Ange Postecoglou is not the only Tottenham manager with a voracious appetite for taking on fresh challenges.
Swede Robert Vilahamn has taken over Spurs Women this summer, joining from Swedish side BK Hacken, and leads them into their Women’s Super League (WSL) opener against Chelsea on Sunday.
Like Postecoglou, 40-year-old Vilahamn has an ambition to make his mark at the highest level.
“I was doing fine in Sweden but when I become happy I want to take the next step”, says Vilahamn. “The Women's Super League is the best league in the world and Tottenham is one of those clubs who could be one of the best clubs in the world.
“We play the way I want to, but we still have a long way to go because last season was not the best, and the players were not in the best shape.”
Spurs only avoided relegation by seven points last season but there is renewed optimism ahead of the new campaign.
“When they recruited me, the same staff were recruiting Ange”, Vilahamn recalls. “Ange and I probably play and lead in a similar way.
“My final interview was with Daniel Levy, and it was mainly about making sure the women's team is something we are proud of. I have meetings with Ange, with Scott Munn [chief football officer], Andy Rogers [head of football development], and the academy coach. I can really feel that everybody wants the same thing.”
One of Vilahamn’s early decisions was to appoint Lionesses striker Beth England as the new Spurs captain, though the 29-year-old will miss the start of the season after hip surgery.
Ange Postecoglou and I probably play and lead in a similar way
“You look two years ago, they [Tottenham] finished fifth, but I think perhaps they didn't play the best football,” says Vilahamn. “Finishing fifth was a bit of a [false position].
“In the long run, we want to make sure we're a team developing young players to make sure we can compete in the Champions League and for titles. I don't think we can be like Arsenal and Chelsea and buy 10 players every year, we need to recruit cleverly.”
Vilahamn played for IFK Goteborg and the Sweden Under-19s as a player. He started his coaching career in the men’s game before switching to women’s football with Hacken in 2022.
“I develop players”, Vilahamn insists. “I've done that in my former clubs and won the league with that, so I know how.
“Year two for the Champions League spots is what I'm thinking of, and year one to make sure we play good football and start to win games. The position in the table this year is not the most important thing for me or for the board.
“We shouldn't expect Tottenham to win the league this year. But hopefully we can do magic together.”
