Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed the arrivals of four new backroom staff ahead of next season, furthering a sustained restructuring of the club’s medical and performance operation.
Who has joined Spurs
The club announced that Andrew Crofts, who worked as Roberto De Zerbi’s number two at Brighton, has joined as an assistant coach. Crofts is understood to remain part of Craig Bellamy’s Wales coaching set-up while taking up his role at Spurs.
Three new appointments have also been made to the men’s team performance department: Ali James as head of medical services, Tom Tombleson as head of athletic development and Agostino Tibaudi as a strength and conditioning coach.
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Andrew Crofts | Assistant coach |
| Ali James | Head of medical services |
| Tom Tombleson | Head of athletic development |
| Agostino Tibaudi | Strength and conditioning coach |
Context: a continued medical rebuild
The changes come against a backdrop of ongoing concern over Spurs’ injury record. The club suffered a number of significant long-term injuries last season as they narrowly avoided relegation to the Championship, prompting a series of structural reviews and personnel changes.
In October 2025 Tottenham appointed Dan Lewindon as performance director. His remit covers medical, sports science, nutrition and psychology across the men’s, women’s and academy teams. Lewindon led an internal investigation into the club’s injury problems at the end of last season and these new hires mark further movement in the medical set-up following changes over the past three summers.
What is changing operationally
- Pod-based model: the club has implemented a model where small groups of four to six players work closely with a physio and sports scientist to tailor support.
- Facility upgrades: gym facilities at Hotspur Way are being overhauled to align with the revised performance approach.
- Broader staff rebuild: Crofts joins a backroom cohort that already includes multiple assistants and specialist coaches across fitness, goalkeeping and development roles.
These appointments underline Tottenham’s continued focus on addressing persistent injury issues through personnel and infrastructure change. For local supporters and observers, the effectiveness of the restructured performance department will be judged by squad availability and fitness across the coming season.
This is a developing story in a club that has been undertaking sweeping changes to its sporting department; further updates may follow as new staff settle into their roles and the practical impact of the pod-based approach and facility upgrades becomes clearer.
