Mauricio Pochettino has said that Tottenham Hotspur’s achievements during his time as manager would not have been possible without the influence of Daniel Levy.

The Argentine tactician, who guided Spurs through one of their most successful periods in recent history, reflected on what the club did right under his leadership, indirectly highlighting where things may have gone wrong since his departure.

Pochettino oversaw Tottenham’s most consistent spell in decades during his five and a half years in charge, from 2014 to 2019. Under his management, Spurs consistently finished inside the Premier League’s top five, securing second place once and third place twice, while also reaching the 2019 UEFA Champions League final.

Pochettino joined Tottenham from Southampton soon after the 2013/14 season ended, attracted by the greater potential for long-term success he and his coaching staff saw at the North London club.

Speaking to FourFourTwo, Pochettino recalled, “Spurs was a club that offered the chance to compete for bigger ambitions. It meant stepping up to another level. When Daniel Levy called, we didn’t have many doubts.”

Although his tenure ended without silverware, Pochettino’s Spurs side competed at a level the club has since struggled to replicate. The current United States manager credited Daniel Levy’s leadership as a major factor behind that success.

“Levy is a genius when it comes to man management, business, and negotiation – someone we learned a tremendous amount from,” Pochettino said. “Over 25 years, you only need to see where he found Spurs and where he took them. It became a model club, with an incredible stadium and world-class facilities.”

Pochettino continued, “He didn’t get the recognition in terms of trophies, but Levy’s legacy is admired globally for his management skills and long-term vision. You can have great ideas, but he was the one who made them happen.”

He added, “The crucial thing for us was having the full backing of the club and Daniel Levy, who believed in a sporting rebuild that included the manager.”

Reflecting on his early days at Tottenham, Pochettino said, “When we arrived, there were too many players – many of them talented – but there was no real balance. It was difficult to build a competitive squad. Rebuilding with a medium-term plan was essential.”

Drawing comparisons with other top managers, he observed, “Pep Guardiola was given that opportunity, Jurgen Klopp had it, and so did we. There are many excellent coaches, but you have to be at the right club, with the right people supporting you to develop what you want to achieve.”

“It’s a complicated puzzle,” Pochettino concluded. “In football, there’s always the temptation for people to interfere in areas that aren’t their responsibility. At Tottenham, we were allowed to do our work.”