Tottenham Hotspur have sacked manager Ange Postecoglou just over two weeks after he ended the club’s 17-year trophy drought by clinching the Europa League title.
The Australian’s dismissal, announced Friday, comes in spite of a landmark 1-0 victory over Manchester United in Bilbao that secured the club’s first European trophy since 1984 and a spot in next season’s Champions League.
Postecoglou’s departure follows Tottenham’s dismal domestic campaign — their worst since the 1976-77 season — which saw the north London club finish 17th in the Premier League, narrowly avoiding relegation.
In a statement on X, the club said, “Whilst winning the Europa League… ranks as one of the club’s greatest moments, we cannot base our decision on emotions.”
Chairman Daniel Levy, notorious for quick managerial changes, oversaw the end of Postecoglou’s two-year stint, marking the fifth managerial dismissal in six years.
Despite his trophy triumph and moments of defiant pride — including his now-famous ear-cupping gesture at Chelsea — the club emphasized the need for “a change of approach.”
Postecoglou exits with grace, saying, “My overriding emotion is one of pride… That night in Bilbao… will live with me for a lifetime. We are forever connected.”
What you should know
Ange Postecoglou, born in Athens in 1965 and raised in Australia, began his coaching career with Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory, winning multiple A-League titles.
As head coach of the Australian national team, he secured the 2015 AFC Asian Cup and led the Socceroos to the 2014 World Cup.
In Japan, he guided Yokohama F. Marinos to the J-League title in 2019 before joining Celtic in 2021, where he won five major trophies in two seasons. Known for his dynamic “Angeball” attacking philosophy, he brought excitement to Tottenham but ultimately fell victim to Premier League demands.
