‘Our legend': Aussie football hails Europa-winning Postecoglou
Ange Postecoglou's job hangs in the balance after a dismal Premier League campaign. (AP pic)
SYDNEY : Ange Postecoglou was lauded back home today for 'inspiring the next generation of Australian coaches' after steering Tottenham to their first trophy in 17 years by winning the Europa League.
Australian football celebrated the embattled 59-year-old's success after Spurs beat Manchester United 1-0 in the final in Bilbao last night.
Despite that, Postecoglou's job hangs in the balance after a dismal Premier League campaign that has Tottenham languishing near the bottom of the table.
Governing body Football Australia hailed 'the three Aussies at the centre' of Tottenham's triumph.
Postecoglou's assistants include former Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak and Leeds-born naturalised Australian Nick Montgomery.
'Congratulations for continuing to break down barriers and inspire the next generation of Australian coaches,' Football Australia said in a statement.
Boyhood club South Melbourne FC – known as the 'Hellas' – celebrated Postecoglou as 'our legend'.
'From his early days as a Hellas junior, to a championship-winning captain and coach, Ange has gone on to become a serial winner wherever he's been,' the club said on social media.
'His football journey is truly one of a kind.'
Greek-Australian newspaper Neos Kosmos said Postecoglou's win was a source of immense community pride, while local politician Steve Dimopoulos said it was a 'major achievement'.
Former Yokohama, Celtic and Australia coach Postecoglou had consistently said this year that he always wins a trophy in his second season and his words came true in Bilbao.
National broadcaster ABC said that Postecoglou had 'silenced his Tottenham Hotspur doubters'.
'To some it was a meaningless boast,' it said on its website.
'To others it was a delusional symptom of the failure virus that has infiltrated everything associated with Tottenham for the past two decades or more.
'To Ange Postecoglou, it was belief.'
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The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Australian Media Slam Spurs' 'Big Mistake' in Sacking Postecoglou
SYDNEY: Australian media on Saturday blasted Tottenham's decision to sack home hero Ange Postecoglou as a 'big mistake', saying he had consistently shown himself to be a winner. The Australian, one of the nation's most successful managerial exports, steered Spurs to their first European prize in 41 years and secured a place in next season's Champions League. But he also oversaw their worst domestic season since they were relegated from the top flight in 1976-77, which ultimately cost him his job. The Sydney Morning Herald branded chairman Daniel Levy's decision 'cold-hearted' and one the club 'will almost certainly live to regret, regardless of whether his replacement is a success or not'. 'There will now always be an unanswerable 'what if' about the possibilities that lay within a third season at Spurs for Postecoglou,' it said. 'And there appears to be no hope that whoever comes in next will get what he needs to satisfy Levy, who seems to be prioritising higher finishes on the Premier League table than the idea of actually winning things.' In a column for The Australian newspaper, former Socceroo and West Ham star Robbie Slater branded Postecoglou's firing 'a big mistake'. 'Levy has left himself in a really, really difficult position now. He's already not liked by the Spurs fans and now he's taking a massive gamble here,' he wrote. 'Ange had promised 'season three is always better than season two'. Good luck with that Spurs.' Former Australia and Celtic boss Postecoglou was the fifth manager sacked by Levy in the past six years. Australian national broadcaster ABC was more measured in its criticism, noting that 'in the cold light of day, Postecoglou was always going to be hard pressed to keep his job'. But it also questioned why Spurs would get rid of a man who delivered what he said he would -- winning a trophy in his second season in charge. 'He has shown himself to be a winner in every league he has had an extended run in, be it Scotland, Australia, Japan and now England,' it said. 'Sacking Postecoglou fits with Tottenham's recent reputation of throwing away promising situations and making life uncomfortable -- or even torturous -- for its supporters.'
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Australian media blast Spurs' sacking of Postecoglou as 'big mistake'
SYDNEY: Australian media on Saturday blasted Tottenham's decision to sack home hero Ange Postecoglou as a 'big mistake', saying he had consistently shown himself to be a winner. The Australian, one of the nation's most successful managerial exports, steered Spurs to their first European prize in 41 years and secured a place in next season's Champions League. But he also oversaw their worst domestic season since they were relegated from the top flight in 1976-77, which ultimately cost him his job. The Sydney Morning Herald branded chairman Daniel Levy's decision 'cold-hearted' and one the club 'will almost certainly live to regret, regardless of whether his replacement is a success or not'. 'There will now always be an unanswerable 'what if' about the possibilities that lay within a third season at Spurs for Postecoglou,' it said. 'And there appears to be no hope that whoever comes in next will get what he needs to satisfy Levy, who seems to be prioritising higher finishes on the Premier League table than the idea of actually winning things.' In a column for The Australian newspaper, former Socceroo and West Ham star Robbie Slater branded Postecoglou's firing 'a big mistake'. 'Levy has left himself in a really, really difficult position now. He's already not liked by the Spurs fans and now he's taking a massive gamble here,' he wrote. 'Ange had promised 'season three is always better than season two'. Good luck with that Spurs.' Former Australia and Celtic boss Postecoglou was the fifth manager sacked by Levy in the past six years. Australian national broadcaster ABC was more measured in its criticism, noting that 'in the cold light of day, Postecoglou was always going to be hard pressed to keep his job'. But it also questioned why Spurs would get rid of a man who delivered what he said he would -- winning a trophy in his second season in charge. 'He has shown himself to be a winner in every league he has had an extended run in, be it Scotland, Australia, Japan and now England,' it said. 'Sacking Postecoglou fits with Tottenham's recent reputation of throwing away promising situations and making life uncomfortable -- or even torturous -- for its supporters.'
Malay Mail
7 hours ago
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Ange Postecoglou sacked as Tottenham manager despite Europa League triumph
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