Tottenham Hotspur have announced the departure of head coach Ange Postecoglou, bringing an end to his two-season spell at the club.
The announcement comes exactly two years after Postecoglou was appointed, on 6 June 2023, and 16 days after he guided Spurs to a historic triumph, beating Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League final and ending the club’s 17-year wait for a trophy.
It marked Spurs’ first piece of silverware since lifting the League Cup in 2008, and their first European honour since winning the UEFA Cup in 1984.
Despite the high point of delivering a long-awaited trophy, Postecoglou departs, following one of the most difficult domestic seasons in the club’s modern history, finishing .
In a statement published on their official website, Spurs said: "We are extremely grateful to Ange for his commitment and contribution during his two years at the Club. Ange will always be remembered as only the third manager in our history to deliver a European trophy, alongside legendary figures Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw.
"However, the Board has unanimously concluded that it is in the best interests of the Club for a change to take place. Following a positive start in the 2023/24 Premier League (PL) season, we recorded 78 points from the last 66 PL games. This culminated in our worst-ever PL finish last season. At times there were extenuating circumstances - injuries and then a decision to prioritise our European campaign. Whilst winning the Europa League this season ranks as one of the Club’s greatest moments, we cannot base our decision on emotions aligned to this triumph.
"It is crucial that we are able to compete on multiple fronts and believe a change of approach will give us the strongest chance for the coming season and beyond. This has been one of the toughest decisions we have had to make and is not a decision that we have taken lightly, nor one we have rushed to conclude. We have made what we believe is the right decision to give us the best chance of success going forward, not the easy decision."
Postecoglou thanks supporters, players and staff
In a post on social media, Postecoglou said: "When I reflect on my time as Manager of Tottenham Hotspur my overriding emotion is one of pride.
"The opportunity to lead one of England's historic football clubs and bring back the glory it deserves will live with me for a lifetime. Sharing that experience with all those who truly love this club and seeing the impact it had on them is something I will never forget.
"That night in Bilbao was the culmination of two years of hard work, dedication and unwavering belief in a dream. There were many challenges to overcome and plenty of noise that comes with trying to accomplish what many said was not possible.
"We have also laid foundations that means this club should not have to wait 17 more years for their next success. I have enormous faith in this group of players and know there is much potential and growth in them.
"I sincerely want to thank those who are the lifeblood of the club, the supporters. I know there were some difficult times but I always felt that they wanted me to succeed and that gave me all the motivation I needed to push on. It's important to acknowledge the hard-working people at Spurs who gave me encouragement on a daily basis.
"And finally, I want to thank those who were with me every day for the last two years. A fantastic group of young men who are now legends of this football club and the brilliant coaches who never once doubted we could do something special.
"We are forever connected. Audere est Facere (To dare is to do)."
Two seasons at Spurs
Postecoglou arrived in north London in the summer of 2023 and his impact was immediate. He wrote himself into Premier League history by becoming the first manager to win the Barclays Manager of the Month award in each of his first three months in charge, as Spurs began the 2023/24 season unbeaten in their opening 10 matches and sitting at the top of the table.
However, that early promise faded dramatically. Spurs finished the campaign in fifth, 25 points behind the champions Manchester City.
This past season, Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League, just one place above the relegation zone. They lost 22 matches, the most in the club’s top-flight history and the highest-ever total for a team that avoided relegation in a 38-match season.
Injuries played a major role in Spurs' domestic difficulties. They endured 41 separate injury cases across the season, one of the highest totals in the league. At various stages they were without the core of their starting XI, particularly in defence.
Key players such as Guglielmo Vicario, Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie, Micky van de Ven, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Son Heung-min and Dominic Solanke all spent long spells on the sidelines.
Spurs will now begin another search for a new manager ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, their fifth permanent appointment since 2019.
