Ange Postecoglou dared to do and deserved third season at Tottenham
The Australian led Spurs to a first trophy in 17 years, but now he is gone
Thousands of fans ran onto the pitch at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Strangers shared hugs. Beer spilled in the stands. Tears were shed in unbridled joy and also sadness: for many fans, it was the emotion of a first trophy in 17 years, perhaps a first in their adult lives; for others, a moment to remember those who had made them Tottenham fans and were not here to see it. A special night for those in Bilbao and at the live screening at Spurs’ stadium which will live long in the memory – and one man was responsible above all. Now he is gone and it is quite sad really.
Ange Postecoglou dared to do and became the first Tottenham manager in 17 years to win any sort of silverware and the first in over four decades to bring a European trophy back to N17. But less than 17 days later, he was sacked by Spurs.
The Australian led Tottenham to fifth place in his debut season, missing out on Champions League qualification by just two points. That without Harry Kane, too, after Spurs’ finest footballer for many a year had left for Bayern Munich just before the start of the season.
After attending a 4-1 win Premier League win over Newcastle in December 2023, I wrote a piece for FourFourTwo on Postecoglou and Tottenham. “Something special is happening in N17,” it finished. “You can just feel it.” At its best, Ange-ball was electric and it genuinely felt then as if the Australian would be the man to end Spurs’ long wait for a trophy. So it proved.
Postecoglou was largely ridiculed by the media and rival fans for suggesting he would bring home a trophy in 2024/25, especially as Spurs struggled. After a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in September, the Australian was asked about a pre-season interview where he said “usually in my second season I win things” and told Sky Sports: “I’ll correct myself: I don’t usually win things, I always win things in my second year. Nothing’s changed. I’ve said it now. I don’t say things unless I believe them.”
As Spurs slipped down the Premier League table amid a horrific injury crisis, the cup competitions grew in importance for Postecoglou and his players. Tottenham beat both Manchester teams en route to the Carabao Cup semi-finals and defeated Liverpool in the first leg, only to ship four goals at Anfield in the return. In the FA Cup, the Lilywhites went out to Aston Villa in the fourth round. That left only the Europa League.
Heavily criticised for his perceived stubborness and refusal to change Spurs’ style of play, Postecoglou did adapt in Europe and after a series of disciplined displays to reach the final, Tottenham edged out Manchester United in Bilbao with just over 20 per cent of the possession and only three shots.
It was a terrible match and a scrappy goal, but who cares? Finals are there to be won and without a creative midfielder as James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall and Dejan Kulusevski missed out through injury, Spurs had to find a way. They did.
Pitchside, Sergio Reguilón and James Maddison raised a banner after the match which featured Postecoglou’s famous quote about always winning in his second season. And on a parade through Tottenham two days later, the supporters sang his name. Addressing those fans, the Australian said: “All the best TV series, season three is better than season two.” His words were met with huge cheers.
Alas, there will be no third season and it seems unfair. Yes, Tottenham lost 22 times in the Premier League and finished 17th, but relegation was never going to be an issue as Spurs ended the campaign 13 points clear of 18th-placed Ipswich Town. Postecoglou had earmarked the Europa League as a trophy Spurs could win and one which brought with it Champions League qualification. The plan worked.
But Tottenham said in a statement on Friday: “Following a review of performances and after significant reflection, the club can announce that Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties.” And they added: “It is crucial that we are able to compete on multiple fronts and believe a change of approach will give us the strongest chance for the coming season and beyond.”
So, as usual, there is a managerial change at Tottenham after a couple of years, with absolutely zero guarantee that a switch will work out. As Mauricio Pochettino, Antonio Conte and José Mourinho would all agree, the major issue at Spurs is recruitment – and the unwillingness to pay the wages which will allow for the very best players to be brought in. None of those managers won a trophy at Tottenham, by the way… and all of them had Harry Kane in their team. Postecoglou did not.
Perhaps it wouldn’t have worked out in the long term. But in sacking Postecoglou, Spurs have shown that they care more about their league position than silverware, even though the Australian has also earned the team a place in the Champions League.
Given all the injuries, and after leading Spurs to their most memorable win since the 1991 FA Cup final, the Australian deserved the chance to build on this triumph and to be backed by a strong summer of recruitment. Instead, Spurs have sucked the joy out of a special moment. A man of principle off the pitch and a winner on it who brought style, swagger and silverware back to Spurs, Ange will be a hard act to follow.