There was a time not so long ago when Micky van de Ven was Public Enemy No. 1 in north London.
The Dutchman, regarded so loftily by the majority of the fanbase, was in the midst of a dire run of form at the start of the new year. Van de Ven suffered in Cristian Romero's absence, struggling to lead a defence that was almost always put under unrelenting pressure thanks to the bleak game models of those on the touchline.
Signs of discontent emerged relatively early on, when Van de Ven stormed past Thomas Frank after a cowardly home performance against Chelsea. Frank finally exited in February, yet under his forgettable successor, Igor Tudor, the centre-back saw red against Crystal Palace and couldn't keep his footing at the Metropolitano.
As Spurs' situation increasingly grew more dire, supporters took it out on those performing well under par. Instead of sympathising with the evidently struggling defender, plenty chastised and vilified Van de Ven for a perceived lack of effort.
Thankfully, that nightmare of a period has made way for something very exciting. Tottenham cannot completely forget back-to-back 17th-place finishes, as lessons must be learned, and the club's work this summer shows how desperate they are to move swiftly back up the Premier League table with Roberto De Zerbi at the helm.
Micky van de Ven full of excitement after strong start to transfer window
Van de Ven's rough start to 2026 overshadowed what had been an excellent start to Frank's tenure. Spurs wanted to tie the defender down for the long haul, and a new contract may be explored in the coming weeks and months.
The Dutchman, who's teamed up with the rest of De Zerbi's squad down under after enjoying some post-World Cup respite, is excited to be a part of the Italian's project and has lauded the club's summer business so far.
Speaking to the BBC in Sydney, Van de Ven said: "It's really good that you can see the club has made some changes.
"You can see the club has a new ambition. It's something that's really important for players who have been here for a long time."
Spurs have spent more than £230m on the signings of midfielders Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, as well as Van de Ven's compatriot, Jan Paul van Hecke, who's likely to emerge as the road-runner's new centre-back partner in N17 after Cristian Romero is sold.
"Last season was a stressful season, unacceptable from our side, so to leave all of that behind and go into the new season fresh means a lot."
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