Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Tottenham announced their new leadership structure earlier this week Fabio Paratici and John Long both working as co-sporting directors, and there’s now been clarity as to specifically how they will operate together at N17.
Many speculated that Paratici’s return could spell the end for Lange’s involvement in Spurs’ recruitment strategy, but as confirmed by the club, he’ll be working side by side with the popular Italian.
Paratici, who worked as a consultant for months before coming back full-time — advising Lange, CEO Vinai Venkatesham, Thomas Frank and ex-chair Daniel Levy — officially returns to North London over two years after he was forced to resign due to his worldwide ban.
“I’m delighted to be returning to a Club that I love,” Paratici said, via the club’s official website.
“I have been working with Johan, Vinai and Thomas as a consultant for a number of months and I now look forward to returning to London and joining the team full-time. I’m convinced that working in partnership with Johan we can build a special future for the Club and our supporters.”
The 53-year-old played a significant role in the signings of key Tottenham stars, including Cristian Romero, Dejan Kulusevski, Pedro Porro, Rodrigo Bentancur, Djed Spence, Destiny Udogie and Pape Sarr, with his comeback seen as a major boost for the Lilywhites.
Fabio Paratici’s top five best Tottenham signings | cost |
|---|---|
1. Cristian Romero | £42.5m |
2. Dejan Kulusevski | £25.5m |
3. Rodrigo Bentancur | £21.5m |
4. Pedro Porro | £40m |
5. Djed Spence | £20m |
He was a key ally of Levy, and the latter’s exit after 25 years last month threatened to derail a move for Paratici (talkSPORT).
However, Venkatesham, regardless of Levy’s departure, ultimately decided that Paratici should be involved in an official capacity, and it’s hard to argue given the transfer chief’s track record, extensive contact list and reputation as a fierce negotiator.
Paratici and Lange’s very different Tottenham director roles explained
While Paratici and Lange are ‘co-sporting directors’ by title, the duo will actually have very different tasks, as explained by Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge.
It is believed that Paratici will be the ‘dealmaker’, overseeing the task of getting star players through the door, while Lange’s responsibilities are geared more towards scouting and talent-spotting.
“It’s the same job title, but also two different roles,” Bridge explained.
“In terms of Paratici, he’ll be trying to bring in the players, senior players.
“He’s an influential figure, he will be a big figure in getting the deals done, that’s what I think here in terms of Paratici. In terms of Lange, he’ll have a focus on the academy, an eye for talent, scouting…one real success, Lucas Bergvall.
“He’ll look at performance data, analysis…the message is ‘coming together’. Led by Venkatesham and the sporting directors, and head coach, Thomas Frank, it’s a collective, that’s the message from Tottenham Hotspur.”
Paratici’s reputation as a transfer expert precedes him.
Having honed his skills at Juventus and Tottenham before, he is known for his shrewd negotiation tactics, ability to close high-profile moves and strategic approach to the market. Paratici excels at identifying the right moment to strike while leveraging relationships with clubs and agents to secure key signings.
By contrast, Lange brings a keen eye for talent and a deep understanding of player development.
His background as a technical director at FC Copenhagen and sporting director at Aston Villa highlights his experience in scouting and building a sustainable recruitment strategy.
Lange’s focus on the long-term pipeline of talent, youth integration and data-driven scouting will back up Paratici’s deal-closing prowess, with the duo set to complement each other nicely and divide key responsibilities.
It is a fantastic move by Spurs, and if their dynamic proves successful, otherwise Premier League sides may even take inspiration.
