Europa League triumph not enough to save Australian as Tottenham wield the axe following dismal domestic campaign
Ange Postecoglou has been sacked as Tottenham Hotspur head coach just over two weeks after guiding the club to their first trophy in 17 years, with the decision coming at the end of a chaotic and underwhelming league season.
The Australian’s reign came to an abrupt end exactly two years to the day since he arrived from Celtic, after leading Spurs to a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final in Bilbao, a night many hoped would signal a turning point in the club’s modern era.
But despite that European success, Tottenham’s Premier League form collapsed. They finished a woeful 17th, losing 22 of their 38 matches, their worst league campaign since the 1970s.
A club statement praised Postecoglou for delivering “one of the club’s greatest moments” in Spain, but insisted “emotion could not outweigh performance” and that a change was “necessary” following an internal review.
Postecoglou, 59, had promised supporters a return to the club’s swashbuckling identity and did just that in his early months. Spurs topped the table after 10 games in 2023/24, with the manager collecting three consecutive Manager of the Month awards. But momentum evaporated. Injuries piled up, tactical rigidity drew criticism, and form fell off a cliff.
From early November 2023 to the end of the 2024/25 campaign, Spurs managed just 78 points from 66 league games, the 16th-best record in the division. While they netted 64 goals last season, they conceded 65, with only the bottom three and Wolves shipping more.
Spurs’ European run was the only real bright spot in a campaign marked by inconsistency and mounting pressure. Even a semi-final appearance in the Carabao Cup ended in humiliation a 4-0 second-leg collapse at Anfield undoing a slim first-leg advantage.
Postecoglou leaves with a record of 47 wins, 15 draws and 39 defeats from 101 matches, a win rate of 46.5%.
Forthright to the end
True to his no nonsense style, Postecoglou remained unwavering in his footballing principles something both admired and criticised during his tenure. He refused to compromise on his aggressive, possession-based system, even amid poor results and a mounting injury list.
The Australian’s directness extended beyond tactics. In press conferences, he pulled no punches, once branding Timo Werner’s display “not acceptable” and frequently defending his approach despite questions from supporters and journalists alike.
Final farewell
In a heartfelt statement released by his representatives, Postecoglou said:
“When I reflect on my time as manager of Tottenham Hotspur my overriding emotion is one of pride… That night in Bilbao was the culmination of two years of hard work, dedication and unwavering belief in a dream.”
“We have laid foundations that mean this club should not have to wait 17 more years for their next success. I have enormous faith in this group of players and know there is much more potential and growth in them.”
“We are forever connected. Audere est Facere. Ange.”
Who’s next?
Brentford boss Thomas Frank is among the early favourites to succeed Postecoglou, with Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, Fulham’s Marco Silva, and Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner also reportedly under consideration. Mauricio Pochettino, now in charge of the United States men’s national team, has inevitably been linked with a sensational return, although sources suggest it remains unlikely at this stage.
Tottenham now enter yet another summer of transition, with the Europa League trophy offering only a glimmer of optimism in what has otherwise been a deeply sobering campaign.
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