Tottenham faces the prospect of relegation, Kane's departure is revisited

The decline of Tottenham Hotspur is believed to be linked to Harry Kane's departure, as the former Spurs star chose to join Bayern Munich to pursue titles.

Tottenham Hotspur's downturn in the 2025–26 season is causing concern among fans as the London club is only one point above the relegation zone. In this context, many opinions suggest that the departure of the club's icon, Harry Kane, was the turning point that caused Spurs to lose their competitive edge.

Kane, Tottenham's greatest-ever striker, left the club in 2023 to join Bayern Munich in a blockbuster deal. Before departing Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the England captain scored 280 goals for the club and helped Spurs reach the Champions League and League Cup finals. However, major trophies consistently eluded him while wearing the North London team's colors.

After moving to Bayern, Kane quickly proved his class by maintaining impressive scoring form and winning the Bundesliga title. Meanwhile, Tottenham began struggling to maintain stability, especially in scoring, where Kane had been the primary inspiration.

Micky Stead, one of the players who endured relegation with Tottenham in 1977, believes losing Kane left a huge void. According to him, the club has modern facilities, a great stadium, and a good scouting system, but lacks long-term vision to retain key stars.

Stead shared: “Harry Kane went to Germany and is entering his third season there. Why couldn't Tottenham keep him? Because Kane wanted to win trophies, and perhaps he realized something. If Kane had stayed, he could still be scoring regularly in the Premier League.”

Tottenham actually ended their 17-year trophy drought by winning the Europa League in 2025 under manager Ange Postecoglou. However, their Premier League form was highly inconsistent, leading the Australian strategist to leave his post. Subsequently, the club underwent several coaching changes before being temporarily led by Igor Tudor.

According to Stead, the pressure of avoiding relegation is an utterly dreadful feeling for any player. “When a team goes through a difficult period, everything seems to work against you. Even a small mistake makes you feel terrible,” he said.

As Tottenham continues to struggle to regain stability, many believe the club lacks a true on-field leader—a role Kane fulfilled for many years before leaving North London.