Tottenham fans have been left fuming after the club appointed former Arsenal official Vinai Venkatesham as their new chief executive officer.

Spurs announced the news on Friday, with the 44-year-old set to take over the role in the summer, having previously spent over a decade at their bitter rivals.

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Vinai Venkatesham worked his way up from head of global partnerships to CEO at Arsenal[/caption]

Venkatesham joined the Gunners in 2010 and held various jobs before becoming their CEO in 2020.

He served in this capacity for around four years before departing the Emirates at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

But after a year out from the game, Venkatesham has now crossed the north London divide to make his return to football.

The former Arsenal chief will oversee all operational matters at Tottenham, both on and off the pitch, and is expected to work closely with chairman Daniel Levy.

A statement from the club read: “We are delighted to announce that Vinai Venkatesham will be joining the Club’s Board as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in the summer.

“Vinai brings expertise in both sporting and commercial operations, having previously served as the CEO at Arsenal Football Club.

“Prior to this Vinai was part of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and is currently a non-executive director of the British Olympic Association.

“He was formerly a member of the Board and Executive Committee of the European Club Association (ECA).”

On his appointment, Venkatesham told the club: “I’m excited to be joining Tottenham Hotspur this summer.

“After taking some time to recharge and evaluate my options, I believe this is an exceptional opportunity to work with Daniel, the Board and all of the staff, to take the Club forward.”

AFP

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Venkatesham must now put his 14-year association with Arsenal in the past[/caption]

Levy was also quick to hail Venkatesham’s arrival, telling the Spurs website: “The Club has experienced significant growth in recent years, making it crucial to expand our executive management.

“I have known Vinai for many years, having worked together in the Premier League and the ECA.

“I am personally delighted that he has agreed to join our Board as we build for success.”

But the appointment hasn’t gone down quite as well elsewhere, with plenty of supporters reacting angrily given their new CEO’s past allegiances.

In response to the news, one furious Spurs fan wrote on X: “Gooners huh.”

Another commented in disbelief: “Is this seriously the state of our club where we hire the former CEO of Arsenal?”

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Venkatesham was involved in the appointment of current Gunners boss Mikel Arteta in 2019[/caption]

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Venkatesham follows Man United CEO Omar Berrada, right, in moving to his former club’s bitter rivals[/caption]

With Levy facing criticism from fans for his refusal to spend big, an angry user remarked: “Yeah Levy is trolling the fanbase again.

“This is the last straw. A director from Arsenal! #Levy out.”

Expressing their disapproval, one Tottenham fan referenced former fan favourite turned foe Sol Campbell, who left Spurs for Arsenal in 2001.

They asked: “What next… Sol Campbell as chief club ambassador? #ArsenalOut.”

Despite backlash from his fans, Venkatesham’s appointment could ultimately prove a major coup from Spurs, if his achievements at Arsenal are anything to go by.

His time as CEO at the Emirates saw him involved in the appointment of key personnel, including current manager Mikel Arteta, and former sporting director Edu.

During his tenure, the Gunners returned to the Champions League and established themselves as title challengers once again.

Awarded an OBE for services to sport in the 2024 New Years Honours List, Venkatesham is a high-profile recruit for Spurs, as he becomes one of a handful of executives to hold high-level positions at more than one top-flight team.

Other notable examples include current Manchester United chief Omar Berrada, who moved to Old Trafford from local rivals Manchester City last year.