Tottenham have confirmed that Fabio Paratici has returned to the club following a lengthy suspension, and will operate alongside former technical director Johan Lange.
Paratici built a stellar reputation at Juventus and was regarded as a significant coup in 2021, with the Italian playing a key role in the club landing Antonio Conte off the back of Nuno Espírito Santo's ill-fated reign.
His two-year spell as sporting director came to a close in April 2023, when he resigned from his post after FIFA slapped him with a worldwide ban for his role in Juventus's 'Plusvalenza' scandal. However, many believe that the "don" never really went away. There have been plenty of rumours regarding his continual influence in N17 despite his suspension, which came to a close at the end of the summer.
The director was spotted alongside Lange in Udine for the UEFA Super Cup, with many regarding his official return as inevitable.
Fabio Paratici is officially back at Spurs as sporting director
The changes are seemingly never-ending in north London at the moment. In a statement released on Wednesday, Spurs have confirmed that Paratici is back and will operate as joint-sporting director with Lange, who has been promoted from technical director. Don't ask me what the difference is.
Thus, the club are embarking on a rather unique leadership structure with a pair of chefs working in the kitchen. However, Lange's number crunching and Paratici's eye for talent means there's scope for this partnership to be an effective one. Both have played leading roles in cultivating Thomas Frank's current squad; one laden with the promise of youth and recently bolstered by distinct quality.
“I’m delighted to be returning to a Club that I love," Paratici has said.
“I have been working with Johan, Vinai [Venkatesham] and Thomas [Frank] as a consultant for a number of months and I now look forward to returning to London and joining the team full-time. I’m convinced that working in partnership with Johan, we can build a special future for the Club and our supporters."
Reacting to his promotion, Lange said he believes the club are "building something special," while CEO Vinai Venkatesham notes that the latest hierarchical move, of which there have been a few as of late, will help lay the "foundations for sustained success" in N17.
The club have also confirmed that their search is underway for a director of football operations, who will work closely with the two sporting directors.