               Pavlyuchenko  Campbell

So, with Turf Moor a very difficult place to go, I think it is vital that Tottenham go out and attack the Championship outfit, and try to take a healthy two or three goal lead into that second leg. Providing the team performs like they did in the recent F.A. cup win, there can only be one winner.

For the second season in a row, Tottenham have drawn the Premiership champions in the fourth round of the F.A. Cup. A trip to Old Trafford is the reward for defeating Wigan. The draw was made yesterday, before United’s fixture against Southampton, meaning the Saints gained thousands of new fans in the space of a few seconds.

Harry Redknapp’s side will feel quite hard done by, as it has been years since Spurs last faced League 1 or below opposition in one of the domestic competitions. The opposition in the first two rounds of the Carling Cup: Newcastle and Liverpool; and now the opposition for the first two rounds of the F.A. Cup: Wigan and Manchester United. Redknapp, holder of the F.A. Cup, and his team, will travel to Old Trafford when the Red Devils’ fixtures start to pile up. Should Spurs manage to take United to a replay,the fixture would probably be sandwhiched betwean the club’s Champions League fixtures.

Jermaine Defoe

A 25-year-old fast striker with a great shot on him, Defoe has already adhered himself to Spurs fans. He has already stated his intent to leave Pompey, and Tony Adams has admited he may have played his last game for the South-coast side. Defoe is Redknapp’s prime target, but the club could be priced out of a deal to take him to White Hart Lane. He is a Premiership-proven natural goalscorer, and already knows the club and the area extremely well. All parties seem to be happy to reach a deal, but the only stumbling block could be the price. He would be a good signing, although maybe too similar to the Aston Villa-wanted Darren Bent.

Craig Bellamy

At 29, Craig Bellamy has been around more clubs than most, so if this deal goes ahead, don’t expect the Welshman to stay at the club for more than one or two seasons. His main attribute is his pace, but he is capable of banging in goals as well. In my opinion, Bellamy would be the worst striker Sputrs could sign, and hopefully Man City (sorry City fans) snap him up.

Radamel Falcao

A player heavily linked with Tottenham in the summer, the Columbian has made 13 appearences for his country, therefore making him eligable for a work permit. He is a natural goalscorer, who I beleive would be an excellent signing. Although, Redknapp will probably want to acquire proven Premiership players. In the summer, Falcao was linked with both Arsenal and Tottenham, with representatives from the latter reportedly going to watch the Columbian play for River Plate and discuss a transfer fee with the Argentine club. Falcao does score goals frequently, but he would be more of a replacement for Robbie Keane rather than Dimitar Berbatov - whose replacement was Pavlyuchenko.

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Lukas Podolski