Three Hundred Staff Members, One Leader and a Stadium That Feels More Like a Home Than a Workplace

For over three decades, Luigi Simeone – also known as Lui – has built a career grounded in care, trust, and people-first leadership as Operations Manager at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with Carlisle. Known affectionately as the ‘uncle’ or ‘dad’ of the stadium staff, Luigi is regarded by his colleagues as irreplaceable – a steady hand and a compassionate leader. It wouldn’t be much to say that he’s as much a mentor as he is a manager – who believes in real connections.

“I’ve always believed that people come first,” Luigi says with quiet conviction.

“If you look after your team, they’ll look after your clients. The client is like a mother, I believe – she takes care of the whole family. If you keep the mum happy, she’ll make sure we’re all looked after.”

Luigi’s career began as a businessman in the 1980s, where he managed a local shop based in Kentish Town, selling beers from all around the world. In 1994, he was given an opportunity to work at Wembley Area and it marked the start of his events journey. “I got into the business almost by chance,” he recalls. “But once I started, I realised I had found what I loved,  it’s working with people, solving problems and building teams.” He joined Carlisle in 1996, from those early days, he worked his way up through supervisory roles, taking his experience from London all the way to big event venues. It was in 2019 when Luigi took the role of managing one of the busiest stadiums in the country – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Today, Luigi manages a team of 57 staff across the THFC portfolio this includes security, hospitality, and event operations. But he never refers to them as Staff. He says warmly, “This isn’t just my work – it’s my family.” His leadership style is rooted in empathy, faith, and trust. “Don’t dictate,” he smiles and speaks. “Let people act and then look at the situations together. That’s how you build confidence.”

When something goes wrong, he prefers to deal with it privately. “I call it a ‘kitchen conversation’ – just like parents do. You talk in private, you guide, you teach, but you never embarrass your family in public.”

His philosophy has earned him deep a respect across the teams. Every single member of the Tottenham family speaks so highly of Lui. He has set such an incredible example within the team, a sentiment shared wholeheartedly by each team member without any questions. Administrator, Selena Power, who works closely with Luigi, says: “He’s a people’s person. When he says something, you can’t say no. He’s a father figure for all of us. After switching jobs, he’s the reason I came back to this industry; he always finds a way to sort things out.”

Andrew Bio, part of the stadium’s security team for seven years, smiled and added: “Luigi treats everyone equally and fairly. He’s like a role model and a father figure to me. I’d take his advice any day.”

Carlisle’s decision to completely remove the use of subcontractors has transformed the way the teams work. Quality, accountability, and pride have gone up massively. “With one united workforce under Carlisle, I believe service delivery has got smoother, more consistent and genuinely personal, allowing standards to rise far beyond what was possible before.”

Under Luigi’s guidance, Carlisle’s Tottenham operations have achieved an impressive 95% staff retention rate, which highlights a true reflection of his loyalty and inspiration. “I never take away a moment to appreciate my team. They’re the reason for every success.”

One of Luigi’s proudest moments came during Beyonce’s six-night Cowboy Carter Tour at Tottenham Stadium. Working alongside Head of Operations, Charles Tackie, and supported by, Paul Sonola, Luigi oversaw more than 300 Carlisle team members delivering seamless event operations, from crowd management and guest welfare to logistics and 24/7 control room monitoring. Despite challenging weather, Luigi’s teams as he says, performed with utmost professionalism, positivity, and integrity.

‘Rain or shine, our people looked and acted the part always with smiles on their faces,’ Luigi reflects. “That’s what makes me proud, everyone pulling together as one unit to make something unforgettable.”

His approach mirrors the true values of Carlisle: “the heart of our business is people.” Founded on integrity, partnership, leadership, and excellence, “Carlisle’s values are my own,” Luigi says.

“Empower people, trust them, and always be there –  that’s how you build teams that last.”