
Tottenham face backlash over Postecoglou sacking
Ange Postecoglou's sacking by Tottenham has sparked shock and outrage as the soccer world digested the news that a man who had ended his club's long search for silverware had been shown the door a fortnight later.
England manager Thomas Tuchel, himself sacked by Chelsea a year after winning the Champions League in 2021, said: "It just shows you that it is not only about titles, you can survive seasons without titles if your connection, the support and the belief and the trust between the coach and the club is strong then you can overcome seasons without titles.
"If there is slight disbelief, if there are concerns, if the trust is not there anymore, obviously then it is sometimes not even enough to win a trophy after so many years."
Tuchel also paid tribute to Postecoglou: "I have biggest respect for him. He's a huge character, he brought a trophy, he said he will deliver in the second year and he did," he said.
"But this is part of the job, we are responsible for the results and we are responsible for the development of the team so, whether we like it or not, sometimes it is us who has to take the full responsibility."
There was an emotional response from one of Postecoglou's players, full-back Pedro Porro taking to Instagram to say: "Thank you for everything, boss. For mentoring me early on, helping me settle into the club, and trusting me out on the pitch.
"I'll always be grateful for the way you led us, defended us, and kept us going through all the highs and lows. Above everything, you gave us one of the greatest moments in the club's history and for that, you'll always be celebrated. Wishing you all the very best, boss."
Soccer pundits came out backing the Australian coach, and laying into Tottenham's decision.
Alan Shearer, the former England and Newcastle striker, posted on X: "What a stupid game football is!!!!"
Another former England forward, Chris Sutton, said: "To get someone in who wins them silverware, then straightaway get rid of him, that sums up modern football, doesn't it? It's absolute bonkers."
Tottenham fan Alfie Watts, who won BBC's Race Across the World in 2024, said he was "fuming" over the sacking
"I'm fuming. I can't really get my head around it. I think it's a baffling decision," Watts told BBC Radio.
Also on BBC Radio, Spurs fan Jack Teasdale from Macclesfield, said: " It just doesn't make sense to me. We wait 17 years for a trophy, we finally win a trophy in Bilbao and then we sack him and we're back to square one again. It's a shambles to be honest."
And from across the North London divide, an Arsenal supporter told the BBC: "Spurs have achieved a trophy win and Champions League qualification. One more than us! Yet they lose their manager. Deserved longer in the role."
Ange Postecoglou's sacking by Tottenham has sparked shock and outrage as the soccer world digested the news that a man who had ended his club's long search for silverware had been shown the door a fortnight later.
England manager Thomas Tuchel, himself sacked by Chelsea a year after winning the Champions League in 2021, said: "It just shows you that it is not only about titles, you can survive seasons without titles if your connection, the support and the belief and the trust between the coach and the club is strong then you can overcome seasons without titles.
"If there is slight disbelief, if there are concerns, if the trust is not there anymore, obviously then it is sometimes not even enough to win a trophy after so many years."
Tuchel also paid tribute to Postecoglou: "I have biggest respect for him. He's a huge character, he brought a trophy, he said he will deliver in the second year and he did," he said.
"But this is part of the job, we are responsible for the results and we are responsible for the development of the team so, whether we like it or not, sometimes it is us who has to take the full responsibility."
There was an emotional response from one of Postecoglou's players, full-back Pedro Porro taking to Instagram to say: "Thank you for everything, boss. For mentoring me early on, helping me settle into the club, and trusting me out on the pitch.
"I'll always be grateful for the way you led us, defended us, and kept us going through all the highs and lows. Above everything, you gave us one of the greatest moments in the club's history and for that, you'll always be celebrated. Wishing you all the very best, boss."
Soccer pundits came out backing the Australian coach, and laying into Tottenham's decision.
Alan Shearer, the former England and Newcastle striker, posted on X: "What a stupid game football is!!!!"
Another former England forward, Chris Sutton, said: "To get someone in who wins them silverware, then straightaway get rid of him, that sums up modern football, doesn't it? It's absolute bonkers."
Tottenham fan Alfie Watts, who won BBC's Race Across the World in 2024, said he was "fuming" over the sacking
"I'm fuming. I can't really get my head around it. I think it's a baffling decision," Watts told BBC Radio.
Also on BBC Radio, Spurs fan Jack Teasdale from Macclesfield, said: " It just doesn't make sense to me. We wait 17 years for a trophy, we finally win a trophy in Bilbao and then we sack him and we're back to square one again. It's a shambles to be honest."
And from across the North London divide, an Arsenal supporter told the BBC: "Spurs have achieved a trophy win and Champions League qualification. One more than us! Yet they lose their manager. Deserved longer in the role."
Ange Postecoglou's sacking by Tottenham has sparked shock and outrage as the soccer world digested the news that a man who had ended his club's long search for silverware had been shown the door a fortnight later.
England manager Thomas Tuchel, himself sacked by Chelsea a year after winning the Champions League in 2021, said: "It just shows you that it is not only about titles, you can survive seasons without titles if your connection, the support and the belief and the trust between the coach and the club is strong then you can overcome seasons without titles.
"If there is slight disbelief, if there are concerns, if the trust is not there anymore, obviously then it is sometimes not even enough to win a trophy after so many years."
Tuchel also paid tribute to Postecoglou: "I have biggest respect for him. He's a huge character, he brought a trophy, he said he will deliver in the second year and he did," he said.
"But this is part of the job, we are responsible for the results and we are responsible for the development of the team so, whether we like it or not, sometimes it is us who has to take the full responsibility."
There was an emotional response from one of Postecoglou's players, full-back Pedro Porro taking to Instagram to say: "Thank you for everything, boss. For mentoring me early on, helping me settle into the club, and trusting me out on the pitch.
"I'll always be grateful for the way you led us, defended us, and kept us going through all the highs and lows. Above everything, you gave us one of the greatest moments in the club's history and for that, you'll always be celebrated. Wishing you all the very best, boss."
Soccer pundits came out backing the Australian coach, and laying into Tottenham's decision.
Alan Shearer, the former England and Newcastle striker, posted on X: "What a stupid game football is!!!!"
Another former England forward, Chris Sutton, said: "To get someone in who wins them silverware, then straightaway get rid of him, that sums up modern football, doesn't it? It's absolute bonkers."
Tottenham fan Alfie Watts, who won BBC's Race Across the World in 2024, said he was "fuming" over the sacking
"I'm fuming. I can't really get my head around it. I think it's a baffling decision," Watts told BBC Radio.
Also on BBC Radio, Spurs fan Jack Teasdale from Macclesfield, said: " It just doesn't make sense to me. We wait 17 years for a trophy, we finally win a trophy in Bilbao and then we sack him and we're back to square one again. It's a shambles to be honest."
And from across the North London divide, an Arsenal supporter told the BBC: "Spurs have achieved a trophy win and Champions League qualification. One more than us! Yet they lose their manager. Deserved longer in the role."
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Meninga has been a great coach for Queensland and Australia, but throughout that time he has been acknowledged primarily as a brilliant man-manager while delegating coaching duties to the likes of Michael Hagan, Neil Henry, Adrian Lam and Brett White. It's likely that lack of ego will see him hand over the nuts and bolts to his assistant coaches. If he doesn't, it would be a huge surprise and a potential problem. Meninga knows his strength lies in creating the culture of a club and being a salesman for the Bears. His aura and reputation should be exploited to attract players to the new franchise. The NRL has also taken a risk by appointing Anthony De Ceglie as Bears CEO. The former News Corp and Seven West journalist/editor has copped a pasting in the media so far, remaining silent as his credibility and credentials have been questioned. It will be interesting to see who he leans on in the media as he is off with the West Australian, which he edited for years. The situation is the same at the Seven network, but he has some old mates at News Corp, who are sure to give him a soft run. His greatest ally is Peter V'landys, who has backed him to the hilt. V'landys rarely gets it wrong and has vouched for De Ceglie. Low tactics delayed Mal move Loading Part of the delay around the Meninga announcement was because he was lowballed at $600,000 when negotiations over his salary began. Meninga would have been one of the lower-paid coaches in the NRL if he accepted that offer. He was also required to give up his incomes from the Kangaroos, Raiders and Fox Sport. Keeping those gigs would have had him earning that salary. Smith silent treatment a poor look Cam Smith put his hand up to succeed Meninga as Australian coach, and deserved some level of acknowledgment from the NRL given his standing in the game. Some 36 hours later, they sounded out Brad Fittler for the position. I bumped into Smith in North Sydney and asked him what the NRL had said to him. At that point, no one contacted him. That's hardly acceptable for a man of his standing.