“Following a review of performances and after significant reflection, the club can announce that Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties.”
Tottenham Hotspur’s decision to part company with the first manager to deliver silverware since 2008 is one of the most brainless decisions any club has ever made.
Let’s start by acknowledging that Postecoglou is not everyone’s cup of tea. He’s belligerent, stubborn and doesn’t suffer fools gladly.
But he’s also a winner. As he pointed out earlier this season, he always wins silverware in his second year with a club.
That factual statement was used as a stick to beat him with throughout a campaign where Tottenham failed to live up to expectations – until they landed in Bilbao.
Postecoglou’s side lost 22 games in the Premier League. They finished 17th in the standings and also came up short in the domestic cup competitions.
There are plenty of Tottenham fans who think that record is a sackable offence. Taken in isolation, they arguably have a point.
However, Spurs won the Europa League by beating Manchester United in the final. The result secured Champions League qualification. Yes, it was scrappy, but that doesn’t matter.
Postecoglou ultimately delivered what the fanbase had been craving – an end to the trophy drought and a return to the top table in Europe.
He achieved the feat in a season where Tottenham suffered more than their fair share of injuries – a factor which should have been taken into consideration.
Despite delivering a trophy, chairman Daniel Levy has decided that Postecoglou is not the right man to lead Tottenham into the Champions League next season.
Brentford manager Thomas Frank is the favourite to get the job. While he is a decent manager, his career CV doesn’t match Postecoglou’s.
The Australian has succeeded where many of his predecessors have failed at Tottenham by winning major silverware.
His reward is being told by Levy that he is not good enough to manage the club. Tottenham deserve to fail while Levy remains in control. He’s made them the ultimate banter club.
Top football stories
- How fanzine culture gave a voice to supporters and changed English football
- The smell of victory: Boom in classic football shirts shows no sign of fading
- UEFA making an example of Crystal Palace would be farcical
Football Today features
- Villa and Grealish must resist the temptation to reunite
- Fernandes shows SPL power brokers that money can’t buy everything
- Alternative awards 2024/25: Rice, Lampard, Postecoglou and more
What to watch
Wales are top of their World Cup qualification group. If they secure a positive result in Belgium tonight, their fans can start dreaming of a trip to North America next year.
