Ange Postecoglou’s dismissal from Tottenham Hotspur, despite winning the Europa League—their first trophy in 17 years—has sparked considerable debate.
The club’s motto, “the game is about glory,” rings hollow in light of this decision.
This iconic phrase, coined by legendary captain Danny Blanchflower, embodies the club’s aspirational image. Postecoglou, however, discovered a stark reality under chairman Daniel Levy.
He delivered on the promise of a trophy in his second season, yet his reward was dismissal.
Tottenham’s official statement acknowledged the Europa League victory as a “greatest moment,” yet declared that emotions surrounding this triumph wouldn’t influence the decision.
This prioritization of pragmatic considerations over emotional triumph highlights a shift in the club’s philosophy under Levy’s leadership.
Glory, it seems, isn’t the sole currency at Tottenham, even though Levy’s previous success is limited to the 2008 League Cup win under Juande Ramos.
Postecoglou reflected on his tenure with justifiable pride, stating his time at the club “will live with me for a lifetime.”
His legacy will undoubtedly include the historic Europa League victory over Manchester United, a testament to his tactical prowess. However, a disappointing Premier League season (17th place, 22 defeats) also forms part of the narrative.
Postecoglou’s achievement of winning a European trophy, joining an elite group including Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw, remains a significant accomplishment.
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Despite this, a strong argument can be made for retaining Postecoglou, with the club itself acknowledging “a great platform to build upon.”
While Postecoglou’s tactical inflexibility, particularly his adherence to a high-risk strategy, was a point of contention, his Europa League success demonstrated adaptability.
While some fans support the decision, others believe his achievements warranted a third season, an opportunity to build on the momentum generated by the Europa League triumph.
The poor Premier League finish serves as evidence against him, yet it underscores a cold reality: winning a club’s first silverware in 17 years isn’t enough to guarantee job security.
Comparisons to Manchester United’s decision to dismiss Erik ten Hag, despite FA Cup success, are inevitable, but United had prior silverware wins under Mourinho and Van Gaal.
Tottenham’s trophy drought, however, ended with Postecoglou’s arrival, exceeding the achievements of predecessors like Pochettino, Mourinho, and Conte.
Alan Shearer’s succinct reaction on X perfectly encapsulates the absurdity: “What a stupid game football is!”
Chris Sutton echoed this sentiment on BBC Sport, questioning the rationale behind the dismissal and highlighting the apparent prioritization of Premier League standings over trophy wins.
Sutton further criticized the decision as “bonkers,” highlighting the irony of sacking a manager who delivered silverware.
Levy’s post-match celebration in Bilbao, where he praised Postecoglou, contrasts sharply with the subsequent decision. The focus now shifts back to Levy, whose history of sacking managers is now extended to one who delivered a significant trophy.
Postecoglou delivered glory, but learned a harsh lesson: for Daniel Levy, it simply wasn’t enough.
Football Daily
Postecoglou sacked by Spurs
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