Ange Postecoglou etched his name into Tottenham’s history books after leading the club to Europa League glory.
Tottenham endured one of the most remarkable campaigns in the club’s history last season, defying the odds to lift the Europa League trophy in May. Few expected the Lilywhites to even reach the final, let alone go on to win the competition. As a result, it was a surreal night for the North Londoners as they finally ended their long-standing trophy drought by defeating Premier League rivals Manchester United in the final.
Much of the credit for that European success must go to Ange Postecoglou. The Australian tactician had openly stated that he wanted to deliver a major trophy in his second season at N17, making a bold promise long before Spurs were considered genuine contenders under his leadership.
Remarkably, Postecoglou stayed true to his word by guiding the club to silverware in his second campaign. Spurs effectively put all their focus on the Europa League midway through the season, prioritising European success above domestic competitions. In the end, that gamble paid off, despite criticism from sections of the fanbase and media who believed the club had neglected its Premier League commitments.
Tottenham surprised everyone by sacking Ange Postecoglou
However, Europa League glory was not enough to save Postecoglou’s job, as he was dismissed just days after making history at the club. It is worth noting that Spurs finished the same Premier League season just one place above the relegation zone, a position that left the club’s hierarchy with little choice but to part ways with the Australian manager at the start of the summer.
Micky van de Ven has since spoken about his reaction to Tottenham’s decision to sack Ange Postecoglou immediately after the Europa League triumph. Speaking on The Overlap, Van de Ven said:
“No, I didn’t expect it. Of course, you see a lot of rumours out there because everybody was on the edge. You saw everything like popping up on your phone. There was not a day that I scrolled through my phone and I saw nothing about our gaffer (Ange). It was just strange how everything went afterwards.”
The Spurs defender added, stating what exactly he told him after hearing the sacking news:
“He’s the manager that won Tottenham silverware. And afterwards when he got sacked, I never expected it. I told him all the best for the future. I didn’t say it was a strange decision by the club. But I just told him that I never expected this to happen and I just thank him for the two years I had with him because I had a good relationship with him.”
Van de Ven admitted that he did not expect Postecoglou to be sacked, even though rumours of a potential departure had been circulating on social media beforehand. He described the decision as strange, given that the Australian was the man who ended Tottenham’s 17-year wait for a major trophy just days earlier. The defender also revealed that he personally messaged Postecoglou to thank him for helping the club achieve Europa League success.
Did Tottenham make the right decision by sacking Ange Postecoglou?
Tottenham moved quickly to replace Postecoglou by appointing Thomas Frank in the summer following their European triumph. The Danish tactician arrived from Brentford with a strong reputation, having helped the Bees establish themselves as a stable mid-table Premier League side. While many supporters were upset by Postecoglou’s dismissal, there was also an understanding among fans as to why the decision was ultimately taken.
Although Postecoglou delivered success at N17 and could be seen as deserving more time to build on the platform he created, the reality is that his tenure had run its course. The former Celtic boss had extracted the maximum from his squad through an expansive, attacking style of play. However, Spurs’ 17th-place finish in the Premier League ultimately proved decisive, providing sufficient justification for the club’s decision to part ways with him in the summer.