Tottenham are set to sack head coach Ange Postecoglou after weeks of uncertainty over the Australian’s future at the Premier League club.
Postecoglou guided Tottenham to Europa League glory just over two weeks ago against Manchester United in Bilbao, ending the club’s 17-year trophy drought.
It also served as vindication for the Australian who boldly proclaimed midway through the campaign: ‘I always wins things in my second season.’
Despite those successes, however, the 59-year-old is set to pay the price for a miserable league campaign, which saw Spurs finish 17th and lose 22 of their 38 games.
First reported by the Telegraph, the decision comes exactly two years after Postecoglou took charge of the north London club. Brentford’s Thomas Frank and Fulham’s Marco Silva are two early favourites for the role.
‘Following a review of performances and after significant reflection, the Club can announce that Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties,’ the club said in a statement.
‘Ange joined us from Celtic in the summer of 2023 and oversaw a period of change on the pitch, returning us to the attacking brand of football that has traditionally been associated with the Club, while writing a new chapter in our history by leading us to UEFA Europa League glory in Bilbao last month – an achievement that will live with us all forever.
‘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.’
Postecoglou’s future had come under heavy speculation throughout the campaign, with reports suggesting that he would be sacked regardless of the outcome of last month’s Europa League final.
In the wake of Tottenham’s victory, Postecoglou hinted he may well be granted a stay of execution and a third season at the helm, but Daniel Levy has stuck to his guns and decided to part ways with the former Celtic boss.
The 59-year-old guided Spurs to fifth in the league during his first year in the job and a place in the Europa League.
But Postecoglou was unable to replicate such league form in his second season, with injuries to several key players seeing them record the club’s worst points tally and finish in the Premier League era.
‘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,’ the club added.
;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.
‘We have a talented, young squad and Ange has given us a great platform to build upon. We should like to express our gratitude to him. We wish him well for the future – he will always be welcome back at our home.
‘News on the appointment of a new Head Coach will be announced in due course.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.