Premier League

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has said that winning the UEFA Europa League is not enough and that they need to win the Premier League.

In an exclusive interview with Spurs' in-house media, Levy spoke about their aspirations and why he, as well as chief executive officer Vinai Venkatesham, replaced Ange Postecoglou with Thomas Frank as the club's head coach.

"You saw the outpouring of emotion with the parade [after Spurs beat Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League final to win their first piece of silverware in 17 years]. It was just incredible. We've won a European trophy," Levy said on the club's official website.

"But it's not enough. We want to win the Premier League. We want to win the Champions League."

Venkatesham: Thomas is outstanding developer of young players

CEO Venkatesham said that Frank was the clear candidate to be named as Spurs' new head coach, as he explained why the Dane was appointed.

"We analysed in real detail, through our technical staff led by Johan [Lange, technical director], more than 30 candidates," Venkatesham said.

"Thomas was absolutely the number one candidate.

"One of the things I'm really excited about is that he is an outstanding developer of young players. I really look forward to seeing what he can do with the squad that we have here."

Levy also spoke about Postecoglou and why he had no regrets appointing him in July 2023.

Football writer Ben Bloom retraces Thomas Frank's unconventional rise from youth coach, psychology student and nearly becoming a teacher in Denmark to new Tottenham Hotspur head coach.

There is a story Thomas Frank tells about the sliding doors moment that occurred two decades ago when he was struggling to juggle university studies in his native Denmark with responsibilities as a father to two young children, and work as a part-time youth football coach.

Down one route was a managerial ladder comprising the numerous rungs needing to be climbed to eventually end up as Tottenham Hotspur’s fifth permanent manager in six years.

Down the other was a farewell to football, and the start of a likely career in teaching.

“My wife came to me and said: ‘Thomas, it is not working,’” he recalled to the Telegraph in 2020.

“I had the Under-17 job [with Danish second-tier club Hvidovre IF], I was doing my final dissertation for my masters in psychology, I was an instructor for the federation in educating other coaches, I was taking my [football coaching] A Licence, and I had two lovely children, two and three years old, and my wife.

“It did not work.

“She said we needed to find something else, because we did not have any money.

“So I said I would stop in December that year.

“And at that stage I would have stopped coaching football.”

So intent was he on the decision that, when an offer from now Spurs technical director Johan Lange arrived to take up a full-time talent development position at Danish club B93, Frank initially turned it down.

Thankfully, he swiftly reversed his decision, and so continued an upward trajectory that shows no signs of stopping.

Good with people

Unlike the overwhelming majority of his present-day Premier League peers, Frank possesses no background in professional football; he never played higher than amateur leagues and did not spend any time in a youth academy.

Shorn of his contemporaries’ knowledge gleaned from their playing days, he felt a necessity to compensate in alternative areas: notably, a rigorous appetite for academia and the harnessing of exceptional interpersonal skills.

“I’ve always been aware that, because I didn’t play, there’s got to be other bits that I need to be really good at,” he told Gary Lineker in a BBC Sport interview earlier this year.

Frank’s footballing journey had begun in the latter stages of his secondary education at a local sports school, when he started to coach the U8s of his amateur hometown club Frederiksvaerk.

A step up to the U12s preceded a move through Hividovre’s U14s, U16s and then U18s, before that call from Lange brought a step up to professional roles at B93 and Lyngby.

“In the beginning it was not like I wanted to be a head coach in the Superliga in Denmark,” he told Lineker.

“I just wanted to be a full-time coach in academies or talent development.

“It was a bit step by step.”

Handily, he was aided by a charismatic and warm demeanour that quickly enabled him to build connections with the players under his charge.

“I was pretty good with people. I’ve always been that,” he explained.

Climbing the ranks

With a growing reputation in his home country, Frank next moved from club football to the Danish Football Association, where he spent four years in charge of the national team’s U16s and U17s, coaching the likes of Christian Eriksen, and guiding the older cohort to the UEFA European Championship semi-final and their first ever FIFA World Cup.

A brief period coaching Denmark’s U19s was then followed by a difficult first senior managerial job at historic Superliga giants Brondby, who had narrowly avoided relegation and bankruptcy prior to his arrival.

Hand-picked to work for a club lacking the financial resources to challenge the wealthiest Danish sides, Frank’s skills with younger players were deemed an ideal fit for the role.

But it was not always smooth sailing for a man accustomed to junior age-group football.

Former Brondby midfielder Martin Ornskov recalled players occasionally overstepping the mark with tackles in training.

“He made some mistakes at first,” Ornskov told BBC Sport in 2023.

“At times he was a little soft.”

In time, Frank effectively imposed his methods, but his tenure would end under a cloud.

Having guided the club to the UEFA Europa League in both of his first two seasons in charge, he departed before the end of the third when it emerged that Brondby chairman and majority shareholder Jan Bech Andersen had criticised him on an online fan forum under a pseudonym using his son’s account.

Premier League pedigree

Initially brought to Brentford nine months later, in December 2016, as an assistant to manager Dean Smith, one of Frank’s responsibilities was to bridge the gap for players promoted from the club’s B team to the first team.

Less than two years into the role, he was then named as Smith’s successor, starting a seven-year stint at the helm that would see Frank guide the west London club to the Premier League for the first time in their history.

In four years in the top flight, they rarely looked in threat of relegation, with Frank defying a meagre budget and the departure of club topscorer Ivan Toney to finish 10th in 2024/25.

With his reputation continuing to enhance as a masterful man-manager and expert communicator, there remain two cultural rules Frank has rigidly imposed and will doubtless do so again in north London.

“The most important is the people,” he told Lineker.

“I believe every person is a good person.

“If you come into a good environment it’s easier to shift towards that good side of you.”

The other is his response to success and failure, with Frank setting a time period for players and staff to process their emotions before moving onto the next task.

“I can only celebrate for 24 hours, I can only be sad for 24 hours.”

Barring that career change of heart two decades ago, it may well have been school pupils learning from those mantras today.

Instead, he will prepare for a first competitive Spurs outing against European champions Paris Saint-Germain later this summer in the UEFA Super Cup final.

Teaching’s loss has been football’s gain.

Football writer Alex Keble selects five players who could benefit most from the arrival of Tottenham Hotspur's new head coach.

Thomas Frank has been appointed Tottenham Hotspur head coach and it’s fair to say he represents a major tactical departure from Ange Postecoglou.

Where Postecoglou was infamously ideological, Frank is renowned for being a flexible tactician who moves between progressive possession tactics and a more reactive or direct approach.

That means players who thrived under Postecoglou could struggle - and those who floundered could be given a new lease of life.

Here’s a look at five Spurs players who stand to benefit most from Frank’s arrival:

Archie Gray

Gray is a player Frank and Brentford were rumoured to be interested in signing before he joined Spurs, and it’s easy to see why; Gray, pictured top left, has an intelligence, positional awareness, and technical ability in tight spaces that would have helped Brentford grow.

In the Championship, Brentford played possession-based progressive football with a high defensive line, only to drop into a more reactive system at Premier League level. However, it’s important to note that over the last year, Frank tried to move Brentford back the other way.

Their number of 10+ open-play passing sequences rose from 245 in 2023/24 to 325 in 2024/25, an increase of 33 per cent. Spurs, then, will often build carefully out from the back and through midfield.

Gray is very comfortable receiving the ball under pressure, playing cute one-twos, and moving the ball gracefully through the thirds.

He is a step-up from any midfielder Frank worked with at Brentford – and will quickly become one of the manager’s favourites.

Destiny Udogie

More direct does not mean less progressive, and like Frank’s Brentford, Spurs will attack with gusto.

Frank usually instructs one of his two full-backs to sit in the back three and the other to attack aggressively, so much so that he converted winger Keane Lewis-Potter into a left-back at Brentford.

That’s good news for Udogie, pictured top right, who is likely to be turned back into a more conventional left-back after spending two years inverting into a No 8 position under Postecoglou.

Udogie's positioning under the old regime didn’t always work. He averaged 7.5 goals and assists in Serie A for Udinese, but contributed zero goals and just one assist in the Premier League last season.

He will enjoy overlapping or crossing from deep in 2025/26, simplifying a role that sometimes left Udogie crowded out in central areas under Postecoglou.

Brennan Johnson

Having reportedly tried to bring Johnson to Brentford back in 2022, Frank will be pleased to link up with a fast, direct, and line-breaking winger reminiscent of the players who flourished at the GTech Community Stadium.

Broadly speaking, Frank’s Brentford organised their build-up play – whether through passing moves out from the back or longer passes over the top – to get wide wingers arriving in the final third at speed and in space.

Johnson contributed 14 Premier League goals and assists last season (one goal involvement every 155.5 minutes), but in a team more interested in fast transitions and counter-attacks, those numbers could increase.

Like Bryan Mbeumo at Brentford, Johnson will be given licence by Frank to run in straight lines down the right flank.

Micky van de Ven

Most managers would want Van de Ven in their team for his outstanding defensive qualities and recovery speed, which will be essential despite Frank deploying a lower defensive line than Postecoglou.

What Frank will particularly appreciate, however, is Van de Ven’s technical ability. He is superb at playing raking long balls towards the forwards, as well as progressive line-splitting passes; these are qualities that Frank will use as he implements more direct football.

According to FBref, Van de Ven ranks in the 90th percentile for progressive passes per 90 (5.15) among centre-backs in Europe’s "Big Five" leagues. His long passes aren’t particularly high in number, at 7.1 per 90 last season, but that’s because of Postecoglou’s instructions.

Van de Ven is also strong in the air, and maximising set-pieces will almost certainly be a prominent feature under Frank. Brentford ranked third in the Premier League last season for xG created from dead balls (16.71).

Son Heung-min

Frank is neither Postecoglou-like nor Nuno-like, but rather a hybrid manager with a flexibility and adaptability that will make Spurs less easy to read.

Consequently, he needs all-weather players just as capable of excelling when the plan involves quick counters as when it means hogging possession.

Only one player at Spurs has played well for the club despite the tactical setup; only one player who stood out under all of their last five permanent managers in Mauricio Pochettino, Nuno Espirito Santo, Antonio Conte, Jose Mourinho, and Postecoglou.

Son’s speed and dribbling quality could make him an ideal centre-forward for Frank too, combining the traits of Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa.

The Spurs captain only managed 16 goal involvements in the Premier League last season, down from 27 the year before, prompting rumours that he could be set to leave the club this summer.

But Frank’s track record of getting the best out of forwards and creating space for dribblers in the final third could revive Son’s fortunes.

Do that, and Spurs fans will instantly fall for their new manager.

Football writer Adrian Clarke looks at the tactics and management style of new Tottenham Hotspur head coach Thomas Frank and assesses how he could look to set Spurs up.

Thomas Frank is now a proven head coach at the highest level, having guiding Brentford to a top-half finish in two of the last three seasons.

Frank has earned his shot at managing a bigger club, and has been charged with the task of reviving Tottenham Hotspur as a Premier League force.

Let's take a closer look at what the Dane will bring to the club…

What is Frank's style and how might Spurs look under him?

Spurs’ tactical approach under their new head coach will be adaptable, aggressive, thoughtful and attack-minded.

Frank’s Brentford were the Championship’s top scorers in both his full seasons in charge at that level, playing an attacking brand of football.

During that period, they were also possession-based in style, averaging a 56.15 per cent share of the ball.

In the Premier League they have had a lot less possession, although the Bees enjoyed their highest average last season (47.82 per cent).

Whichever way they play, Frank’s teams always score plenty of goals.

Brentford averaged 57 goals per season over four campaigns, and were the Premier League's fifth-highest scorers in 2024/25 with 66.

That positive approach should go down well with Spurs supporters.

Without the ball, Frank’s principles revolve around creating overloads designed to crowd space, usually in the wide areas.

They force teams to switch their point of attack by knocking opponents out of their rhythm.

At certain moments, Spurs will be asked to press high in a man-to-man set-up, striving to regain the ball in advanced areas.

Holding a risky high line to do so, this will not be a huge departure for the squad Frank inherits from Ange Postecoglou.

As shown in the tables below, Spurs and Brentford were almost identical in this facet of the game last season.

Possession won in final third High turnovers Bournemouth 216 Man City 357 Man Utd 194 Bournemouth 337 Brentford 190 Arsenal 335 Chelsea 189 Brighton 325 Arsenal 188 Spurs 320 Spurs 186 Brentford 319

At the back end of 2024/25, Postecoglou also began to deploy a pragmatic, low-block style of play, and this is something we have also seen plenty of from Frank.

In matches where he wants to be more cautious, he may deploy a compact back five.

The journey so far

Before becoming a full-time coach, Frank taught at all levels from pre-school to higher education.

He has a degree in physical education, and in his late 20s he studied sports psychology.

This background provides the new Spurs head coach with impressive communication skills and emotional intelligence.

So, it is no surprise he is regarded as empathetic, and one of the best man-managers around.

Consequently, the challenge of handling a dressing room full of international stars will not faze the 51-year-old in the slightest.

After Frank impressed as a coach at junior levels, the Danish FA appointed him manager of Denmark's Under-16 and Under-17 teams in 2008.

Five years later, he was appointed manager of Brondby. He guided them to the Europa League qualifiers in back-to-back seasons.

Then, in December 2016, Frank joined Brentford as one of Dean Smith’s assistant coaches, before taking over as head coach in October 2018.

Who are Frank’s biggest influences?

He likes visionary coaches, citing Morten Olsen as his greatest inspiration for changing the face of Danish football with his 4-2-3-1, with wingers at the heart of the team.

Three other big names also impacted him, as discussed in 2018 when he became head coach at Brentford.

At the time he said, "Diego Simeone, his way of defending, wow! Guardiola’s positions when building up, fantastic. Jurgen Klopp’s counter pressing and high pressing is amazing. Can we mix that? Then, no problem."

These differing role models have shaped Frank’s approach, which is one of the most varied among all top-flight managers.

How will he set Spurs up?

Frank’s preference is to use a back four.

He inherited a 3-4-3 when succeeding Smith at Brentford, but in both of his full seasons in charge at Championship level, his first-choice shape was 4-3-3.

Injuries prompted the Dane to revert to 3-5-2 late on in 2020/21 and it was a tactical ploy which inspired their promotion via the play-offs.

In the Premier League, he has relied a lot more heavily on that shape, showing a penchant for using it against the division’s most difficult, possession-heavy opponents.

Frank's defensive formation at Brentford

Formation Premier League matches Championship matches Back three 71 40 Back four 81 85

Last season, Frank pivoted away from a back three though, starting that way in just four of Brentford's 38 league matches.

He also deviated from 4-3-3 (eight matches), preferring the use of Mikkel Damsgaard as a No 10 in a 4-2-3-1 (22 matches).

When you analyse Frank’s formations at Premier League level it would be fair to presume he will consider three primary formations at Spurs.

Frank's most-used formations in PL

Formation Times used 3-5-2 53 4-3-3 51 4-2-3-1 22 5-3-2 16 4-4-2 4 4-5-1 3 3-4-1-2 1 3-4-2-1 1 4-3-1-2 1

How could Frank's Spurs XI look in his three most-used formations?

Who will suit Frank’s approach?

Pedro Porro is a player who will fit well with the demands of his new manager.

Frank places a lot of emphasis on width, asking his teams to put lots of crosses into the danger zone.

He demands that quality balls are whipped across the face of goal; Brentford have been ranked inside the top six for successful open-play crosses in all of the last three seasons.

Brentford's crossing stats and PL rank

Porro is, by some distance, Spurs’ most effective crosser.

The Spain international executed 34 accurate deliveries last term, with no one else in the squad producing more than nine.

Frank can also be direct in his tactical approach, with the Bees ranking second last season for successful long passes.

Porro is superb in that department, racking up 84 successful long passes, far more than anybody else at Spurs.

Spurs players' successful open-play crosses and long passes 24/25

Successful open-play crosses Successful long passes Pedro Porro 3 Pedro Porro 84 James Maddison 9 Cristian Romero 47 Son Heung-min 9 James Maddison 41 Djed Spence 9 Ben Davies 37

Frank also likes pace, power and mobility in forward areas.

Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney, Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa have all been success stories under his guidance, so Dominic Solanke looks a good fit as the central striker.

Solanke made the fourth-highest number of off-the-ball runs last season (847), and I suspect Brennan Johnson, a player Frank tried to sign for Brentford on more than one occasion, is another lively forward who will fit in well with the new regime.

Dejan Kulusevski’s incessant industry will also delight his new head coach, who places great emphasis on unselfish running for the team.

The Swede covers a lot of ground and is comfortably Spurs’ best presser.

Interestingly, Brentford’s Damsgaard was ranked first among top-flight midfielders last season for possession wins in the final third.

Kulusevski’s excellence in that area could mean he is preferred to somebody like James Maddison at No 10.

Midfielders with most possession won in final third

Player Times possession won Mikkel Damsgaard 35 Amad 29 Dejan Kulusevski 27 Abdoulaye Doucoure 27

How does Frank differ to Postecoglou?

The key difference between Frank and his Australian predecessor is his tactical flexibility.

Until the final few weeks of his tenure, Postecoglou was married to a philosophy of bold, adventurous football, even if it meant his high defensive line was often exposed by runners.

His replacement at Spurs is more of a horses-for-courses type.

Frank will adjust his strategies to stifle opponents’ strengths, and to prey on the weaknesses he sees.

So, Spurs' players will have to develop a new understanding of their roles and adjust on a game-by-game basis.

What can we expect?

After finishing in 17th place last season, surely the only way is up for Spurs under Frank.

The Dane’s high-energy style will suit most of the players, and they should enjoy his attack-minded approach.

Taking on board variations to their tactical requirements, depending on who they face, is something they must quickly adapt to, though.

Frank will also have much less time in between matches to formulate game plans.

Brentford played 43 matches in all competitions in 2024/25, compared to Spurs who took part in 60 fixtures.

A decrease in prep time is something the Dane and his staff must acclimatise to, and that will not be easy.

Whichever way you look at it, there is no doubt Frank has earned his opportunity to manage at one of the Premier League’s biggest clubs.

He will face a lot of new challenges, but Frank looks a good fit.

Tottenham Hotspur have appointed Thomas Frank as their new head coach on a contract that runs until 2028.

The 51-year-old arrives from Brentford, where he spent seven years, guiding the Bees to promotion to the Premier League in 2021, the first person to lead them into a top-flight season since 1946/47.

He has since consolidated their Premier League status, with last season's final position of 10th the club’s second top-half finish in four years.

In a statement on Brentford's website, Bees' director of football Phil Giles said: “There have been so many special moments with Thomas and nobody will ever forget the day at Wembley for the play-off final or that emotional first Premier League game against Arsenal.

“But it’s not just what you see on the pitch. He forged a special connection with our fans, helped develop and improve players, and was instrumental in implementing the culture that has seen Brentford go from strength to strength.

“However, just as when a player leaves, it provides an opportunity for someone else to come in and make their own impact.

“We will never forget Thomas, but now it is time to thank him and take the next steps in our journey with a new leader who we believe can be just as successful and influential.”

Frank takes over a Spurs side who had a disappointing league campaign under Ange Postecoglou in 2024/25, finishing 17th - their lowest position ever - after losing 22 of their 38 matches.

However, Spurs beat Manchester United to win the UEFA Europa League in May to secure their place in the UEFA Champions League next season.

Frank will be joined from Brentford by Justin Cochrane (first team assistant coach), Chris Haslam (head of performance and first team assistant coach) and Joe Newton (first team coach analyst), with Andreas Georgson (first team assistant coach) arriving from Man Utd.

Brentford have stated that they will make "no further comment" regards Frank's replacement until a successor has been appointed.

Opening fixtures

Frank’s first Premier League match in charge will be revealed when the 2025/26 fixtures are released at 09:00 BST on Wednesday 18 June. The season will start on 16 August.

The nine-goal thriller between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool has been voted by fans around the world as the BEST match of the 2024/25 Premier League season.

December's 6-3 away win for Arne Slot's side topped the poll, after we invited supporters to select from a shortlist of 10 incredible contests from across the campaign.

It received 22 per cent of the votes, beating Spurs 3-4 Chelsea, which had 16 per cent.

How fans voted for 2024/25's best match

Watch 2024/25's best match

You can enjoy our highlights of the fans' favourite match below.

It was an incredible spectacle as Liverpool overpowered Spurs in what was the highest-scoring encounter of the 2024/25 season.

The eventual champions produced a ruthless attacking display, while the hosts' spirited response added to a chaotic festive fixture that ensured the Reds spent Christmas Day at the top of the table.

As Ange Postecoglou leaves Tottenham Hotspur, football writer Alex Keble chronicles the Australian's time in charge.

Tottenham Hotspur have sacked Ange Postecoglou two years to the day after he was first appointed, ending one of the most eventful managerial tenures in Premier League history.

From a bold new tactical theory and an early title charge in 2023/24 to the 17th-place finish and the UEFA Europa League triumph in Bilbao in 2024/25, the Postecoglou era was bookended by explosive moments that sum up a wild 24 months at the helm.

This is Postecoglou’s Premier League story.

Unbeaten start, title talk and a new tactical idea

Spurs began the 2023/24 season with eight wins and two draws from their first 10 Premier League matches, sparking talk of a title challenge as Ange-ball caught everyone off guard.

The full-backs inverting like No 8s, the uber-high line and the frenzied attacking football was an instant hit.

Nobody was ready for the tactical and emotional surge, and with the new signings like Micky van de Ven and James Maddison hitting the ground running, the mood was like nothing felt at Spurs since the heyday of Mauricio Pochettino.

Postecoglou became the first coach in Premier League history to win three consecutive Manager of the Month awards for his first three months in charge. All was well in the world.

The Chelsea match, a sudden decline and bad luck in top-four race

Then came the visit of Chelsea in November 2023 and an astonishing peak for Postecoglou’s unwavering belief in his tactics.

Despite being reduced to nine men in the 55th minute after red cards for defenders Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie, Spurs refused to drop deep. Instead, Postecoglou placed seven players on the halfway line to produce a second half at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium that was truly unique.

“It's who we are and who we will be for as long as I am here,” Postecoglou said after the match. “If we go down to five men, we will [still] have a go.”

Chelsea won 4-1 - and the honeymoon was over.

Indeed, from this match onwards Postecoglou won just 23 of his 66 Premier League matches, collecting only 78 points - a statistic that Spurs specifically referenced in their statement explaining why they were sacking him.

Notably, of the 17 clubs who played in the Premier League last season and will be there again next campaign, Spurs' points tally over the last 66 matches is the second-worst.

Points over last 66 PL matches

Club W D L GD Pts Liverpool 42 17 7 +76 143 Arsenal 41 16 9 +82 139 Man City 41 15 10 +75 138 Chelsea 35 15 16 +33 120 Aston Villa 32 16 18 +10 112 Newcastle 33 10 23 +29 109 Bournemouth 27 17 22 +12 98 Brighton 23 23 20 -4 92 Nott'm Forest 26 13 27 -1 91 Crystal Palace 23 21 22 +4 90 Fulham 25 14 27 +1 89 Man Utd 24 15 27 -6 87 Everton 21 23 22 -9 86 Brentford 23 13 30 -4 82 West Ham 21 18 27 -29 81 Spurs 23 9 34 -1 78 Wolves 22 10 34 -26 76

Nevertheless, Spurs were unlucky to miss out on Champions League football at the end of the 2023/24 season, finishing fifth with 66 points; the same tally, and position, that Newcastle United have got in 2024/25 - and the Magpies have qualified for Europe's elite club competition.

Strong start to 2024/25 derailed by injury crisis

In September, in the aftermath of a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal, Postecoglou made the promise that will live forever in Spurs history.

When asked to clarify a pre-season statement of intent, he doubled down: “I'll correct myself. I don't usually win things. I always win things in my second year.”

Spurs began 2024/25 well, and by the time they beat Manchester City 4-0 on 23 November Postecoglou’s side were on 19 points from 12 matches, just three points short of third place.

But then the injuries struck.

As Postecoglou said of the endless problems, “Every time I've seen the light at the end of the tunnel, it's usually been an oncoming train.”

Most injuries for PL clubs 2024/25

Club Injuries leading to 1+ matches missed Days lost Brighton 48 1,944 Spurs 41 1,553 Ipswich 41 1,506 Arsenal 36 1,297 Aston Villa 35 804

A dramatic decline and tactical rethink, and the cupped ear

What followed was a major downturn - and that’s when Ange-ball really came under the spotlight.

“Are you not entertained?” Postecoglou asked after a 4-3 victory over Manchester United in the EFL Cup in December. “I know the studio is probably having a meltdown over my lack of tactics. I really liked how we played tonight.”

After taking a 3-0 lead, Spurs allowed Man Utd back into the match, setting up a tense finish which prompted criticism from pundit Jamie Carragher, who questioned Postecoglou's tactical inflexibility.

Nevertheless, as results soured Postecoglou eventually let go of his tactical ideals and Spurs became more defensive and counter-attacking, particularly in Europe.

But it didn’t help in the league and as Spurs plummeted down the table the atmosphere began to shift, coming to a head when a double substitution at Stamford Bridge in April was met with boos from the away end.

When substitute Pape Sarr scored, justifying his boss's decision, Postecoglou cupped his ear towards the Spurs fans - a gesture that he had to explain after the match.

“It's incredible how things get interpreted,” he said. “We'd just scored. I just wanted to hear them cheer.”

Record-low finish but a Europa League triumph

Things only got worse domestically as focus switched entirely to the Europa League, where Spurs came alive with hugely impressive away wins against Eintracht Frankfurt and Bodo/Glimt.

Spurs ended the season in 17th, their lowest Premier League finish ever, but before that came the crowning glory: the Europa League final triumph, the open-top bus parade and the celebrations that will stay with Spurs fans forever.

"The only thing that was going to change this football club was us winning something,” Postecoglou said after that famous final, responding directly to his famous promise about winning a trophy in his second season.

“That was my ambition. I wanted to state it.”

It was the perfect ending to a colourful two years at the helm.

“I’ll leave you with this,” Postecoglou said to the crowd during the trophy parade. “All the best television series - season three is better than season two.”

But just a few days later, he added prophetically in a press conference: "I should have thought about it a bit more because sometimes they kill off the main character."

Brighton & Hove Albion missed out on UEFA Conference League qualification, despite Jack Hinshelwood's double inspiring a 4-1 comeback win at Tottenham Hotspur on the final day.

Spurs supporters put on a show to welcome home the UEFA Europa League champions, and they soon had further reason to celebrate when Dominic Solanke opened the scoring with a 17th-minute penalty after Mats Wieffer's foul on Mathys Tel.

However, Hinshelwood – who scored Brighton's winner last time out against Liverpool – restored parity six minutes into the second half before reacting fastest again with an inventive finish to send Brighton ahead in the 64th minute.

A late penalty by Matt O'Riley and Diego Gomez's thumping finish wrapped up an impressive turnaround as Fabian Hurzeler's side sealed eighth place – but Chelsea's 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest meant Brighton could not sneak into the Conference League.

Spurs, meanwhile, ended a drab domestic campaign in disappointing fashion, but will still be playing Champions League football next season, despite their 17th-placed finish in the Premier League.

How the match unfolded

The celebratory home atmosphere went up another notch when Wieffer's clumsy lunge on Tel allowed Solanke to outwit Bart Verbruggen by firing his penalty down the middle.

Verbruggen excellently thwarted Tel's low strike after Pedro Porro teed up the forward as part of a rapid break, and that would prove a key moment as Brighton came flying out the blocks in the second half.

Adam Webster's attempted header from a Brajan Gruda corner fortuitously fell for Hinselhwood to slam past Guglielmo Vicario, before Brennan Johnson went close at the other end in response.

Carlos Baleba then struck a post with a low effort before Gruda's right-sided corner cannoned off numerous players and fell kindly for Hinshelwood to smartly backheel over the line.

Substitute O'Riley fired his penalty low into the bottom-right corner after Yves Bissouma – facing his former club – fouled Diego Gomez, whose stunning long-range finish into the top-right corner capped a fine turnaround that was only dampened by Chelsea’s victory at Nottingham Forest.

Questions remain for Postecoglou

Despite Spurs’ delight at winning the Europa League on Wednesday, courtesy of Johnson's goal against Manchester United, there remains much debate around the performance of Ange Postecoglou’s squad this season.

The Australian head coach will hope to still be in his post when Spurs embark on their UEFA Champions League quest next campaign, but this performance again showed why Postecoglou's tenure has at times come under significant scrutiny.

Tel impressed throughout with his quick feet, and a delightful corner delivery almost teed up Micky van de Ven, before the Spurs loanee fooled Wieffer for the penalty decision after bursting forward with possession from deep.

French forward Tel should have capped a fine first-half display with a goal, but he fired his left-footed effort at a sprawling Verbruggen as Spurs passed up a gilt-edged chance to double their lead.

The same theme continued from Tel as his surging drive created space for Johnson to divert wide, but even his attacking excitement could not mask Spurs' defensive issues at the other end.

Those problems at the back remain the primary reason Spurs endured a woeful Premier League campaign, and another heavy loss leaves Postecoglou with questions to answer as a mixed season comes to an end with Spurs having conceded 65 top-flight goals.

Brilliant Brighton narrowly miss out on Europe

Brighton's impressive 3-2 comeback against champions Liverpool left eighth place – and the potential for Conference League football next season – in their hands heading into Sunday.

They appeared to carry that winning impetus into this match by starting strong, with Yankuba Minteh's header freeing Simon Adingra to drag wide before Wieffer blazed over an ambitious half-volley.

Wieffer's adrenaline may still have been running high when his needless trip on Tel saw Solanke break the deadlock from the spot, while Hinshelwood could only direct a tame header at Vicario, with Brighton's best chance before half-time.

While they started strongly, the visitors were even better after the break. Hinshelwood left Vicario with no chance shortly after the interval, though Brighton's celebrations were slightly muted as news filtered through of Levi Colwill's goal for Chelsea at Forest.

Half-time substitute Gomez and Minteh then both stung the palms of Vicario, before Hinshelwood pounced again after Baleba was denied by the foot of Spurs's woodwork.

As the match progressed, Spurs had no answer to Brighton’s running, energy and quality. Gomez's lung-bursting overlap won the penalty for O'Riley to convert, before the midfielder grabbed a goal of his own with an eye-catching curler past the helpless Vicario.

Hurzeler will take comfort from an eighth-place finish and a highly impressive run of form to wrap up the season, and he will be optimistic of putting in a similar challenge for Europe again next season.

Club reports

Spurs report | Brighton report

PL clubs' summer 2025 pre-season friendly fixtures

Key facts

Spurs have lost 26 games in all competitions this season, their most in a single campaign in the club’s history.

Only in 2022/23 have Brighton finished with more points (62) and in a higher position (6th) in a top-flight campaign than in 2024/25 (61 points and eighth place finish), while only four sides won more points in the Premier League in 2025 than their 34.

See some of the best images and videos from the open-top bus parade after Spurs ended their 17-year wait for silverware

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Tottenham Hotspur ended a 17-year wait for silverware when they beat Manchester United 1-0 on Wednesday night to win the UEFA Europa League.

Spurs' players and fans partied long into the night, and the celebrations continued on Friday with an open-top bus parade around the streets of north London, culminating in a presentation of the trophy to the players and coaching staff in front of supporters.

"It's been unbelievable," head coach Ange Postecoglou said, addressing a huge crowd at the conclusion of the parade outside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

"As much as you try and understand what a trophy would mean to these people, seeing them out there today - it's why we do what we do.

"I'll tell you something, I'll leave you with this...All the best television series, season three is better than season two!"

View some of our favourite images from a memorable day, featuring players, staff and fans, in the gallery below, plus a selection of social media posts.

Playlist - Test

Spurs' official social media account followed every step of the journey from landing back in the UK to the open-top bus parade...

Arriving home

Emotional Ange Postecoglou gets a fantastic reception from the fans

Spurs' players enjoying every second of the ride

An aerial view as the parade reaches Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Son lifts the Europa League Trophy in front of the fans

Tottenham Hotspur have qualified for the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League.

Spurs earned their place in the competition after winning the UEFA Europa League final 1-0 in Bilbao, Spain, on Wednesday with a goal by Brennan Johnson in the 42nd minute.

The winners of the Europa League are rewarded with a spot in the following season's Champions League.

See: How clubs can qualify for Europe

It means the Premier League will have SIX clubs in the Champions League next season, the first time any league has had more than five clubs in Europe's leading competition in the same campaign.

Spurs will be joined in next season's Champions League by the teams who finish in the top five of this season's Premier League.

Liverpool and Arsenal have already secured a top-five place, but the battle for the remaining three spots is going to Sunday's final day.

There are just three points between third-placed Manchester City and Nottingham Forest, in seventh, meaning five teams go into the final day with hopes of clinching one of the three remaining top-five spots. Newcastle United, Chelsea and Aston Villa are the other sides in contention.

Race for Champions League - final fixtures