Tottenham Hotspur has dismissed manager Ange Postecoglou. Although he recently secured the Europa League title, guaranteeing Champions League football and breaking a 17-year trophy drought, Postecoglou`s tenure was marked by a dismal Premier League season where Spurs finished 17th, suffering 22 defeats in 38 matches – a record for a side avoiding relegation.
Thomas Frank of Brentford is considered a leading candidate for the vacant position, while Andoni Iraola, whom Bournemouth hopes to sign to a new contract, has also been linked with the role.
A club statement confirmed the decision, stating: “Following a review of performances and after significant reflection, the club can announce that Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties.” Tottenham expressed “extreme gratitude to Ange” for delivering the European silverware.
The statement continued: “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. This has been one of the toughest decisions we have had to make and is not a decision that we have taken lightly, nor one we have rushed to conclude. We have made what we believe is the right decision to give us the best chance of success going forward, not the easy decision.”
“We have a talented, young squad and Ange has given us a great platform to build upon. We should like to express our gratitude to him. We wish him well for the future – he will always be welcome back at our home,” the statement concluded.
The focus now shifts to chairman Daniel Levy to select the right successor, particularly after supporters voiced their desire for Postecoglou to remain following the victory over Manchester United in Bilbao. The 59-year-old departs after exactly two years, believing he fulfilled his mandate, albeit in an unexpected manner. Spurs have returned to the Champions League after a two-season absence, secured a long-awaited trophy, and developed a younger squad following Harry Kane`s departure.
Postecoglou can also point to the significant injury crisis that plagued the squad around Christmas, notably affecting key players like Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Dejan Kulusevski, Guglielmo Vicario, and James Maddison. These absences contributed to stretches of up to six games without a win during the season.
However, questions could also be raised about whether Postecoglou`s demanding, high-energy tactical approach contributed to some of these injury problems. While Postecoglou might feel validated by his earlier assertion that he “always wins a trophy in his second season,” a claim that proved true, he had often stated that silverware wasn`t the primary metric for progress. This perspective appeared to shift as he prioritized the Europa League campaign, which ultimately secured Champions League qualification despite the team`s Premier League finish being closer in points to the bottom side Southampton than to the top five.
Postecoglou issued his own statement, saying: “When I reflect on my time as manager of Tottenham Hotspur my overriding emotion is one of pride. 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. Sharing that experience with all those who truly love this club and seeing the impact it had on them is something I will never forget.” He added: “That night in Bilbao was the culmination of two years of hard work, dedication and unwavering belief in a dream. There were many challenges to overcome and plenty of noise that comes with trying to accomplish what many said was not possible. 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.”
Postecoglou`s exit is part of a wider restructuring at the club. Vinai Venkatesham, previously CEO at Arsenal, began his role as Tottenham`s chief executive this week, while long-serving executive Donna-Maria Cullen has also departed. The future of chief football officer Scott Munn is reportedly also uncertain.
