Karen Hills: Ex-Tottenham manager on ‘end of an era’ after 13 years

Former Tottenham manager Karen Hills said her departure from the Women’s Super League club was “the end of an era” but she is “very proud” of what she achieved in her 13 years.

Hills and co-head coach Juan Amoros left last month after leading the club to promotion to the English top flight in 2018-19 and were replaced by former England assistant coach Rehanne Skinner.

When Hills first took charge of Spurs Ladies in 2007, they were in the fifth tier and she was asked to drive the minibus to games. Her players took their own kit home to wash each week.

The 45-year-old worked alongside the club – volunteering, running half-term coaching schools and setting up foundation colleges – during 20 years in total at Spurs.

“The end line was a sad moment,” Hills told BBC Sport. “We were in a better place as a team and a coaching team than we were last year, so the expectation was: ‘What can we do next?’

“We were a big-name club but we were building for something incredible and it wasn’t going to happen overnight. We organically grew it. It was a process that we were working through. Our work showed that throughout the years.”

The night before Hills and Amoros’ departure, they lost to rivals Arsenal on penalties in the Continental Cup after drawing 2-2 in normal time.

“Alex Morgan nearly scored the winner for us in that game. That moment is one that will bring closure to my Spurs career and I’m very proud of what we have achieved,” added Hills.

“I don’t think there is going to be many people that will have the time to be able to do and create something like I did for that many years. Now it’s a results-driven business – and rightly so as a lot of money has been invested.

“It will take time as it was a massive part of my life and always will be.”