Ange Postecoglou has a new leader Dejan Kulusevski emerging in his Tottenham squad after key development

Dejan Kulusevski has had a remarkable start to the 2024/25 season with Tottenham Hotspur, establishing himself as the club’s standout performer. His exceptional form extends beyond club football, as he shines on the international stage with Sweden. Recently, Kulusevski has donned the captain’s armband during Sweden’s last two international breaks. After Victor Lindelof’s unavailability in September, Jon Dahl Tomasson appointed Kulusevski as captain, and he retained this role for October’s international games, even as Lindelof played off the bench against Slovakia and remained an unused substitute against Estonia.

Kulusevski attributes his noticeable influence at Tottenham to his growing maturity and increased responsibility. His leadership extends beyond the field, with the birth of his daughter, Leonie, significantly impacting his life and football career. This period of personal and professional evolution is benefitting both Tottenham and Sweden.

As Kulusevski’s maturity and leadership continue to develop, he positions himself as a potential leader for Tottenham, complementing current influential figures like Guglielmo Vicario. Postecoglou’s quest for success at Tottenham is bolstered by having another leader in the ranks, a sentiment echoed by Kulusevski’s reflections on his career.

Dejan Kulusevski said, “To give energy and to read the room with words and actions. I’ve learned a lot from many good ones that I have played with. I played with Bruno Alves at Parma, with [Cristiano] Ronaldo, [Gigi] Buffon, [Giorgio] Chiellini at Juve and Zlatan [Ibrahimovic]. I’ve learned a lot from these players. I’m inspired by everything, by new things every day. I won’t copy anything, it’s 100% Dejan. I’ve always had it in me [to be a leader]. I love to gamble and am a very bad loser. I’m ready to sacrifice a lot to win.”

The former Aston Villa loanee testified to Kulusevski’s leadership qualities, saying, “He has natural leadership qualities. He is a pusher. He wants to move forward, he takes the initiative. He drives the team on the pitch and more and more in the dressing room. He is much more open and outgoing than before. He is growing more and more into a leader and he has a lot of experience at the highest level. It does appear that his role is only going to get bigger for Tottenham and Sweden in the months ahead.”