Ange Postecoglou has spoken out about his time in charge of Tottenham, saying they are ‘not a big club’ and revealing players he wanted but couldn’t sign.
The Australian was in charge of Spurs from July 2023 to June 2025, in a memorably stint with the north London side.
An impressive first season saw him finish fifth in the top flight before a rollercoaster second campaign.
Spurs beat Manchester United in the final to win the Europa League, their first European trophy since 1984, but finishing 17th in the Premier League cost Postecoglou his job.
The 60-year-old reflects on his time at Tottenham and says it will be difficult for any manager to achieve success there given the financial restraints the club places on itself.
He says it felt impossible to improve on finishing fifth when the investment in the summer of 2024 was in Dominic Solanke and then a trio of unproven talents in Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and Wilson Odobert.
‘It’s a curious club, Tottenham. It’s really curious in terms of understanding what they’re trying to build,’ Postecoglou told Stick To Football.
‘They’ve built an unbelievable stadium, unbelievable training facilities, but when you look at the expenditure, particularly the wages structure, they’re not a big club.
‘I saw that because when we were trying to sign players we weren’t in the market for those players.’
Four players Postecoglou wanted at Spurs
Postecoglou named a string of targets that he liked the look of in 2024 but was not in the market for, all of whom have since moved to big clubs.
‘There’s certain players that we…at the end of my first year when we finished fifth. How do you go from fifth to really challenging?’ Postecoglou asked. ‘We had to sign Premier League ready players.
‘Finishing fifth that year didn’t get us Champions League, we didn’t have the money, so we ended up signing Dom Solanke, who I was really keen on, I really like him, and three teenagers.
‘I was looking at Pedro Netro, [Bryan] Mbeumo, [Antoine] Semenyo, Marc Guehi. Because I said if we’re going to go from fifth to there [up] that’s what the other big clubs would do in that moment.
‘Those three teenagers are outstanding young players, brilliant, and I think they’ll be great players for Tottenham, but they’re not going to get you from fifth to fourth and third.’
‘Tottenham as a club were saying that we’re one of the big boys, and the reality is I don’t think they are’
The Aussie feels that the public messaging from the club suggests they have great ambitions for success, but that is not what it felt like when he worked there.
‘What was coming out from the club was that, we’re a club that can compete on all fronts,’ he said.
‘When you walk into Tottenham, what you see is ‘To Dare Is To Do’. It’s everywhere! And yet their actions are almost the antithesis of that.
‘Whether you like or dislike him, give credit to Daniel [Levy] because that path has got them a new stadium, new facilities, by taking a safe path. I think what they didn’t realise was to actually win you’ve got to take some risks at some point. That’s the DNA of the club.
‘It’s not so much what they tell you, it’s what goes out publicly. I felt like Tottenham as a club were saying that we’re one of the big boys, and the reality is I don’t think they are in terms of my experience.
‘When Arsenal need players, they spend £100m on Declan Rice, I don’t see Tottenham doing that.
‘It’s not the transfer fees, but it’s the wages to really attract…when was the last time Tottenham signed somebody to really go: “Wow!”‘
Ange on Frank’s sacking
Thomas Frank, Postecoglou’s replacement, was dismissed as Tottenham boss this week and the Australian has sympathy for the Dane.
Not only are expectations unrealistic, but especially at a time of change after the departure of chairman Daniel Levy.
‘You know that he can’t be the only issue at the club,’ said the former Celtic boss. ‘It’s a curious club, Tottenham. It made a major pivot at the end of last year, not just with me, but Daniel leaving as well. You’ve created this whole environment of uncertainty.
‘Thomas is walking in. What’s his objective? What’s the club’s objectives? The start of the year they said “compete on all fronts” well the club hasn’t competed on all fronts for a very long time.
Also the most influential person at the club for the last 20 years is also going.
If you’re going to do such a major pivot, you’ve got to understand there’s going to be some instability there.
‘It’s a fair departure from me. It wasn’t like it was a progression from me. I built that squad to play a certain way over the last coup[le of years and he’s coming in…’
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