This is an anatomy of a total institutional failure—a masterclass in boardroom mismanagement, disastrous transfer strategy, and unprecedented managerial chaos.

1. The Boardroom Void: Daniel Levy’s Shock Exit

The rot started at the very top. For nearly 25 years, Daniel Levy was the constant, iron-fisted ruler of Tottenham. Love him or hate him, he provided institutional stability. However, right as the 2025–26 campaign kicked off, Levy stunned the footballing world by resigning as chairman on September 4, 2025.

Instead of an immediate, elite-level replacement to steer the transition, Peter Charrington took over on an interim basis. The lack of permanent leadership created a massive power vacuum, leaving the club completely rudderless when the crisis began to deepen in late autumn.

2. The Managerial Merry-Go-Round

When Ange Postecoglou was let go before the season started, the board sought a tactical shift, appointing former Brentford boss Thomas Frank on a three-year deal. It proved to be a catastrophic mismatch. Frank’s system never clicked; by February, a humiliating 2–1 home loss to Newcastle left Spurs languishing in 16th place and out of both domestic cups, prompting his dismissal.

What followed wasn’t a rescue plan, but sheer panic:

• Thomas Frank: Sacked on February 11 after eight miserable months.

• Igor Tudor: Appointed on February 17, only to be ruthlessly sacked 44 days later on March 29 after failing to stop the bleeding.

• Roberto De Zerbi: Hired on March 31 as the club’s third permanent manager of the season.

Employing three different managers with fundamentally opposing tactical philosophies in a single season completely shattered the players’ confidence and any tactical identity the team possessed.

3. The Recruitment and Transfer Catastrophe

You cannot discuss Tottenham’s demise this season without addressing the criminal mishandling of the squad in the transfer windows.

The Unreplaced Icon

The most devastating blow occurred in the summer of 2025 when club legend and captain Son Heung-min departed for Los Angeles FC, ending a glorious decade in North London. The board failed to recruit an elite, proven goalscorer or a leader capable of filling the colossal void left by the South Korean icon. The attack completely dried up, leaving the team with a measly 47 goals scored in 37 matches.

A Defensively Fragile Squad

While millions were spent elsewhere, the squad depth remained shockingly thin. When World Cup winner Cristian Romero suffered a severe knee injury in April, the defense completely imploded. Compounding this was an unprecedented home-turf curse: Spurs have won just two Premier League home games all season—the joint-worst home record in the entire division alongside already-relegated Burnley. Taking a dismal 12 points at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium turned their state-of-the-art arena into a playground for visiting teams.

The Grim Reality Ahead

Following a devastating 2–1 London derby loss to Chelsea on Tuesday night—courtesy of strikes from Enzo Fernández and André Santos—Tottenham’s worst fears remain realized. On April 10, they slipped into the relegation zone for the first time since 2009. While De Zerbi has managed a desperate, late four-game unbeaten run to push them up to 17th (38 points), they failed to clear themselves of danger.

The Relegation Equation (May 24, 2026):

• 17th. Tottenham Hotspur — 38 pts (GD: -10) vs. Everton (H)

• 18th. West Ham United — 36 pts (GD: -22) vs. Leeds United (H)

Realistically, due to a far superior goal difference over West Ham, a single point at home against Everton on Sunday will guarantee survival. But as De Zerbi himself noted ahead of the finale:

“We play for something more important than a trophy – the pride, the history of the club, and the dignity.”

Regardless of whether they survive or sink on Sunday, the 2025–26 season will go down as the most humiliating, mismanaged campaign in modern Tottenham history. A complete and total overhaul from the boardroom to the pitch is required if this club ever hopes to mirror its European glory days again.