Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou faces an uncertain future despite potentially leading the club to their first trophy in 17 years in the Europa League final against Manchester United in Bilbao on Wednesday. The Australian manager's position remains undecided due to Tottenham's poor Premier League campaign, even if he manages to secure European silverware and consequentially, Champions League qualification.
Tottenham's last major trophy came in 2008 when they defeated Chelsea in the League Cup final, while their most recent European success dates back to the 1984 UEFA Cup.
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Chairman Daniel Levy is reportedly considering potential replacements, including Brentford's Thomas Frank, Crystal Palace's Oliver Glasner, and Fulham's Marco Silva.
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Postecoglou's September claim that he "always win things" in his second season has become a defining statement of the campaign.
The 59-year-old can reference his successful second seasons at Celtic, Yokohama F-Marinos, Brisbane Roar, and South Melbourne, though these achievements came in less demanding environments.
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Tottenham's domestic struggles are evident in their Premier League performance, where they have suffered 21 defeats this season, surpassing their previous worst top-flight record of 19 losses.
The club currently sits in 17th place with one game remaining, facing their lowest finish since relegation in 1976-77.
The manager faces additional challenges with James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, and Lucas Bergvall unavailable for the final.
"We've dealt with adversity all year, particularly around our injury situation, and player availability," Postecoglou said. "I have a great admiration and respect for this group of players. And I'm really hoping they'll get the reward for that come the final."
Midfielder Yves Bissouma expressed support for his manager, stating: "He's like a dad or uncle for us. He's always protecting us. Every game when we lose or win. He's got a top mentality. He understands football. He knows it's up and down. He never blames players."
Postecoglou has acknowledged that public sentiment suggests his departure regardless of the Europa League outcome. Postecoglou took charge of Spurs in June, 2023 and has led Spurs to a fifth place finish last season and helped them to a 4th place finish in the league stage in the Europa League.