Tottenham ended their 17-year wait for a major trophy as Brennan Johnson’s first-half strike secured a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final at Bilbao’s San Mamés Stadium.
The win not only fulfilled Ange Postecoglou’s vow to deliver silverware in his second season but also booked Spurs a Champions League place and a £100 million windfall for next term.
Postecoglou, who famously declared before the match that he would “never be a clown,” cut an emotional figure among the estimated 15,000 Tottenham supporters in the stands, despite lingering speculation about his future, the Australian head coach will depart—or remain—on the back of European glory.
A Scrappy Goal, A Moment of Glory
Neither side had registered a shot on target until the 42nd minute, when Pape Matar Sarr floated in a dangerous cross.
Johnson rose ahead of Luke Shaw but mis-controlled his header; the ball struck Shaw’s back and looped onto the bar. Johnson then lunged at the rebound.
Whether he got the final touch is debatable, but André Onana could only parry the ball into the net, sending the Tottenham bench into raptures.
For Spurs, that single goal was enough. United would fashion chances—including a Rasmus Højlund header brilliantly cleared off the line by Micky van de Ven and a late Luke Shaw header saved by Guglielmo Vicario—but could not find an equaliser.
Postecoglou’s Second-Season CV
Wednesday’s triumph continued a remarkable pattern in Postecoglou’s career: winning trophies in his second campaign at a club. His record includes:
South Melbourne: NSL Championships in 1998–99
Brisbane Roar: A-League titles in 2010–11 and 2011–12
Yokohama F. Marinos: J1 League champions in 2019
Celtic: Scottish Premiership winners in 2021–22 and 2022–23
“I always win things in my second year. Nothing has changed,” Postecoglou had said before his Spurs appointment.
Now, in his 100th match in charge, he has delivered on that promise at the highest level of European competition.
Manchester United’s Pain and Uncertainty
For Manchester United, the defeat compounded a disastrous season likened to their 1973–74 relegation campaign.
Ruben Amorim, the Portuguese head coach, had been guaranteed backing regardless of the result—but he left Bilbao with more questions than answers.
“I am not going to talk about the future,” Amorim began in his post-match press conference, before adding defiantly:
“I have nothing to show to the fans. So, in this moment it is a little bit of faith. Let’s see. I am always open.”
“If the board and fans feel I am not the right guy, I will go in the next day without any conversation about compensation. But I will not quit. I am really confident in my job.”
United will end the season without European football for only the second time since 1990.
That means no Champions League windfall, no continental campaign to entice summer signings, and likely ruthless cost-cutting under Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Key decisions loom over players such as Victor Lindelöf, Christian Eriksen (both out of contract), Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo, and even captain Bruno Fernandes, who has attracted Saudi interest.
