Tottenham makes Damning Verdict on Ange Postecoglou’s Future
Ange Postecoglou is set to leave Tottenham Hotspur after two seasons. Following a dreadful Premier League campaign, the 59-year-old will most likely leave Spurs regardless of whether they win the Europa League. Tottenham are in the semi-finals of the Europa League campaign and will face Bodo/Glimt, a fixture in which they are clear favourites to win. In any case, the Australian manager is reportedly to be sacked by the end of the season, and the club has shortlisted four managers to replace him.
Disastrous Premier League Season
Tottenham have had a horrendous Premier League campaign until now. They sit 16th in the table, just 15 points ahead of relegated Ipswich Town. On Monday, they lost 2-1 to Champions League-chasing Nottingham Forest, marking their 18th campaign loss. Spurs are now one defeat short of matching their club record of 19 losses in a single season, previously set during the 2003–04 campaign.
Surprisingly, Daniel Levy has kept faith in Postecoglou until the end of the season. There could still be something to make up for a dreadful campaign by ending their 17-year trophy drought. An Europa League triumph is still on the cards after a semi-final clash against Bode/Glimt awaits. Tottenham put on an impressive display against 2021-22 winners Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter-finals.
That performance demonstrated that they still possess resilience and see Europe as a clear objective to pursue as the season draws to a close. However, Postecoglou could cement himself as one of Tottenham‘s most successful managers in recent times and also get the sack at the end of the season. Lifting the Europa League trophy will reportedly not be enough to retain the manager’s job.
Tottenham‘s Shortlist To Replace Ange
The Telegraph reports that Spurs have been firm about their decision to sack the 59-year-old, no matter how the season concludes. The club has reportedly compiled a four-man shortlist of potential successors, preparing for the anticipated departure of the Australian manager. The Tottenham Hotspurs are quietly bracing for a managerial change this summer, with Ange Postecoglou’s future far from secure. The club’s hierarchy has already drawn up a shortlist of potential successors, and Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is high on that list.
The Spaniard has done an exceptional job with the Cherries, guiding them to an impressive campaign and catching the attention of several top clubs. However, Bournemouth remain optimistic about keeping him and are prepared to offer him an improved deal to fend off interest. Marco Silva of Fulham is another name in the frame. He’s done solid work at Craven Cottage and is admired for his tactical acumen. Although Fulham would demand a compensation fee, Silva remains a viable candidate.
Meanwhile, Mauricio Pochettino, still adored by many Spurs fans, has shown interest in a potential return. He focuses on managing the U.S. national team for their home World Cup next year. Brentford manager Thomas Frank is another name in line to take over as Tottenham boss. Spurs technical director Johan Lange admires the German and can lure him in next season.
Ange’s Words
Ahead of the win against Eintracht Frankfurt, the under-fire manager spoke honestly about his future, saying he’s got “no idea” if he’ll still be at Spurs next season.
He said: “You either think I’m capable of doing the job now or you don’t. That’s where I sit with these things. If people think that us winning tomorrow all of a sudden makes me a better manager than I am today, or us losing tomorrow somehow makes me a worse manager, I guess that’s their burden, not mine. I don’t think that way, and I don’t think most people think that way. Or I’d like to think they don’t, in terms of their own sort of self-esteem and who they are as people.”
“I couldn’t care less. Really. I couldn’t care less. There’s no burden on me, there’s no anxiety on me. What I’m sitting here doing is thinking we’ve got a great opportunity to get to the final four of a major tournament. Mate, I’m not going to let that slip by without fighting tooth and nail for it irrespective of what may come the day after.”
Final Thoughts
Postecoglou hopes to leave Tottenham as Europa League winners and give Spurs fans something to cheer about. They could face high-flying Athletic Bilbao or Manchester United in the final if they make it through. Will Tottenham emerge victorious, or will they flop under pressure? Stay tuned.
