Article by Nathan DurecTo say that this summer was business as usual for Tottenham Hotspur would be a laugh. Their spending spree made them the highest spending English club at just under £122 million and the third highest in Europe behind Real Madrid and AS Monaco. Thankfully, the club has been able to recoup their record spending (while driving up the highest spending club in Europe) with the highest ever transfer fee.
So, what makes this year different from others? Spurs were quick, decisive, and ruthless in the summer transfer window. While Levy may be known for having the ruthless quality, quick and decisive he is not. We have all witnessed transfers, seemingly considered complete, drag on and on.
This was the summer of Franco Baldini, Tottenham’s new Technical Director (or Sporting Director, if you prefer). For you North Americans out there, this is essentially the club’s General Manager. For someone on the young side of the pond as myself, not having a General Manager seems ludicrous. A General Manager is one of the most important positions in any sporting club. Sure, there have been others, but under the Rednapp regime, the position fell out of favour. However, it’s back now and Baldini is making his mark.
For AVB, this is a marriage that he is used to. He previously worked under a similar collaborative environment with Antero Henrique at Porto. When Levy took over the Chairmanship of Spurs in 2001, the position was filled then and worked with his vision of the club as well. Returning to a system that both of these men are comfortable with means the opportunity for a better product on the pitch.
Baldini’s experience with Real Madrid, AS Roma and the English National Team makes him uniquely placed for this role. He’s used to having a large budget to spend with Real Madrid and won’t be hesitant of the challenge. He’s been through the muck with Roma and knows how to deal with an executive that is more business savvy than football savvy. He’s not afraid to stand up to strong personalities, which can benefit him in acting as a sort of intermediary between AVB and Levy when needed. Finally, his work with the national squad gives him knowledge of the English game and players. There is less of a learning curve over other potential technical directors because Baldini is familiar with the game at the highest level it’s played at in the country.
AVB stated that he wanted a technical director to help the club in the transfer market. This was always going to be a tricky summer with the imminent exit of Gareth Bale. The appointment of Baldini helped to ensure that the money received didn’t go to waste, but rather, was fuelled responsibly into new acquisitions.
It has only been a few months since his appointment and will take many more to see the impact of this summer’s transfer window. But we have already seen what quickness and decisiveness can add.
Initial signs are positive and Spurs fans are always optimistic if anything! The addition of Baldini should be a welcome one.
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