Softfootball understands that Daniel Philip Levy, the man who spent almost a lifetime running Tottenham Hotspur, has been named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2026 New Year Honours list.
The award is for his long-term work with charity and the local community in Tottenham, something that, for a long time, sat quietly behind the noise of football debates and transfer windows.
Following Tottenham’s recent 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest and a 1-0 victory against Crystal Palace, the club still took time to congratulate him on this remarkable honour via their official X account.
They posted:
Everyone at Tottenham Hotspur extends their congratulations to our former Chairman, Daniel Levy, on his award of a CBE in the New Year Honours List, honoring his longstanding service to charity and the community in Tottenham.
Levy stepped down as Spurs’ executive chairman in September 2025, closing the chapter on a 24-year run that made him the longest-serving chairman the Premier League has seen.
Back in 2006, during Levy’s leadership, Tottenham Hotspur launched the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation. Over the years, it has grown into a major force in North London, especially across Haringey and Enfield.
Its focus hasn’t been on one thing only, but on several areas that overlap: education, employment, health, and social inclusion.
The stadium project is a good example. People talk about it mainly as a football venue, but its wider impact mattered just as much. The development helped bring investment into the area, created thousands of jobs, and gave local businesses a real lift.
Then there’s the London Academy of Excellence Tottenham, which opened doors for young people who may not have had those chances otherwise. That part often gets missed. Outreach programmes linked to the club have now reached more than half a million participants, which is a number that’s easy to skim past, but it’s huge.
Levy, reacting to the news, said he felt deeply humbled by the recognition. He spoke about pride, not in buildings or balance sheets, but in the club’s role in improving everyday lives around Tottenham. He also hinted that while football results grab attention, the quieter work tends to last longer.
Even though he’s no longer in charge day to day, Levy remains a major shareholder. His connection to Tottenham, the area and the people, doesn’t really feel like it’s finished.
