Former Tottenham HotspurTeam·Tottenham Hotspur defender Toby AlderweireldPlayer·Toby Alderweireld has issued a stark assessment of the club's 2025/26 season, declaring that the events of the past year "can never, ever happen again." His comments underscore a widespread sentiment that a significant overhaul is essential following a campaign that saw the North London club narrowly avoid relegation from the Premier LeagueCompetition·Premier League.
Tottenham concluded the 2025/26 Premier LeagueCompetition·Premier League season in 17th place, securing their top-flight status by a mere two points. This marks the second consecutive season the club has finished in this position, a performance widely characterized as "historically embarrassing" and a "domestic disaster." The season began with a brief period of optimism under head coach Thomas Frank, who guided the team to third in the league after a notable 2-0 victory over Manchester CityTeam·Manchester City at the Etihad StadiumVenue·Etihad Stadium. However, this early promise quickly faded, giving way to a prolonged collapse in form that included significant derby losses to ChelseaTeam·Chelsea and ArsenalTeam·Arsenal.
The club endured a challenging period of 118 days without a league win and managed only three home league victories throughout the entire season. Their overall Premier LeagueCompetition·Premier League record for the campaign stood at 10 wins, 11 draws, and 17 losses. This poor domestic showing, coupled with early exits from cup competitions, means Tottenham HotspurTeam·Tottenham Hotspur will not participate in any UEFA-sanctioned competition for the upcoming 2026/27 season.
In other competitions, Tottenham reached the Round of 16 in the UEFA Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League, where they were eliminated by Atlético Madrid with an aggregate score of 7-5. They finished as runners-up in the UEFA Super CupCompetition·UEFA Super Cup, losing on penalties to Paris Saint-GermainTeam·Paris Saint-Germain. Domestically, their FA CupCompetition·FA Cup journey ended in the Third Round against Aston VillaTeam·Aston Villa, and they were knocked out of the EFL CupCompetition·EFL Cup in the Fourth Round by Newcastle UnitedTeam·Newcastle United.
Alderweireld, a Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League finalist with Spurs, emphasized the need for a resilient core within the squad. "They need to know that this can never, ever happen again... They need to go through the squad and think 'Who can handle the pressure? Who is good enough, and who isn't?'" He advocated for a reliable "spine" consisting of "centre-backs, defensive midfielder, goalkeeper," capable of delivering "every week," drawing a comparison to ArsenalTeam·Arsenal's established core.
Current head coach Roberto De Zerbi, appointed in March 2026 to navigate the club away from relegation, has been equally direct about the necessary changes. After securing survival, De Zerbi stated: "From tonight, we have to start to organise and to build a new team."
De Zerbi offered a "ruthless" assessment of the squad, suggesting that the majority of players "simply do not meet the standard required" for a club of Tottenham's ambition, and that "more than half this squad is expendable." He stressed that Tottenham "can't suffer like this until the last second of the last game to stay up" and affirmed his commitment to building a team that aligns with his vision, aiming to "start the pre-season with the team I have in my dream."
Peter Charrington, the non-executive chairman, echoed these sentiments in an open letter to supporters, acknowledging that "This season fell well short of what Tottenham HotspurTeam·Tottenham Hotspur demands." He affirmed the Lewis Family's commitment to the "rebuild," promising "stability and investment." The Tottenham HotspurTeam·Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust also called for "a moment of reckoning," demanding "honest reflection, accountability, and meaningful change."
The 2025/26 season was marked by significant managerial upheaval, with Ange PostecoglouCoach·Ange Postecoglou being sacked despite winning the Europa League in the previous season. Thomas Frank and interim manager Igor TudorCoach·Igor Tudor also had spells in charge before De Zerbi's arrival. Furthermore, Daniel Levy was removed from his position as executive chairman in September 2025, highlighting the profound changes at the club's highest levels.
Former Spurs player Toby Alderweireld at a Champions League match. Credit: PRiME Media Images/IMAGO
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