A new era dawns upon Spurs as Ho previews 2026 opener

Tottenham Hotspur Women hope to start the New Year with three points against Leicester City as they continue to push for a top three finish.

Martin Ho addressed the media ahead of this fixture to kick start the second half of the 2025/26 season in the Barclays Women’s Super League.

A new era for Spurs

Ho explained the importance of finding a good balance between young talent and experienced players, as well as praising the club’s high ambitions for the women’s team. When asked whether the new signings this window could signal a ‘new era’ for the club, Ho did not suggest otherwise:

“We will balance the squad with experienced and young players. I think it's important that you have that blend of experience and youth, but we want to make sure that's done in the right way and make sure it's right for the team and for the club.

If you want to look at it as a new era for the team now, we can look at it that way. We're moving in a direction that the Club want to take the team. The club is very ambitious in terms of where it sees the Women's team and where it wants it to go.

I'm really excited to be a part of that and we just want to make sure that we get the right blend between youth and experienced players in the squad and, by doing that, I think it sets you up for success in the future.”

Confidence and belief

Regarding consistency in success and growth of the squad, Ho spoke about not dwelling on the past, but building on the current platforms and what he is in control of in the present:

“I don't look at it from what was in the past, in terms of how it's been previously, I try to focus on what we can control and what I'm trying to apply here with the group of players and staff. I feel we're in a good place…

Going into this second part of the season, we're optimistic. We want to make sure that we continue the work we're doing. We'll be better at it and, hopefully, have a strong second part of the season.”

On the confidence going into the second half of the season and whether an Adove Women’s FA Cup run is on the cards, Ho stated his desire to be competitive in all competitions, and taking each game as it comes to not open up too high an expectation:

“What I don't like to do is say we're going to get there or we're going to win this or we're going to do that because then you definitely open up something for yourself, but what I want to make sure is that we're competitive in all those competitions.”

Signe Gaupset settling in

On Signe Gaupset settling into the team, Ho praised the young Norwegian for settling in quickly to a completely new and different environment, and highlighted his excitement to watch her play for the team:

“She's settled into the group on the pitch, and I think that's maybe where she comes into her own a little bit, when she's on the pitch, she's more relaxed.

You can see the level of quality she possesses on the pitch and then away from the pitch. She just needs to settle in with new environments, new culture and also then her surroundings personally. I'm really excited for her and, as a person, she's wonderful, she'll give you everything and she goes about her work very quietly.”

Praising Ashleigh Neville

Longest-serving women’s player, Ashleigh Neville departed the club earlier this week. Ho spoke highly of the experienced defender for Spurs and how her legacy as one of the club’s most iconic players will remain strong:

“She’s a wonderful person and I've alluded to this numerous times in my media, as people have probably seen. In terms of an iconic figure for this football club, she has been part of building this club and the success in helping us getting to the point of where it is now. She's a role model for a lot of young players and a lot of people within our fan base and the squad. The club will make sure that she's remembered in the right way.”

Asian Cup defensive dilemma

In March, centre-back duo Clare Hunt and Tõko Koga will depart for international duty in the Asian Cup, leaving Tottenham Hotspur with the need to adapt in defence. Ho highlighted the quality of the other centre backs in the team and wants to make sure his team is adaptable in this period; he ensures there will be a plan in place to play efficiently throughout the month in their absence:

“We have wonderful players in there. Molly [Bartrip] is a wonderful player, vastly experienced and has a lot of quality. I want to make sure that when we go into that period that we're efficient, we have a plan in terms of what we want to do, and there'll be some adaptation in that part of the pitch 100 per cent.

All three of those centre-backs are competing really well now in training and not just going into the Asian Cup, but going into all these league games coming up, they're pushing one another. When it comes to that point where the Asian Cup comes, we need to be adaptable, but we need to have a plan in place as you said and they're things we're already starting to think about.”