Tottenham too cruel to sack Postecoglou?

Postecoglou helped Spurs end their title drought, but still failed to keep his job. In the eyes of Tottenham’s board, the long run in the Premier League is the real measure – and “Angeball” did not meet the requirements.

Postecoglou has officially lost his job at Tottenham Hotspur.

Just weeks after the glorious Bilbao night, where Tottenham Hotspur lifted a European trophy for the first time in 41 years, the story of “Angeball” – Ange Postecoglou’s attacking and inspirational football philosophy – is officially over. There will be no third season, no chance to continue the unfinished dream.

Chairman Daniel Levy made a cold decision - again - despite winning the Europa League and a wave of support from the majority of fans.

A bitter end?

When Postecoglou said after the final, “We have tasted glory, now it is time to return with greater ambition”, he did not know that his fate had been sealed before the plane carrying Tottenham touched down in the Basque Country. The trust from the club’s upper echelons had been drained.

For Levy, the meager Premier League points, the booing and inconsistent performances have overshadowed any emotion from a first European title in decades.

It’s hard to justify. While winning the Europa League was the pinnacle, Tottenham under Postecoglou have also left behind a troubling set of statistics: 22 Premier League defeats – the worst in Spurs’ history; 26 defeats in all competitions in the 2024/25 season – the club’s most ever.

Remarkably, 25% of Ange's Premier League points came in the first 10 games of the 2023/24 season. After a brilliant start came a long series of ups and downs, losing direction. So was Levy right? Maybe, but the story is not as simple as the numbers.

Postecoglou had to steer Tottenham through two seasons in which he almost never had his strongest squad.

Football is a cruel game where results often obscure context. Postecoglou has had to steer Tottenham through two seasons in which he has hardly ever had his strongest squad.

From Vicario, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie, Maddison, Bentancur to Richarlison - all have been absent for long periods. At the most difficult stage, he was forced to use young players and reserve options.

One could argue that with a full squad, Postecoglou's Spurs would be second in the table in terms of scoring efficiency. But that's just a hypothetical.

Football doesn't wait for anyone to recover before starting again. And while the mainstays were out, Tottenham lost to Palace, Ipswich, Leicester, and dropped points against opponents who were rated much lower.

But it would be unfair to look at the scoreboard alone, as the Europa League victory itself is a testament to Postecoglou's ability to steer the team.

He was forced to abandon the free-flowing attacking philosophy that had won him three consecutive Coach of the Month awards in favour of a pragmatic style – something that had been criticised by predecessors Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte. Tottenham in Europe were disciplined, defensive, and reserved – and ultimately, winning.

It's not about the results, it's about the belief.

Postecoglou was a symbol of the beginning. The words “Big Ange” echoed through the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with excited fans talking about “bringing identity back”.

But all that faded. As the team faltered, the boos began to pour in – not just at the players but also at the Australian coach himself. There was a sense that the team and the fans were no longer on the same page.

Postecoglou was once a symbol of beginnings. But things gradually went off the rails.

And Levy, in a moment of decisiveness, chose to stop. Perhaps he looked to Manchester United – where the board hastily renewed Ten Hag’s contract after winning the FA Cup – and did not want to repeat the same mistake.

Although Spurs' Europa League triumph came with Champions League qualification and a huge payday, for Levy, Postecoglou was not the right man to lead the way.

Postecoglou arrived at Tottenham without Harry Kane, the club’s lifeblood for more than a decade. He had to rebuild almost from scratch, through two injury-ravaged seasons and an underwhelming transfer window. Yet the Australian coach still delivered a trophy. A European Cup. Something that seemed impossible, given the circumstances at the start of the season.

But modern football is no place for patience. With financial pressures, demands for immediate results, and a fan base that is constantly on high alert, managers – even those who have brought glory – can be replaced like pawns.

Tottenham now embark on a new journey. Levy is betting on change again, hoping this time his replacement can keep the winning flame alive for longer - not just one night in Bilbao, but an era.

And Postecoglou? He will go with his head held high. Not because everything he did was perfect, but because he brought hope - something Tottenham have lacked for a decade. And hope, sometimes, deserves to be remembered.

Source: https://znews.vn/tottenham-qua-tan-nhan-khi-sa-thai-postecoglou-post1558912.html