The Guardian

Tottenham have been named England’s best-run football club by a group championing better governance and sustainability within the game.

An analysis of the state of men’s football across England by Fair Game, which works with 34 EFL and non-league clubs, showed five Premier League teams to be among the top 10 best run in the country. Fair Game’s report analysed data from clubs across the top seven divisions in English football and gave them a score out of 100 based on financial sustainability, good governance, fan engagement and equality standards.

Spurs were ranked first in the Fair Game Index with a combined score of 68.2 out of 100, their position driven by a particularly high score in equality. Manchester United came second with a score of 65.4, their rank boosted by their scores in financial stability and good governance. Brentford, Fulham and Liverpool are the other Premier League teams to feature in the top 10.

“As a club that prides itself on good governance – with a key focus on sustainability, fan engagement and delivering for our local communities – we are delighted to have been recognised as England’s best-run club by the Fair Game Index,” said the Tottenham chair, Daniel Levy. “This ranking further demonstrates the huge strides that are being made off the pitch, with our world-class stadium and innovative partnerships enabling sustainable, recurring investment into our football operations to ensure we remain competitive on the pitch and challenge for major honours.

“We welcome Fair Game’s work in highlighting the important role we can all play in operating sustainably to ensure our clubs remain at the heart of our local communities and for fans to enjoy for many generations to come.”

Fair Game have strongly advocated for the introduction of an independent football regulator and aim to develop practical solutions to improve governance in football. “To deliver real and meaningful change we need to understand the problems,” said the Fair Game chief executive, Niall Couper. “We’ve designed the Fair Game Index to do exactly that and help reshape the game we love. It is the most comprehensive analysis yet of what it means to be a well-run club, and we’re calling on the authorities, the Football Regulator and football’s governing bodies to work with us.

“This year, several overall themes have emerged: financial sustainability goes hand in hand with good governance and fan engagement; football’s financial flow is undermining sustainability; and equality and ethical standards are on average treated as lip service. In short, football in England needs a truly independent regulator that can oversee good governance, reshape football’s financial flow, and ensure issues around equality and ethics get the support and respect they deserve.”

Fair Game’s report ranked Cambridge United as the best run club in the English Football League, third across England, with fellow League One side Exeter City also in the top 10. Norwich City and Swansea were the only Championship teams included in the list, while AFC Wimbledon were the only League Two side to make the cut.

James Maddison says he holds no grudge against Gareth Southgate for omitting him from England’s Euro 2024 squad. The Tottenham midfielder said he has used the disappointment from missing out as fuel to ensure he is back to his best this season. “I struggled to find the consistency second half of last season post injury,” he said.

“It’s always about how you deal with setbacks. I was devastated to miss out on the Euros but my network around me, my dad especially, he would never let me dwell on that and let it define me. I’m hungry this season to do well, to use it as motivation, to remind me that I can be at that level.”

The 27-year-old, who started in Tottenham’s opening 1-1 draw at his former club Leicester on Monday, told Sky Sports he had to accept Southgate’s decision. He said: “You have no choice. You can’t change it once it’s happened. I was disappointed. Gareth’s a great man though. He explained his reasons. It was never personal, we have a great relationship.

“I messaged him not long ago to congratulate him on his England managerial career and wished him well. There’s no hatred towards that. I knew it was a business decision, which he thought was best for the team, no doubt about that.

“I didn’t agree with him. I felt I could have brought something to the squad, but that’s all in the past now and my focus is to just have a good season.”

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On the podcast today; Spurs have possibly the best 45 minutes of any side in the opening weekend of the Premier League and yet, in true Tottenham style, contrived to draw 1-1 thanks in no small part to the unfit, energy drink-swigging veteran Jamie Vardy.

Elsewhere, some surprising results to start the Serie A season, it’s too early to draw any proper conclusions but might Juventus be fun to watch, while Antonio Conte has gone full Antonio Conte already.

Plus: a Bundesliga preview, Barry’s boulangerie opens once again and José Mourinho complains about the footballing dark arts (no, really).

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Ange Postecoglou warned Tottenham must discover a clinical edge in front of goal if his side are to bridge the gap to the best teams in the Premier League this season. Spurs had to settle for a frustrating 1-1 draw at Leicester despite dominating the game, with the 37-year-old Jamie Vardy equalising with the hosts’ first shot on target and only their second of the match.

Dominic Solanke, who made his Spurs debut following a £65m move from Bournemouth, was among those who squandered chances to double Tottenham’s lead after Pedro Porro opened the scoring with a header. “It was an issue we had last year as well, we need to keep working hard and be a bit more ruthless in front of goal,” Postecoglou said.

“At times we made poor decisions. When we are that dominant we should be out of sight. We do everything to score goals and we didn’t score. The dominance is great but if you don’t score it is meaningless.

“We have to be stronger in our mindset in the front third. To be that wasteful is disappointing. We just weren’t clinical. To get results you need to be a lot more ruthless in the final third. If we don’t, we won’t get the rewards our football should get. If we are going to get to the next level, it is an area we have to improve. We want to bridge the gap to the top teams. The performance of the players in general was very good but we need to turn good performances into outcomes.”

The Tottenham manager said he was encouraged by the fact that Rodrigo Bentancur was conscious and able to communicate after being carried off on a stretcher on 78 minutes. The Uruguay midfielder clashed heads with Abdul Fatawu and then landed heavily at a Tottenham corner. “I don’t have a lot of information but I do know he is fine to communicate,” Postecoglou said.

Vardy signed a new 12-month contract in the summer to extend his stay at Leicester into a 13th season. “I see it as just a number,” Vardy said. “As long as I keep looking after myself and my legs keep feeling great, then I will carry on for as long as is physically possible. I was as fit as a fiddle until I got to about 65 minutes … I have probably adapted [my game] a bit by dropping in but I think the main thing is I am looking after myself recovery-wise to the maximum.”

After Jamie Vardy stunned Tottenham by scoring an unlikely equaliser approaching the hour, he saluted the Leicester supporters, puffed out his chest and blew kisses to the crowd. But his animated exchange with the Spurs fans in a pocket of the stadium upon leaving the field with 11 minutes of normal time to play upstaged his celebration.

As Vardy was roundly jeered he pointed to the Premier League badge on the forearm of his blue Leicester shirt. Guglielmo Vicario went berserk as he forced a late corner after Lucas Bergvall cheaply surrendered possession. Ange Postecoglou, hands in pockets, must have wondered how things unravelled for his side after Pedro Porro’s opener and his mind will also have been occupied with Rodrigo Bentancur, who was carried off on a stretcher after five minutes of on-field treatment. For Steve Cooper, this was a deeply heartening first competitive match in charge of Leicester.

When Spurs took the lead in the 29th minute the only surprise was the goalscorer, with the right-back Porro wheeling away after glancing in James Maddison’s delightful cross. Maddison, facing his former club for the first time since his £40m move to Spurs last summer, started the move on halfway, pushing a pass into Son Heung-min with the outside of his boot. Maddison continued his run forward and waited for the return from Son. From there, with a single swish of the right foot, Maddison put in a wicked cross and an alert Porro rippled the net.

At that point Leicester had to be grateful they were not further behind; Spurs had more than 70% possession, had made twice as many passes and the shot count was seven to nil. Wilfred Ndidi made an acrobatic goalline clearance after Bentancur flicked on Maddison’s corner at the front post and the Spurs debutant Dominic Solanke sent a header straight at Mads Hermansen. Maddison later tried to locate Solanke after Spurs flipped the ball from front to back, via Bentancur and Pape Sarr, but the Leicester centre-back Wout Faes did enough.

Spurs went close to doubling their advantage four minutes after scoring. Maddison flighted a free-kick towards the back post where an unmarked Brennan Johnson volleyed narrowly wide. The £65m arrival of Solanke, who scored 19 league goals for Bournemouth last season and wore the same number on his shirt, allowed Son to occupy his favoured left flank, while Postecoglou preferred Johnson to Dejan Kulusevski on the right. Another new face, Archie Gray, the 18-year-old signed from Leeds, was on the bench. Yves Bissouma was absent altogether after Spurs decided to punish him for filming himself inhaling laughing gas with a one-match suspension.

It would be pushing it to say Leicester had to feed off scraps. The on-loan Facundo Buonanotte was their brightest spark in a first half in which they were thoroughly overwhelmed and outplayed. The smile on Bobby Decordova-Reid’s face after a wayward attempt at lobbing Vicario 10 minutes before the half-time whistle said everything. Aside from Jamie Vardy racing on to an early through ball with 50 seconds on the clock, only for Porro to race across and extinguish the danger, there was little by way of excitement for the hosts.

Before kick-off there was a rousing minute’s applause for the former Leicester assistant and manager Craig Shakespeare, who died this month aged 60. Maddison and Vardy laid wreaths pitchside, the players wore black armbands. Vardy, who captained Leicester, was a surprise inclusion given Cooper had suggested the 37-year-old would be unavailable. Buonanotte nutmegged Sarr on halfway and clipped a neat pass towards Decordova-Reid after twirling clear at a throw-in, but these were footnotes. Spurs bossed the game.

Or at least they did until the 57th minute when something unforeseen happened: Leicester mustered their first shot on target and only their second of the match, the other being Decordova-Reid’s Hollywood attempt. Victor Kristiansen, who spent last season on loan at Bologna, sent a cross zooming across the box and Abdul Fatawu collected the ball on the opposite flank. Fatawu spied Vardy, lurking behind Cristian Romero, and the striker nodded in unmarked. To the amazement of just about everyone inside the ground, Leicester were level.

A couple of minutes earlier Solanke stung the palms of Hermansen. Spurs had been enjoying themselves, Maddison toying with his former team, but suddenly they were susceptible. Maddison felled Buonanotte and Bentancur was booked when crudely halting a Leicester counteract after Maddison was guilty of overplaying on the edge of the Leicester box. Ndidi flashed a shot against the side netting. Buonanotte threaded Vardy through one on one with Vicario in the 70th minute but he could not beat the Spurs goalkeeper. Vardy booted thin air in frustration. Leicester probably should have taken the lead.

Spurs were readying a triple change before Bentancur went down in the box. Both sets of players looked distressed but after five minutes of treatment the Uruguay midfielder departed the pitch on a stretcher. Gray and Bergvall entered for their debuts, while Kulusevski replaced Maddison, who applauded all four sides of the stadium. It was mainly cheers as opposed to jeers. It is fair say to Vardy will not get the same reception at Tottenham in January.

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Ange Postecoglou’s turn for a chat with Sky. “It’s a little bit less chaotic than last year … Harry Kane left about 24 hours before the first game … so it’s fair to say we’re a little bit more settled … having said that we got off to a great start so maybe that doesn’t mean anything … whatever Spurs’ ambitions are are my ambitions … I’m certainly not here just to take part … it’s a big club … we know we haven’t had success for a long time … there’s only one way to change that … I’m really happy to get Dominic Solanke in … we were always a little bit short every week … it’s going to make an enormous difference … he’s a perfect fit for us … works hard … linking up … always in the box.”

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Steve Cooper talks to Sky Sports. “Jamie Vardy came to see me a couple of days ago … he feels good and was uncomfortable we didn’t have a fully fit striker … he made himself available … you have to trust his judgement … that’s what we’ve done … the lads did brilliantly last season … to win the Championship a lot of good things have to happen … so inside the training ground it’s been really positive … a really good spirit … it’s a massive step up to the Premier League … one thing that we can do is give everything and play well … show an identity … keep the good thing going … also tailor it to what’s coming … some things might have to look a little bit different … it’s about putting a plan together.”

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Jamie Vardy starts for Leicester City. Bobby Decordova-Reid and Facundo Buonanotte make their debuts. It’s too early for a sighting of former Spurs man Oliver Skipp.

Tottenham also have a debutant in their starting XI: £65m striker Dominic Solanke. Exciting new midfielders Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall are on the bench. James Maddison returns to his old club for the first time since leaving for Spurs last year.

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Updated at 20.20 CEST

The teams

Leicester City: Hermansen, Justin, Faes, Vestergaard, Kristiansen, Ndidi, Winks, Fatawu, Buonanotte, De Cordova-Reid, Vardy.

Subs: Ward, Okoli, Mavididi, Choudhury, Ricardo Pereira, Soumare, Nelson, Cannon, McAteer.

Tottenham Hotspur: Vicario, Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie, Sarr, Bentancur, Maddison, Johnson, Solanke, Son.

Subs: Austin, Dragusin, Richarlison, Gray, Bergvall, Werner, Kulusevski, Spence, Davies.

Referee: Christopher Kavanagh (Lancashire).

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Updated at 20.14 CEST

Preamble / Harbinger

The very first time these two clubs met in this fixture, in the FA Cup in 1914, the game ended 5-5. Since then, Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur have met another 119 times, and there’s only been one goalless draw, at White Hart Lane in 1948. The last time the teams met, at the King Power in 2023, Leicester won 4-1, payback for the 6-2 thrashing Spurs gave them a few months earlier at their place. And in 34 Premier League meetings, these clubs have shared 128 goals at an average of 3.76 per game, the highest rate in the competition’s history. So tonight’s match comes with as close to a guarantee of goals as you’re ever going to get. Don’t disappoint us by cocking a snook to history, now, chaps. Kick-off is at 8pm BST. It’s on!

PARISH NOTICE: In the event of the first-ever 0-0 in this fixture, apologies for jinxing it will be made just after 10pm.

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Ange Postecoglou could not hide his smirk when the question came about whether his record of second‑season success is about to continue in north London. “Dunno,” the Tottenham manager said. “I expect what I expect all the time, mate. To do my job and see what that brings. But I would suggest that it’s not by accident. We’ll improve and see where that takes us.”

After a summer of relative calm in comparison with his arrival before the start of last season, there was a clear sense of optimism as the straight‑talking Australian, who was one of the more insightful pundits employed by ITV at Euro 2024, laid out his expectations for the new campaign in the buildup to their opening match, against Leicester on Monday night.

This time last year, amid the emotional departure of Harry Kane to Bayern Munich, it was all about steadying the ship after the stormy reign of Antonio Conte. But with a replacement for the club’s record goalscorer now secured in the form of Dominic Solanke – signed from Bournemouth for an initial club‑record fee of £55m that could rise to £65m – and a fully fit squad at his disposal, it is no wonder that Postecoglou fancies Spurs’ chances of improving on the fifth‑place finish of last season.

While it may be stretching things to imagine that they can go all the way, as Postecoglou was able to achieve in the five previous jobs where he lasted longer than 12 months, there is certainly expectation that Tottenham can sustain a serious challenge for a top-four finish. Starting with his first senior post at South Melbourne and encompassing his spells in charge of Brisbane Roar, the Australia national team – who he led to Asian Cup glory in 2015 – Yokohama Marinos and Celtic, winning league titles in Postecoglou’s second season at clubs has become a habit for the 58-year-old coach. But he will know that translating that to the Premier League will be his toughest assignment yet given the competition.

Not that Tottenham can be accused of failing to spend big to back their manager: the purchase of Solanke and the teenagers Wilson Odobert, Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall meant they have outlaid significantly more than £100m on new players after the departure of several more experienced faces such as Eric Dier and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg. But it is in Solanke, whose transfer is the Premier League’s most expensive this summer, that Postecoglou has placed most faith as the 26-year-old tries to fill the shoes of Kane after scoring 19 goals for Bournemouth last season.

“My role in all signings is pretty small – I just make the decision. I’m the one that says yes or no,” Postecoglou said on the influence he had on the move. “They’re here because I want them here and Dom certainly fits that. I thought he did well against us [last season] and gave us some problems that a lot of other strikers in the league maybe didn’t give us. His mobility and his movement was really impressive. It’s no secret that we love to press and he has a great work ethic. And he can score goals. He’s a presence and he scores different types of goals. I think the way we play suits him.”

Perhaps more important, Postecoglou also sees Solanke’s determination to return to the highest level after starting his career at Chelsea and then moving to Liverpool as a positive.

“I really like where he was in his career,” he said. “I’m a big one on understanding people and their motivations – obviously he was an outstanding young player and he went to some big clubs where it didn’t work out for him. But what do you do in that scenario? Do you think: ‘Well it’s never going to happen for me’? Or do you try to work your way back up? He’s done remarkably well to get himself back to a position where he’s scored 19 goals in the Premier League last year. It’s a fair feat and he’s got himself back to a big club. I love that aspect because I know he’s got the right kind of mentality.”

Freeing Son Heung-min from the central role he struggled with last season was high among Postecoglou’s priorities this summer, with the arrival of Solanke and return to fitness of Richarlison after he had surgery on a pelvic injury over the summer giving Spurs plenty of firepower.

“As much as the injuries at the back last year cost us, I still felt it was up front that we were most short and the area that we needed to improve on,” said Postecoglou. “Richie when he played was outstanding but he had a lot of injuries so we had to play Sonny inside. It was Brennan [Johnson]’s first year at the club. Going into the season having Dom and Richie there with that real physical presence will be important. I think we look a much better team with Sonny out on the left. That’s the exciting bit – we’re looking for improvement in the final third and I think we have by bringing Dom in.”

The Tottenham midfielder Oliver Skipp is undergoing a medical at Leicester City on Sunday for a move worth more than £20m.

If the transfer is completed in the next 24 hours, as expected, then Skipp will be leaving Spurs after 16 years. The 23-year-old joined their academy aged six but has been used sparingly in the first team with his game time limited. Skipp, who spent a season on loan in the Championship at Norwich in 2020-21, has made 40 league starts for Spurs and 37 substitute appearances.

Leicester have struggled to bring in reinforcements since promotion to the Premier League but are poised to make Skipp their sixth summer signing. Coincidentally, Spurs visit Leicester on Monday in their season opener. Harry Winks is expected to face his former club but Skipp’s move will not be completed in time for him to do so.

“Every season you want to reinforce, you want to strengthen,” the Leicester manager, Steve Cooper, said on Friday. “It’s been a slow market. Once I knew this week that there wouldn’t be any additions for Monday, I put that to one side and focused on Monday. That’s the only thing we can influence.”

Leicester’s most recent acquisition was a loan deal for the Brighton midfielder Facundo Buonanotte, who made 13 top-flight appearances last season. Abdul Fatawu, Caleb Okoli, Michael Golding and Bobby Decordova-Reid also arrived this summer.

Tottenham have signed the Australia defender Clare Hunt from Paris Saint-Germain on a three-year deal until 2027. Hunt, who was part of the Matildas squad that reached 2023’s World Cup semi-finals and played every minute of her national team’s Olympics campaign in France this summer, has been given the No 15 shirt in the north London club’s squad.

“I was drawn to Spurs for the way that they play, the club culture that is here,” the 25-year-old told Tottenham’s media channels. “It feels like an environment where I can contribute and add value to this club, so I’m really excited to get started.

“The league has so much exposure, there’s some of the best players in the world competing here and to play alongside them and against them, week in, week out, will help me develop as a person and as a footballer.”

Liverpool also completed the signing of a centre-back on Friday, confirming the addition of Wales’ Gemma Evans from Manchester United for an undisclosed fee.

The 28-year-old’s move sees her reunite with Liverpool manager Matt Beard, with the pair having worked together previously at Bristol City.

Evans spent one season with Manchester United, making 19 appearances for Marc Skinner’s side in all competitions.

“It’s a massive move for me,” Evans said. “Last season was a difficult year for me as I had to learn to be a teammate in a different way on the field, so it’s so exciting to be at Liverpool and working with Matt again, and I’m properly looking forward to getting ready to go.

“I want more game time and I want to prove the ability I think I have. I haven’t been able to showcase that last season, so I want to meet my standards again and hit the floor running.”

Beard added of Evans, who has been given Liverpool’s No3 shirt: “She is a talented player, has got great experience playing in the WSL and international football with Wales, so with her personality as well coming in I think it’s a great fit for us.”

Tottenham have completed the signing of the French winger Wilson Odobert from Burnley on a contract until 2029.

Odobert made 32 appearances and scored four goals for Burnley last season after a move from Troyes, but was unable to keep them in the Premier League. His impressive performances had seen him linked with a move to Ipswich, but Spurs have swooped to sign him for a fee reported by French media to be €37m (£31.5m).

The highly-rated 19-year-old, who scored in Burnley’s Championship victory at Luton on Monday, will wear the No 28 shirt at Spurs. He joins Dominic Solanke, Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall as the club’s fourth major summer arrival and will add depth to Ange Postecoglou’s attack with a Europa League campaign to come this season.

Tottenham begin their Premier League campaign at promoted Leicester on Monday, and Postecoglou could call on Gray to play as a holding midfielder in the absence of Yves Bissouma, who has been given a one-match ban by the club.

“Archie has settled in really well,” Postecoglou said on Friday. “We’ve asked him to play different positions [in pre-season], but he’s handled it really well.

“Part of the attraction of bringing someone like Archie to our club is he can play more than one position, so when it’s required, we can use him in those areas,” the Tottenham head coach added. “He is going really well, I am really happy with him and he has every chance to play on Monday.”