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Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Tottenham had no choice but to sack Ange Postecoglou despite Europa League win
The writing was on the wall long before Bilbao. In fact, Ange Postecoglou knew in his heart of hearts that he was going to be sacked no matter the outcome of the Europa League final. And anyone who suggests differently is not in tune with the soap opera which has been Tottenham's bizarre season. Postecoglou was a likeable fella, his sound bites were nearly as entertaining as his football but ultimately the Tottenham hierarchy had no alternative but to pull the trigger. Tottenham feared they would just be repeating the mistake that Manchester United made with Erik ten Hag by getting sucked in by the emotion of winning a cup final. United were ready to sack ten Hag, the Dutchman won the FA Cup and they stuck with him - only to then get rid of him a few months later. They wasted time and money by allowing loyalty and sentiment to creep into what had to be a cold hearted decision on the manager. That was a brutal lesson for Spurs who won their first trophy in 17 years under Big Ange and are back in the Champions League. But what is the point of being there if they end up losing every game? It is obvious what did for Ange. The 22 defeats in the Premier League and finishing just a place above the drop zone is just unacceptable for Tottenham. The fans loved their European glory and that wonderful night in Bilbao after beating Manchester United. But you days later, they got thumped 4-1 by Brighton. They went from the sublime to the ridiculous. And it had been happening all season. Make no mistake. Postecoglou never lost the dressing room. He kept motivating them. His tactics were bewildering and naive at times. The players, by the end, were not convinced he could turn it round for next season. The fans loved Postecoglou in the first half of that first season. They topped the table, were great to watch and yet fell away so badly, ended up in fifth and missed out on a Champions League spot. However, Postecoglou's reign was more memorable than Antonio Conte, Jose Mourinho and Nuno Espirito Santo all put together. It was fun. And the Spurs fans were still torn up until last Christmas. There were injuries - and didn't Ange let us know - and, despite a lot of spending, the club did not back him with very good signings. The Europa League run was the salvation. They could lose at home to Leicester and Ipswich - yet still get past Eintracht Frankfurt. It made no sense. Postecoglou was also a piece of work. In more than 30 years of covering Spurs games and press conferences, no manager has read every word of every piece like Big Ange. How on earth did he find the time? And do we really matter that much? Yes, according to him. Postecoglou pulled me up when I wrote on April 7 that he would - and indeed should - be sacked even if Tottenham won the Europa League. It was opinion and also backed up by the 'growing feeling' within the club that he would go. Most managers would go mad. Not Big Ange. He actually went back and said he had no problem with the piece as it reflected the 'general sentiment' of how people perceived his situation. You could not help but like Postecoglou. I did think even a suggestion that he could be a 'clown' as one colleague wrote, was so harsh. Postecoglou deserved more respect. But even one diehard season ticket holder, so jubilant after the Europa League final, rang in a fury after the Brighton game. The party and celebrations did not last long. And that is the risk that Tottenham could not take. They have to appoint a manager with a stature, determination and gravitas to lead them into the Champions League. Even though Postecoglou won a trophy, it was not enough to save him. The club, in its statement, said it was a 'tough decision.' But the reality was different. The 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. We have made what we believe is the right decision to give us the best chance of success going forward, not the easy decision.' Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
IOL News
2 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Ange Postecoglou sacked by Spurs despite ending trophy drought
Big Ange shown the door Australian Ange Postecoglou has been sacked by Tottenham Hotspur despite leading the club to their first piece of silverware in 17 years. Photo: Glyn Kirk/AFP Ange Postecoglou was sacked as Tottenham manager on Friday, just 16 days after the Australian ended the club's 17-year trophy drought by winning the Europa League. Postecoglou led Tottenham to a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in Bilbao to clinch the north Londoners' first European prize in 41 years and secure a place in next season's Champions League. But the Australian paid the price for Tottenham's worst domestic season since they were relegated from the top flight in 1976-77. "Following a review of performances and after significant reflection, the Club can announce that Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties," a statement on Tottenham's official X account said.
The Guardian
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Ange Postecoglou critics eat ‘humble pie' as Spurs coach delivers on second-year promise
Ange Postecoglou has responded to his critics in the best possible way after guiding Tottenham to their first piece of silverware in 17 years with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final. The Australian stuck to his words from last year that 'I don't usually win things, I always win things in my second year', with a triumph that secures Spurs a spot in the lucrative Champions League in 2025-26. Postecoglou has come under fire during his two seasons in charge at Spurs for his divisive tactics and combative handling of the press as much as for steering his side to 17th place on the Premier League table – one spot above relegation – with one game to play. Second season, mate. Brennan Johnson's scrappy first-half goal was enough to end Tottenham's 41-year wait for a continental cup and give Postecoglou a lifeline, as the Spurs boss became the first Australian manager to win a European trophy, while also forcing his harshest critics to eat 'humble pie'. Football fans across the world, as well as some of the stiffest competitors his sides have faced on the field, were quick to throw their support behind the 59-year-old as Spurs bask in their Europa League glory. Big Ange proven correct. He always wins in his second season 😂😂👏👏👏. A lot of people eating a lot of humble pie right now… Get in there!!! Delighted for the big Aussie👏👏👏 He did say he'd win in his second season. Congratulations! 😎 Postecoglou started his football journey with South Melbourne as a player and title-winning captain who went on to coach his boyhood club to back-to-back championships in the National Soccer League. Less successful stints with the Young Socceroos and Greek third division club Panachaiki followed before Postecoglou returned to Australia to lead Brisbane Roar and soon had 'Roarcelona' lighting up the A-League on the way to a pair of titles with the first built on a record 36-match unbeaten run. The Socceroos' breakthrough Asian Cup – won in extra time against a South Korea side including the current Spurs captain, Son Heung-min – followed in 2015 before Postecoglou returned to club land. Postecoglou had a difficult start in his next job with Yokohama F. Marinos before guiding the Japanese club to a cup final and 12th-place finish in the league, then claiming the club's first J-League crown for 15 years the next season. The Greek-born manager soon proved his credentials in Europe when reclaiming the league title for Celtic from arch-rivals Rangers while adding a Scottish Cup and a pair of League Cups. Ange Postecoglou – the man, the myth, 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. His football journey is truly one of a he stands as a… Always wins things in his second season 🏆Congrats, Ange 🧡 He won trophies with South Melbourne Hellas. He won trophies with Brisbane Roar. He made the Socceroos Asian champions. And now he's a European champion winning coach with Tottenham Hotspur. 🏆 Congratulations to Ange Postecoglou for clinching the UEFA Europa League, continuing… A winner once again. Never in doubt. He never stops!Congratulations Ange 🏆 @EuropaLeague | #CelticFC🍀 With the former Socceroos skipper Mile Jedinak and one-time Central Coast Mariners boss Nick Montgomery by his side as assistants, Postecoglou has topped all of those achievements with his greatest triumph in delivering on his bold promise with Spurs. 'All I've done in my career is win,' Postecoglou said after Spurs' victory in Bilbao. 'Even Daniel [Levy, Spurs' chair] said: 'We've gone for winners [in the past] and now we have Ange.' Mate, I'm a winner.' But whether Postecoglou will have an opportunity to add to Spurs' trophy cabinet beyond his second season with the club remains to be seen.
Telegraph
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
House of Commons? More like the house of horrors
Residual haunting is the idea that ghosts are doomed to repeat on loop the same events for eternity. The House of Commons at 12 o'clock on a Wednesday is a prime example of this; every week, the Prime Minister goes through the same set of stock responses regardless of the questions actually asked. His backbenchers seem to think this is impressive. Try as she might, the Leader of the Opposition rarely manages to break the cyclical slurry of jargon. This week she came close, however. Mrs Badenoch went hard on Labour's internal divisions. She addressed a couple of her questions more or less directly to Big Ange. Given the Prime Minister's tanking personal approval, she may well be facing her for real this time next year. Later, she asked Labour MPs how they felt having been 'sent over the top' to defend the winter fuel cuts for pensioners before the Prime Minister's latest U-turn. On a good day, the Labour benches look like a catacomb composed almost entirely of the corpses of HR managers, but even they managed a little flicker of resentment at this carefully landed blow. Mrs Badenoch had noticed the queasiness: 'He can't see them but they all look sick.' This raised the shackles of the LinkedIn vampires on the government benches. Cue great booing and shouting. Sir Lindsay Hoyle was forced to intervene, asking 'who wants to leave first?' in the manner of a school master teaching bottom set English on a Friday afternoon. The air of the delinquent school assembly continued as Mrs Badenoch asked all those who wanted the winter fuel cut to put their hands up. More squawks of indignation. The Prime Minister simply ignored the question in favour of further boasting about his deal with the EU. 'I went immediately to Lidl and spoke to the staff there,' Oinky informed us. 'They love it!' Just imagine, one minute you're restocking the discount yogurts and the next you're confronted with The Living Adenoid. He was lucky someone didn't mistake him for a self-service checkout. The Labour back benches took further poundings from both Reform and the Lib Dems. Lee Anderson accused the PM of 'fooling' his back benches over deportation statistics. This wouldn't exactly be difficult; many of his MPs are the sort of people who believe that they've taken 'gullible' out of the dictionary. As if to confirm this, the goon triad of Big Ange, Lucy Powell and Yvette Cooper nodded simultaneously – their heads wobbling in perfect unison like a row of bobble-head dogs in the back of a car. Still, there might still be some hope for the Labour back benches: Alistair Carmichael, who presides over the environment and rural affairs select committee, ratted out a few of their number as not actually agreeing with the Government's suicidally vindictive tax on family farms. Mr Carmichael has the air of an Old Testament prophet and a voice like millionaire's shortbread. The Prime Minister, by contrast, has a voice like a sinus infection and the air of a traffic warden. The former's considered plea for reconsideration was batted off by the latter with more of those ghoulish recycled phrases. The sooner this residual haunting is exorcised, the better.
Daily Mirror
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Ange Postecoglou deserves to go out in blaze of glory after Europa League final
Ange Postecoglou deserves to go out with his head held high no matter what happens in Bilbao. Big Ange has shown so much dignity amid the backdrop of an unforgettable season for Tottenham fans. And that is the point. Football should be about glory, trophies and memories. If Tottenham win the Europa League, it will be their first piece of silverware in 17 years. That is what we will remember. It has been a rollercoaster season. For Tottenham to lose 21 games in a Premier League campaign is just unthinkable. But if Postecoglou delivers on his promise - and how people laughed and mocked him - of always winning a trophy in his second season, then he deserves to ride into the sunset with the biggest smile, a winner's medal and an 'I Told You So' T-shirt. I've seen a lot of Tottenham over the last few years. And Postecoglou's reign has been more memorable, more enjoyable and more dramatic than his three main predecessors put together. Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte were instantly forgettable. Bad fits. None of them worked. The football was dreadful and no-one shed any tears when they left. We will not forget Postecoglou. And that is why it would be so good to see him win a trophy. Yes, Manchester United need the Europa League, too. But they need it for Champions League qualification. That is more important to them. Tottenham want the silverware. That is what matters. Yes, the Champions League qualification would be massive. But it would be a huge financial bonus rather than the main target of Wednesday's final in Bilbao. It is the most ridiculous argument to say they should not qualify because they are in 16th and 17th place respectively in the Premier League. The rules are very clear at the start of the season and do not change just to fit a narrative. The Champions League qualification is vital because otherwise clubs would not take the Europa League so seriously. It keeps clubs interested. That is why UEFA have done it. But it is more for Tottenham. We can all laugh and mock but the club's motto is To Dare Is To Do and it's all about the glory of the game. We should champion that. Even now, so many Tottenham supporters like Big Ange. There is not a debate to be had about him staying. If you cannot see the writing is on the wall then more fool you. What would be the point of getting into the Champions League and then sticking with a manager who has just not been able to get results this season? Manchester United tried it with Erik ten Hag after winning the FA Cup and look how that went. But we can still enjoy the ride. The first six months of his reign - when Tottenham briefly topped the table - were unforgettable. Brilliant football, kamikaze defending and amazing entertainment. They have smashed Manchester City and Manchester United away from home. It is incredible to think those wins were THIS SEASON. But injuries kicked in. And a lack of depth in the squad. I'm torn. On the one hand, Tottenham have spent big in the market. On the other hand, have they bought enough quality? Postecoglou has also been fearlessly naive with his tactics and formations. But I can't deny that he has sucked me in. He reads every word that is written about him. It's self indulgent, but he seems to like newspapers more than radio and TV. He engages with us more and we like him. And if he wins a trophy - something not even Mauricio Pochettino could do - then he deserves to walk into another job. And that club will be lucky to have him. It has been one hell of a ride for Postecoglou at Tottenham. An unforgettable one. But an enjoyable one and one which deserves to end in glory.
