Tottenham Hotspur have announced the shock appointment of former Arsenal chief Vinai Venkatesham as their new CEO, starting this summer.
Venkatesham stepped down from his role as Arsenal CEO in 2024, having spent 14 years at the Emirates Stadium in several positions, including managing director and chief commercial officer.
Venkatesham – who also worked on the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics – has been out of the game leaving his Emirates post, but in a surprise turn of events, the former Gunner will now be working in an upstairs role at one of Arsenal’s biggest rivals.
“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,” Venkatesham told the Tottenham website.
Meanwhile, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy added: “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.”
Which players have represented both Arsenal and Tottenham?
Had a certain Mohamed Salah not signed a new Liverpool contract on Friday, Venkatesham making the switch from Arsenal to Tottenham – albeit not directly – may very well have been the biggest story of the day.
The ex-Gunner is sure to burn some bridges in the red half of North London by joining their bitter most rivals, thereby doing a reverse Sol Campbell, who memorably ditched White Hart Lane for Highbury in 2001.
While Campbell is the most prominent example of a player who represented both North London clubs, many before and after him have also donned both strips, including William Gallas and Emmanuel Adebayor.
The duo both turned out for Arsenal before representing Tottenham later on in their careers, and Adebayor even scored at the Emirates in back-to-back North London derbies in 2011-12 and 2012-13, although he was also sent off in the latter.
Another former Arsenal player who went on to score at the Emirates for Spurs, David Bentley did so in the unforgettable 4-4 draw in 2008-09 with an astonishing long-range volley some 40 yards from goal.
Further down the historical line, goalkeeping legend Pat Jennings played for both teams – but unlike Campbell, Gallas and Adebayor remains well-respected by both fanbases – as did Vic Groves, Freddie Cox, Jimmy Robertson, Willie Young, Jimmy Brain, George Hunt, Laurie Brown, Rohan Ricketts, David Jenkins and Steve Walford.
