Even as Tottenham Hotspur stands on the cusp of its first trophy since 2008, the club braces for another managerial upheaval. Head coach Ange Postecoglou’s job is in jeopardy, with a growing belief that he will be dismissed at the end of the 2024–25 campaign, even if he wins the Europa League and secures a Champions League berth. For beleaguered supporters, it’s a bittersweet scenario: European glory beckons, yet the man orchestrating the run may not be around to build on it.
Postecoglou’s debut campaign started brightly but descended into disarray by spring. Tottenham have suffered 18 league defeats (one short of a club record), leaving them languishing 16th in the EPL table. Such dismal domestic form has drained much of the early optimism that surrounded Postecoglou’s appointment.
He initially had Spurs playing free-flowing football and even took them to the top of the league last autumn, marking the club’s best-ever start in the Premier League era. But that promise unraveled by winter amid a rash of injuries and defensive lapses, and Tottenham’s early momentum gave way to anxiety and inconsistency.
The fan base has been sharply divided throughout this turbulent campaign. On forums and social media, frustration with the collapse is palpable. Some supporters sympathize with Postecoglou, noting the depleted squad and off-field distractions he faced. Others have lost patience, directing anger at the coach and calling for his sacking. Protests against chairman Daniel Levy and owners ENIC have provided an uneasy backdrop at matches, a sign that blame extends beyond just the head coach.
Echoes of Mourinho’s 2021 exit
In April 2021, Spurs made a similarly dramatic call, sacking José Mourinho just six days before the League Cup final. That gamble removed a serial trophy-winner on the eve of a shot at silverware. That gamble left 29-year-old interim Ryan Mason in charge at Wembley, and Tottenham lost 1-0 to Manchester City in the final, extending the club’s trophy drought.
Such high-stakes upheaval has become almost routine for a club desperate to end that drought. In 2008, Tottenham dismissed Juande Ramos eight months after he delivered the League Cup. And in 2019, Mauricio Pochettino was sacked barely six months after leading Spurs to a Champions League final. No manager is safe when results go south, regardless of past success.
As Postecoglou prepares for a Europa League semifinal, he insists he has “no idea” whether he’ll be on the sidelines next season, joking that “you’re going to have to put up with me for a bit longer.” Bravado aside, uncertainty already swirls around the club. Tottenham fans can only hope this latest gamble pays off, ideally with a European trophy in hand.
