From trophies to near-title seasons, each step forward at Tottenham has been met with a brutal push out the door.
Tottenham Hotspur sacked manager Ange Postecoglou just 16 days after he guided the team to a 1-0 win over Manchester United in the Europa League final. The Australian’s Europa League triumph was the club’s first piece of silverware in 17 years, and yet his reward was an unceremonious exit.
Although the Europa League win secured Champions League qualification, the club decided to part ways with Postecoglou following a performance review. Over the years, Spurs have developed a reputation for cutting ties with managers just as they deliver success. From trophies to near-title seasons, each step forward has been met with a brutal push out the door. Ange Postecoglou was the latest victim to be shown the exit in classic Daniel Levy fashion.
Sadly, this is not new for Tottenham fans. In fact, Postecoglou is now the fourth consecutive manager fired under questionable circumstance. Here’s how Tottenham have made a habit of letting go of coaches who finally get them somewhere.
The man who brought Spurs to the brink of greatness – a Champions League final, consistent top-four finishes, and a belief that Tottenham could dream again. The manager came closest to delivering Premier League and Champions League glory. Pochettino asked for what any visionary manager would, a full-scale rebuild. The fans saw the cracks in the club forming under his reign. But Levy had other ideas.
Also Read: Tottenham Hotspur Sack Ange Postecoglou Despite Europa League Win, Who’s Next in Contention?
Rather than invest in the overhaul Pochettino advocated, Spurs parted ways with the Argentine. Ironically, many of the changes he wanted are only now being realized, years too late.
The most decorated manager of his generation, Mourinho brought with him a winning mentality and silverware pedigree. And he nearly delivered. With Spurs in a League Cup final, Mourinho was suddenly sacked just days before the final game without any clear explanation. Manchester City then went on to beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 in the Carabao Cup final. Mourinho may not have been universally loved for his style, but his dismissal denied Spurs their best chance at a domestic trophy in years.
Conte’s tenure was fiery, ambitious, and at times, brutally honest. When he called out the club’s lack of backing and described the deep-rooted culture issues within the squad, he wasn’t wrong. But the truth didn’t sit well with the upper management at Spurs. Conte had just led Napoli to the Scudetto in dramatic fashion.
However, he wasn’t given the time or tools to fully execute his rebuild at Spurs. Levy’s impatience and unwillingness to trust Conte’s proven blueprint ultimately ended another high-profile tenure too soon.
Then came Postecoglou. Charismatic, bold, and tactically progressive, he re-energized Spurs in his first season with a top-five finish and followed it up with a Europa League title in the second season. Yes, the Premier League form plummeted this season, culminating in a dismal 17th-place finish. But more importantly, he brought glory, something the club claims to value above all.
Instead of backing their first trophy-winning manager in nearly two decades, Spurs showed him the door. Once again, a leader who delivered on his promise was discarded without ceremony.
Tottenham fans know the phrase well: “The game is about glory.” But under Levy, that glory has come at a cost, and those who deliver it are rewarded with dismissal, not support. And as the club prepares to appoint its next manager, fans will be left wondering: What exactly does it take to be valued at Tottenham Hotspur?
soccer
