On the second anniversary of his appointment, Tottenham Hotspur have officially parted ways with manager Ange Postecoglou. Despite guiding the club to a long-awaited piece of silverware, the Australian has been dismissed—a decision that has divided the fanbase.
Just two weeks ago, Postecoglou proudly declared, “Season three is better than season two” during Spurs’ Europa League victory parade. But like Netflix’s cult series The OA, his tenure ended after two seasons, regardless of the cliffhanger potential.
Postecoglou did deliver on a key promise. In his second year, he ended the club’s 17-year trophy drought with a Europa League triumph in Bilbao—their first European trophy since 1984. That win placed him alongside legendary managers Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw in Spurs’ history.
However, while the 1-0 win over Manchester United in the final offered fans a night to remember, it also papered over what had become a troubling trend at the domestic level. Spurs endured a miserable 18 months in the Premier League, culminating in their worst top-flight finish of the modern era.
The Ange era started brightly with a 10-game unbeaten run, highlighted by victories over Manchester United and Liverpool at home. Chants of “I’m loving Big Ange instead” echoed around the stadium. But things quickly unraveled.
The turning point came in a chaotic 4-1 home defeat to Chelsea. Reduced to nine men, Postecoglou stuck rigidly to his philosophy, pressing high with a dangerously exposed back line. It was emblematic of his tactical inflexibility—stubbornly sticking to Plan A, even when results demanded adaptation.
Postecoglou’s Record at Spurs:
- Matches: 101
- Wins: 47
- Losses: 39
- Trophies: 1 (UEFA Europa League)
Injuries and the sale of Harry Kane just before his debut season didn’t help, but Postecoglou’s refusal to adjust his tactical approach proved costly. Prioritizing European glory over league consistency paid off in Bilbao—but left Spurs languishing in 17th place in the Premier League with a staggering 22 defeats, a record for a non-relegated side.
“Whilst winning the Europa League ranks among the Club’s greatest moments, we cannot base our decision on emotions aligned to this triumph,” read Tottenham’s official statement—a line that underscores the rationale behind the dismissal.
A quarter of all points earned under Postecoglou came in the first 10 games of last season. The decline was sharp and undeniable.
Fans have voiced frustration over the club’s lack of clarity in recent weeks, but Spurs appear to have learned from Manchester United’s recent misstep. United’s 2024 FA Cup win gave Erik ten Hag a temporary lifeline before he was dismissed months later. Spurs opted not to repeat that mistake.
The Search for a Successor
With Postecoglou out, attention now shifts to who will take over in north London. Thomas Frank, currently at Brentford, is the bookmakers’ favorite at 3/10. Fulham’s Marco Silva (5/1) and Spaniards Andoni Iraola and Xavi (both 20/1) are also in the frame.
There’s immense pressure on chairman Daniel Levy to get this next appointment right. Postecoglou, for all his flaws, leaves behind goodwill and a historic triumph. Whoever comes next inherits high expectations and the burden of restoring domestic stability.
Spurs fans will forever cherish that magical night in Bilbao—crafted through Postecoglou’s sharp tactical decisions in the final. But his inability to replicate that success in the league ultimately led to his downfall.
As the saying goes: Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.