Ange Postecoglou has been sacked by Tottenham despite winning the Europa League. That European trophy, a first for 41 years, could not prevent him from being removed after a Premier League campaign in which Spurs lost 22 of their 38 games and finished 17th.
Postecoglou departs after exactly two seasons in charge, leaving his successor with the benefit of Champions League football next season. Daniel Levy, the club chair and a minority owner, will now seek to appoint a 14th permanent manager in 24 years at the boardroom helm. The club have met with intermediaries to discussa potential move for Brentford’s Thomas Frank.
Spurs said that after a review and “significant reflection” they had concluded that it was necessary to part company with Postecoglou.
“We are extremely grateful to Ange for his commitment and contribution during his two years at the club,” a statement said. “Ange will always be remembered as only the third manager in our history to deliver a European trophy, alongside legendary figures Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw.
“However, the board has unanimously concluded that it is in the best interests of the club for a change to take place. Following a positive start in the 2023-24 Premier League (PL) season, we recorded 78 points from the last 66 PL games. This culminated in our worst-ever PL finish last season. At times there were extenuating circumstances - injuries and then a decision to prioritise our European campaign. 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.
“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.”
Postecoglou said his “overriding emotion” regarding his time at Spurs was “one of pride” and that the experience would live with him “for a lifetime”. He said of the Europa League triumph: “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.”
Spurs’s domestic season was woeful. A4-0 victory at Manchester Cityin late November was followed by a dire campaign where they sank to 17th in the league,departed the FA Cup at Aston Villaand werecomprehensively beaten by Liverpoolin their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg.
In mitigation, Postecoglou was hampered by injuries for much of the season, including to the centre-backs Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero and the goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. At times, his list of absentees at points ran to double figures, though critics suggested the Australian’s tactics were not easy on his players’ physical state.
Through the second half of the season, Spurs shifted their focus to the Europa League and prevailed in Bilbao’s final over Manchester United, Brennan Johnson’s scruffy, deflected winning goal deciding a yet scruffier match.
After a 4-1 home defeat by Brighton on the Premier League season’s final day, on the eve of a celebratory parade through the streets of Tottenham, Postecoglou was defiant and defensive. “My gut feeling is I feel right now that I’ve done something that no one believed I could do,” he said. “And I shouldn’t be sitting here talking about it [his future]. You’re right to ask the question but you’re asking the person who can’t give you that answer. I am so confident about what we can build at this football club and I want to push on and take it to the next level. We’ll see whether that happens.”
Instead, Levy and his coterie of executives have decided to part company with Postecoglou, the first Australian to manage in the Premier League and also the first from that country to lead a club to a European trophy.
Spurs are giving serious thought to Frank, having been impressed with his work at Brentford. The Dane joined them in October 2018 when they were in the Championship and got them promoted via the playoffs in 2020-21. He has established them in the top-flight; they finished this past season 10th with 56 points.