Robert Vilahamn: “We are going to create an environment that is amazing"
Tue 23 July 2024, 11:00|
Tottenham Hotspur
After an exciting maiden campaign under Robert Vilahamn, the Head Coach was keen to express that the ‘future is bright’ for the Club.
It has been a year to remember with Robert at the helm as, after he was appointed Head Coach in July, 2023, from Swedish top-flight side BK Hacken, we finished inside the top six of the Barclays Women’s Super League for just the second time, while also progressed to Women’s FA Cup final for the first time in the team’s history.
Penning a new deal with the Club, which will run until 2027, on Tuesday (23 July) morning, the 41-year-old is excited to build on the progress made in his first year as a Lilywhite.
“To sign a new contract with the Club feels amazing,” Robert told SPURSPLAY. “My first contract here and moving to London was a big thing but now I have been here, met people at the Club, I feel the potential is a good match. I just want to stay and keep working to make sure this team are taking the steps to the top.
“As a new coach in this country, I needed results so people would buy into what I was saying so it was really nice to see that we played good football, scored some beautiful goals but, once again, it’s just the beginning. We started our time getting to know each other so these years to come are going to show how we take this team to the top.
“The talent in the group and the staff is already there, we just need to make sure we find the right level in the squad, develop the one we have while adding a few extra players… we will take it step by step here.”
Robert’s attacking style of play became an instant impression in the league, although we suffered a narrow defeat to eventual WSL champions Chelsea on the opening weekend, we went on an eight-game unbeaten run in the first half of the campaign, while also beating Arsenal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and picking up a point away at Manchester United.
After an impressive first year in charge, Robert is targeting an even brighter future for the Club in years to come.
“It was a year full of fun for me as a coach, I have met so many cool people, so many players but also found a collaboration where they buy into it and I’m buying into the culture here.
“We are learning from each other, the relationship with staff members and key players, to then reach Wembley and see that we can beat good teams but also see the fanbase at that game, showing we are growing with our supporters as well. It has been exactly what I want and that’s why I want to stay here because it feels we can keep going as we can build an even stronger team and a stronger fanbase. The future is bright for Spurs.
Watch - Every goal from the 2023/24 campaign
“If you want to reach the Champions League or win titles you need time, we will make sure we do it our way. We are going to develop players, create an environment that is amazing so we can be on top for a long time. The Club have given me time to create this, they want to do the real thing here, and for me to be a part of that and have this environment to work in is exactly what I want right now, it feels very good.”
Preparations for the 2024/25 WSL season – where we will face Crystal Palace at home on the opening weekend - are now underway at the Enfield training base with the players who were on international duty set to return this week, and Robert has outlined the targets for the upcoming campaign.
“The plan this year is to start on a higher level than last year,” he added. “The main thing is to take this team, the tactics, the way we treat each other to reach the next level, we are going to push each other, going to be more fit, have a better understanding of the game model, try to score even more goals, but the main thing is to keep building on last year. We are going to have a competitive team and we will take it from there.”
