Man Utd legend backed to replace Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham

Ange Postecoglou is expected to discover this week his Tottenham fate and is at ‘extreme risk’ of being sacked despite ending the club’s trophy drought.

Spurs owner Daniel Levy will finally come to a decision on Postecoglou’s future this week after returning from his summer break.

Postecoglou led Tottenham to their first trophy in 17 years as Spurs won the Europa League, beating Premier League rivals Manchester United in the final.

Spurs’ impressive European run was in stark contract to their domestic form as they stumped to a 17th-place finish in the Premier League.

Losing 22 of 38 league games will have cost Postecoglou his job if Tottenham fell short in Europe but the club’s Europa League win has complicated matters.

Some Spurs fans would be stunned and disappointed if Postecoglou was axed given he is the first Tottenham manager since Juande Ramos in 2008 to lift a trophy.

But others cannot look past the team’s disastrous Premier League form and believe a summer change is needed for Spurs to justify their place in next season’s Champions League.

Postecoglou, for what it’s worth, is keen to stay at the club, telling fans at the victory parade that ‘season three is always better than season two’.

The 59-year-old, speaking to ABC’s Australian Story while spending time with his family, also insisted the Europa League win must just be the start for Spurs.

‘I didn’t want us to just enjoy the moment,’ he said. ‘I also wanted us to think about what’s next, you know, don’t settle for this.

‘We’ve got a taste of it now. My players have got a taste for it. The club’s got a taste for it. Well, let’s make sure we’re back here again.’

But Levy could of course decide to sack Postecoglou this week, with Tottenham already holding talks with fellow Premier League managers Marco Silva and Thomas Frank.

The Fulham and Brentford bosses have emerged as the bookmakers’ favourites to replace Postecoglou but Joe Cole has tipped Michael Carrick for a return to the club.

Carrick, manager of Championship side Middlesbrough since 2022, spent two years at Tottenham as a player after winning five Premier League titles and the Champions League at Manchester United.

‘At Tottenham, Daniel Levy is running out of managerial candidates for the job,’ ex-England star Cole told Paddy Power. ‘He’s gone big, he’s gone bold, and he’s gone off the beaten track, but none of them seem to have worked.

‘Michael Carrick could be a good option for the manager’s job. An ex-Spurs player, who understands the club, would be quite nice.

‘Also, I’d like to see Glenn Hoddle back at the club in some capacity. I know Tottenham fans would love to see him back and he’s got the best football brain I know.

‘I’d love to see Glenn Hoddle back in the club in some capacity, maybe supporting Michael Carrick. The club needs bringing together because it was really torn at times last season.’

Meanwhile, Danny Murphy – who also played for Tottenham – believes Silva, Frank and Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner could all replace Postecoglou should he be dismissed.

‘Should Spurs get rid of Ange Postecoglou, they’ve got Thomas Frank, Marco Silva and Oliver Glasner on their doorstep,’ he told talkSPORT BET.

‘They’re all very capable managers, they know the Premier League and they’ve all produced fit, well-organised, adaptable teams at their respective clubs.

‘I think any of those three would thrive in the Spurs job with the players they’d have at their disposal.

‘They may look further afield for a new manager and then who knows where they might go? Ultimately, if they make a change then I feel like it should be someone who is already working well in the Premier League – if they can get them, that is.

‘You can come in from abroad and have success, we’ve seen Arne Slot do it this season. However, I just think it is more practical to have a manager who knows what he’s coming up against straight away.

‘I think one of Frank, Silva or Glasner will end up at Spurs.’

Murphy added: ‘Tottenham have tried so many different types of managers in the past.

‘From experienced winners like Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, to more pragmatic coaches like Nuno Espirito Santo, and then the complete opposite in Ange Postecoglou.

‘It’s difficult to nail down what kind of manager they’ll go for next. You of course want a manager with a philosophy, but they also need to be adaptable.

‘You want someone who’s experienced and knows how to win – there are a lot of boxes you want ticked.  

‘In the end, the only one who has actually brought silverware to the club is Ange, so there will be a good section of the fanbase who want the club to stick with him.

‘The irony is, they won the Europa League final by being solid and pragmatic. He obviously knows how to win like that, as do the players, which makes you wonder why he doesn’t do that more often.’

Tottenham will travel to Hong Kong and Korea as part of their pre-season plans before the new Premier League campaign begins on August 16.

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