Tottenham Hotspur's head coach, Thomas Frank, has expressed his enthusiasm about Fabio Paratici's return to the club as joint sporting director, highlighting Paratici's "great eye" for talent and his potential to form a "perfect match" with Johan Lange in the new leadership structure.

Paratici's return marks a significant moment for Spurs, as he had previously resigned from his role as managing director of football in April 2023 after losing an appeal against a 30-month ban from football-related activities. The ban stemmed from allegations of false accounting during his tenure at Juventus. Despite the ban, Tottenham maintained informal ties with Paratici, utilizing him as a consultant to advise on player recruitment and strategy.

Frank's endorsement of Paratici's return underscores the value the club places on his expertise. Speaking ahead of Tottenham's match against Aston Villa on Sunday, Frank conveyed his confidence in the newly formed partnership between Paratici and Lange. He emphasized that their combined abilities would complement each other effectively. "The strong abilities both Johan and Fabio have, I think that they complement each other so well, so it's like a perfect match," Frank stated.

The appointment of two sporting directors is not common practice in football, but Frank has experience working with such a structure during his nine seasons at Brentford. He believes that having two sporting directors is beneficial, as it allows for a more comprehensive coverage of all aspects of the role. Lange, who was previously the club's technical director, will focus on the academy and scouting, while Paratici will primarily oversee transfer activities.

"I'm used to working with two sporting directors, I've done that for nine years in Brentford," Frank explained. "I actually think you need two these days to cover everything because it's such a big job. And I think also the two of them complement each other".

Paratici himself expressed his delight at returning to Tottenham, a club he professes to love. "I'm delighted to be returning to a Club that I love," Paratici said. "I have been working with Johan, Vinai and Thomas as a consultant for a number of months, and I now look forward to returning to London and joining the team full-time". He also voiced his conviction that he and Lange can build a special future for the club and its supporters. "I'm convinced that working in partnership with Johan we can build a special future for the Club and our supporters," Paratici affirmed.

Tottenham's new leadership structure extends beyond the appointment of joint sporting directors. The club is also seeking to recruit a director of football operations to support Paratici and Lange and manage various departments at the club's training center. This comprehensive restructuring signals Tottenham's commitment to strengthening leadership, fostering collaboration, and ensuring long-term, strategic decision-making across all levels of its football operations.