Recap reaction as Tottenham Hotspur sack Ange Postecoglou
Full statement from Tottenham, who point to their record in the league, where they finished 17th this season, saying 'we recorded 78 points from the last 66 PL games'
More: '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'
Postecoglou statement: 'We are forever connected... my overriding emotion is one of pride'
More from Postecoglou: 'We have laid the foundations...I sincerely want to thank the supporters'
Stats and analysis: Only Wolves worse off than Spurs in Ange's final 66 games | The great entertainers?
Reaction: 'I'll always be grateful' - Porro | 'What a stupid game football is' - Alan Shearer
Image source, Getty ImagesAnge Postecoglou's second and final season for Spurs flatlined until their Europa League triumph, let's have a look at his numbers from the 2024-25 season across all competitions:
Chris Sutton
Former England striker
I'm not a Tottenham fan but, from the outside, the reason Ange Postecoglou was employed was because they wanted to win a trophy and, if they couldn't do that, they wanted to watch an entertaining team - and I think he has ticked both boxes.
I am not saying it has been brilliant this season because I understand the Premier League has been a disappointment - but he has won a major European trophy and that is a huge achievement - their first trophy since the 2008 League Cup and their first European trophy since the Uefa Cup in 1984. He has done something no other manager has done there in 41 years, since Keith Burkinshaw.
To get someone in who wins them silverware, then straightaway get rid of him, that sums up modern football, doesn't it? It's absolute bonkers.
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Daniel Levy should be ashamed. One man managed to do something with Spurs in the last 18 years. That was Ange. Spurs need to understand their place. We won't win the league and Champions League. We have to hope for good football and good times. Ange gave us that. Why on earth do we think by sacking him that will improve? Thank you Ange. You deserve better.
Anon
Very sad to see Ange go. Bringing us our first silverware for nearly two decades, despite halfway through a rebuild. He’ll be missed.
Aran
What a horrible decision by the Tottenham board. We have sacked a manager who finished in the top four and got to a Champions League final [Pochettino]. We have sacked a manager who won a major European trophy and got us into the Champions League [Postecoglou]. What exactly does this board want to achieve without paying the big wages or targeting the big players?
Christopher
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Ange Postecoglou may have delivered Tottenham their first trophy in 17 years but it was not enough to save his job.
Was it the right call from Spurs to sack the manager? Who do you want to see as the new Spurs boss?
Let us know your thoughts via WhatsApp or text using the contact details above.
Image source, Getty ImagesAnge Postecoglou was appointed Tottenham manager on 6 June, 2023, on a four-year contract.
His Spurs career got off to a brilliant start as two wins and a draw in August saw him win the Premier League manager of the month award.
A draw against Arsenal and a first Spurs win over Liverpool in five years followed as he broke the record for most points earned by a Premier League manager in their first nine games - with 23 points.
Postecoglou's Spurs ultimately finished fifth with 66 points in his first season, helping them earn a place in the Europa League, which he would go on to win, making good on his claim that he always wins a trophy in his second season with a club.
However, that promised trophy has not proved enough to wipe out the memories of Tottenham's worst-ever display in the Premier League, which has ultimately cost the Australian manager his job.
Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter
So the introduction to Tottenham's statement is telling, it says Ange Postecoglou has been "relieved of his duties".
It is clear that this was not a mutual decision and the Australian manager has in fact been sacked.
More to follow.
Following a review of performances and after significant reflection, the club can announce that Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties.
Ange joined us from Celtic in the summer of 2023 and oversaw a period of change on the pitch, returning us to the attacking brand of football that has traditionally been associated with the Club, while writing a new chapter in our history by leading us to UEFA Europa League glory in Bilbao last month - an achievement that will live with us all forever.
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.
We have a talented, young squad and Ange has given us a great platform to build upon. We should like to express our gratitude to him. We wish him well for the future - he will always be welcome back at our home.
News on the appointment of a new Head Coach will be announced in due course.
Sami Mokbel
BBC Sport Senior football correspondent
Ange Postecoglou has left his role as Tottenham Hotspur manager after finishing their season one place above the Premier League relegation zone.
Despite last week’s Europa League triumph over Manchester United in Bilbao – the club’s first trophy in 17 years - the Australian is departing north London.
Spurs finished 17th in the top-flight, losing 22 of 38 matches to record their worst ever Premier League campaign.
And Postecoglou, who has made clear in recent days that he was keen to stay at the club, will not be Tottenham boss next season.
Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter
Stay with us for more on this development.
Ange Postecoglou led the club to the Europa League title, their first trophy in 17 years and first in Europe since 1984.
That 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final in Bilbao followed a disastrous campaign in the Premier League, during which Spurs finished 17th, losing 22 of their 38 games.
We are getting reports that Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has left his role at the club, exactly two years to the day that the Australian was appointed.
More to follow.
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As an Argyle fan, I'd be pretty happy if we signed anyone mentioned as a transfer target on this page today...
Eddie, Plymouth
Which strikers will be wanted this summer?
Michael Emons
BBC Sport reporter
Image source, Getty Images2024-25 stats (all competitions)
One final continental hotshot for you...Serbia striker Dusan Vlahovic, whose contract runs until June 2026, is another big target man who has been linked with a move to the Premier League for a long time.
The 25-year-old is 6ft 3in (1.91m) and enjoyed another fine season in Italy with Juventus, who had signed him in January 2022 - when Arsenal missed out on the forward.
Vlahovic also scored when Juventus beat Manchester City 2-0 in their Champions League tie in December.
England
If you are wondering why today's transfer news page is open for business a bit later than usual, that's because we are staying online to take in England manager Thomas Tuchel's news conference this evening.
The plan is to stay on the transfer theme until about 17:00 BST, when we will switch focus to England's upcoming internationals.
The Three Lions play Andorra in Barcelona on Saturday in their latest World Cup qualifier, then host Senegal in a friendly at Nottingham Forest's City Ground on Tuesday.
Tuchel is due to talk to the media at around 18:00 BST, and we will bring you a stream on this page as well as coverage of the key lines to come out of his news conference.
Which strikers will be wanted this summer?
Michael Emons
BBC Sport reporter
Image source, Getty Images2024-25 stats (all competitions)
Only England captain Harry Kane scored more Bundesliga goals in 2024-25 than Borussia Dortmund centre-forward Serhou Guirassy's total of 21.
He also got 13 goals in the Champions League (joint top with Barcelona's Raphinha) and that form has put the 29-year-old Guinea international on the radar of the top Premier League clubs.
Guirassy moved to Dortmund for only £15.4m last summer and has a reported release clause of 70m euros (£60.1m).
Thumbs up if you would be happy for you club to sign Guirassy, thumbs down if you wouldn't.
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I think Liverpool should leave Wirtz, enquire about Isak and get Gyokeres - both Swedish. That would secure another Prem title.
Pauly, Liverpool
Which strikers will be wanted this summer?
Michael Emons
BBC Sport reporter
Image source, Getty Images2024-25 stats (all competitions)
French striker Hugo Ekitike, 22, has enjoyed the best goalscoring season of his career, registering 22 goals and 12 assists for Eintracht Frankfurt to help his side finish third in the Bundesliga and earn a Champions League place.
He has represented his country at under-21 level and the 6ft 3in (1.91m) frontman has been linked with Chelsea and Liverpool in recent weeks.
Frankfurt have already lost one forward to the Premier League this season, with Omar Marmoush joining Manchester City - will his former team-mate join him in England?
Click thumbs up if you would like Ekitike to sign for your club, thumbs down if you don't...
Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter
That Sabrina Carpenter reference stopped me in my tracks David, I'm not going to lie.
Luckily, I have a teenage daughter, or I would have been searching to find out which club she played for.
Right, shall we return to Michael Emons' European striker search?
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Arsenal can "look" at as many Villa players as they like. We'd just rather they did so quietly and without leaking to the press, particularly when they have no intention of tabling serious offers (stories about Rogers, Watkins, Martinez again recently). It's a bit like me telling the Times that I'm quite interested in Sabrina Carpenter...
David, Birmingham
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For all those saying Gyokeres is a goal-scoring machine, Ruben Amorim was a winning machine in Portugal. It doesn't necessarily follow through to the Premier League.
Nick
Image source, Getty ImagesJean Philippe Mateta joined Crystal Palace on an 18-month loan in the 2021 January transfer window from Bundesliga side Mainz 05.
It was a slow start for the Frenchman but the move was made permanent ahead of the 2022-23 season, when he initially continued to struggle, scoring just twice across all competitions.
But everything changed the following campaign when Mateta ended the term on his highest tally of league goal contributions, 22, and was crowned Palace's player of the year.
The 27-year-old then led from the front in last season's FA Cup, setting up his side's second goal in the semi-final against Aston Villa, as they went on to win the competition and bring home the club's first major trophy.
Mateta also played for Thierry Henry's France team at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he netted five times, helping his team get to the final before losing out to Spain on penalties.
