Tottenham Hotspur have sensationally sacked manager Ange Postecoglou just 16 days after he delivered the club’s first major trophy in 17 years.
The Australian led Spurs to a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in Bilbao to lift the Europa League, only to be dismissed exactly two years to the day after his appointment.
“We Cannot Base Our Decision on Emotions” – Spurs Confirm Exit
In a club statement, Spurs acknowledged Postecoglou’s historic achievement in Europe but insisted the decision was the result of a performance review, not sentiment.
“Whilst winning the Europa League this season ranks as one of the club’s greatest moments, we cannot base our decision on emotions aligned to this triumph,” the club said.
“This has been one of the toughest decisions we have had to make. We have made what we believe is the right decision to give us the best chance of success going forward, not the easy decision.”
The statement added that Postecoglou was “always welcome” at the club and credited him with restoring attacking football at Spurs.
From Parade Cheers to the Sack
Just days ago, Postecoglou stood before thousands of jubilant fans at a victory parade in North London, beaming as he declared:
“Season three is better than season two.”
The comment was widely interpreted as a commitment to continue building on his work at Tottenham, but behind the scenes, club leadership had already begun exploring other options.
The 59-year-old’s Europa League triumph followed a disastrous domestic campaign.
Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League, losing 22 of their 38 matches, their worst top-flight finish since 2004.
“Pride” and a Parting Message
In a farewell statement, Postecoglou made his emotions clear:
“The opportunity to lead one of England’s historic football clubs and bring back the glory it deserves will live with me for a lifetime,” he said.
“That night in Bilbao was the culmination of two years of hard work, dedication and unwavering belief in a dream.”
“We have also 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.”
He referred to his squad as “legends of this football club” and hailed Spurs fans as “the lifeblood of the club.”
Postecoglou departs as only the third manager in Spurs history to win a European trophy, joining legends Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw.
His two-year reign included a fifth-place finish in his debut season and a European trophy in his second. He leaves with a win rate of 46.5% from 101 matches (47 wins, 15 draws, 39 losses).
The Australian’s early months in charge were electric, taking 26 points from the first 10 league games of 2023/24 and winning three consecutive Manager of the Month awards.
However, the honeymoon ended with a cascade of injuries and tactical stubbornness, culminating in a dramatic collapse in form across domestic competitions.
Just two weeks earlier, he grabbed the mic at the post-match party in Bilbao and declared:
“We’re champions. This has been a very long time coming – 1984 was the last time we won a European cup.”
“Tonight we have made history. I want to thank Ange and all the coaching staff, all the players. You guys have gone down in history.”
Yet, glory was not enough. Levy, known for his ruthless managerial turnover, has now dismissed the only man who brought him European success.
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Tottenham are already drawing up replacement plans. Brentford’s Thomas Frank is the current front-runner.
An appointment is expected “in due course”, according to the club.
