ESPN

It is what it is, mate. Ange Postecoglou was finally put out of his misery Friday as Tottenham Hotspur confirmed what had been an open secret for some time: The 59-year-old had been sacked after a season of tumultuous extremes.

Spurs ended their 17-year wait for a trophy by lifting the UEFA Europa League following a 1-0 win over Manchester United in last month's final. Postecoglou said all along he would deliver silverware in his second season at the club and, despite widespread ridicule, he did just that, joining Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw as only the third Tottenham manager to guide them to European glory.

But chairman Daniel Levy and the rest of the board believed it came at too high of a price. Spurs suffered 22 Premier League defeats -- a division record for a team not relegated -- and finished 17th in the table.

The club statement, when it came, was a mixture of sincere gratitude and pointed fact.

"Following a positive start in the 2023-24 Premier League (PL) season, we recorded 78 points from the last 66 PL games," it read. "This culminated in our worst-ever PL finish last season.

"At times there were extenuating circumstances -- injuries and then a decision to prioritize 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."

And they did not.

Postecoglou's last public address to supporters from their open-top bus parade defiantly declared that in "all the best TV series, Season 3 is better than Season 2." Instead, the moneymen pulled the plug.

ESPN looks at how Tottenham came to part company with their history-making head coach.

Fast start

Postecoglou walked into a difficult situation from the outset. On his first day at the club, July 12, 2023, talismanic striker Harry Kane told him he wanted to leave.

Kane eventually departed -- a day before the Premier League season started -- in a €120 million move to Bayern Munich. Rather than languish in turmoil, though, Spurs shot out of the blocks.

Eight wins and two draws from their opening 10 games put Tottenham atop the Premier League, and the sense of liberation was palpable. A fan base suffocated by the turgid, regressive football of Antonio Conte was suddenly watching a team reborn. Goals, pressing, dynamism and -- most importantly -- wins. In late September, Levy was sufficiently moved to tell a fans forum that "we've got our Tottenham back."

Postecoglou became the first manager in Premier League history to win three consecutive manager of the month awards at the start of a season.

His first defeat was a remarkable event to witness firsthand. Spurs lost 4-1 at home to Chelsea in the most chaotic of circumstances: two red cards, two injuries, nine VAR checks and 21 minutes of added time. With nine men, Spurs continued to defend on the halfway line in a stark demonstration of their commitment to "Angeball," and the fans lapped it up.

Mauricio Pochettino, the darling of many Spurs fans after his 5½ years in charge, was in the opposite dugout and watched on as thousands of Tottenham fans greeted full time, not with the boos you might expect, but a reworked rendition of Robbie Williams' song "Angels," which declares: "We're loving Big Ange instead." The belief was total.

First season finale and second season promise

Spurs were unable to maintain that relentless early-season pace. Two wins from their final seven matches meant they missed out on UEFA Champions League qualification and Postecoglou faced a bizarre situation near the end of the campaign in which many Spurs fans wanted their own team to lose to Manchester City in order to deny Arsenal a Premier League title.

"The foundations are really fragile," he said after that game May 14. "The last 48 hours have shown me that. It's inside the club, outside the club."

Sources say Postecoglou was at least in part referring to the absence of a winning mentality, which he believed permeated the club and contributed to their lack of silverware. It was, he believed, symptomatic of a club that needed to view itself differently, as one that can determine its own destiny rather than have it defined by others.

That belief was in part behind why Postecoglou delivered what turned out to be an iconic line following September's 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal.

"I'll correct myself -- I don't usually win things, I always win things in my second year," he said. Postecoglou bristled at the backlash to that comment but took it upon himself to embody the change he was trying to implement: that Spurs should have the courage of their convictions to believe silverware was within their grasp and not kept beyond some sort of psychological barrier they were perpetually unable to break.

Sources have suggested to ESPN that Postecoglou's determination to instill that mentality may have contributed to the dogma that followed, believing the only way he could convince those skeptical around him was to double down on his principles: chiefly the commitment to attacking football and a style that increasingly felt incompatible with the hectic demands of English football.

Injuries and instability

Spurs were rocked around the turn of the year by a devastating injury record.

There were too many cases to mention in full, but key center backs Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven were sidelined for almost four months. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario was absent for three months. Richarlison was out for two months, twice. Destiny Udogie was out for six weeks at the turn of the year. Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall missed the climax of the campaign.

Postecoglou would rue their absences -- understandably -- but increasingly seemed to separate himself from the situation while sources have told ESPN that some at the club began to question whether his methods were a contributing factor. Some of the injuries were undoubtedly bad luck, but sources say playing a high defensive line, asking players to put in more high-intensity sprints per game, may have played a role in the muscular injuries that followed.

Equally, the club's sports science and medical departments had been overhauled in the summer of 2024, with head of performance Adam Brett appointed to lead a reshaped structure, but without the success they had hoped for. Sources say the club plan to review their medical team once again following Postecoglou's departure is further recognition of the issues that remain.

The January window was also a pivotal moment.

Postecoglou openly spoke of the need for reinforcements, but it was only in the final days that Tottenham added an outfield player (Kevin Danso from Lens) in addition to goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky from Slavia Prague. A late loan move for Bayern Munich's Mathys Tel eventually bolstered their attacking options, but asking a 19-year-old with limited experience -- albeit boasting significant potential -- to hit the ground running and contribute in a new league midway through the campaign was a tall order.

Postecoglou later revealed that around this time he made the decision to prioritize the Europa League campaign, and not everybody in the club agreed with his call. The Australian simply took the view that Spurs were not well-enough equipped to compete on multiple fronts, and although he would go on to be vindicated in the most emphatic way possible, sources say the Spurs hierarchy fundamentally disagreed with the view that the Premier League campaign had to be sacrificed.

There were also grumblings about Postecoglou's training methods. Sources say some players voiced concerns about how open the team was in matches and also questioned whether they should do more work focused on specific opponents rather than concentrate on their own game so much. The lack of a specialist set-piece coach became an easy stick to beat him with.

Although clips of Postecoglou clashing with media regularly went viral, he was a usually warm and engaging presence in his prematch news conferences, always good for a quote and willing to tackle any question put to him. He was refreshingly candid about what he deemed an old-school approach to many topics, most obviously VAR, but the willingness to shun the modern trend for specialist set-piece coaches looked misguided as his team conceded regularly from dead ball situations.

And sources say rival clubs noted the familiar patterns to the goals Tottenham often conceded, regularly occurring when their full backs were caught out of position high up the pitch as Spurs lost the ball and looked alarmingly vulnerable in transition.

As the league defeats racked up, Postecoglou started to exhibit signs that the pressure of the high-stakes, all-or-nothing approach he had created for himself was beginning to tell. Thinking his team had equalized at Chelsea in early April, Postecoglou cupped his ear to the away fans who had voiced their dissent at his substitutions a few minutes earlier. The goal was disallowed on VAR review and Postecoglou tried to explain away the incident, but few were buying his argument that he had been misinterpreted.

It was the latest in a series of flashpoints with supporters, particularly away from home. He was confronted most vociferously after losing at AFC Bournemouth in December by fans furious at another underwhelming display. Yet inside the dressing room, sources say Postecoglou remained broadly supported. His motivational team talks regularly impressed many within the group and others spoke positively of Postecoglou's man management.

Sources say he was often distant, deliberately so, allowing his coaches to take training sessions. That was in part designed to give those prematch addresses maximum impact, and sources suggest his team talk ahead of the Europa League final, which featured a special video including messages to the squad from family members, was one of his best. He never played favorites but, on occasion, would show his warmer side.

Sources have told ESPN that the new contract Bergvall agreed to at the end of April was not triggered by his previous agreement but a desire from within the club to reward the teenager for his efforts to date. Sources say Postecoglou was influential in that decision and spent a lengthy period with the player's family around the time his contract was announced.

Bilbao and bust

Postecoglou spent the final few weeks of the season talking like a man who knew his time was up, no matter what the outcome of the Europa League final.

Spurs edged a dreadful game in Bilbao, Spain, with a performance that was the antithesis of "Angeball": dour, defensive and disciplined. It was, in fact, more in keeping with many of their European performances in the latter stages when beating Eintracht Frankfurt and Bodo/Glimt. Postecoglou had proved he could adapt.

One source questioned whether that was the product of internal pressure demanding change, but either way, Postecoglou delivered one of the greatest nights in the club's history. And he did so by fostering a togetherness that endured despite a wretched domestic campaign.

In the aftermath of victory, Postecoglou admitted he had no idea about his future, signing off his final news conference and a question about whether he wanted clarity with "que sera, sera" and insisting he could hold his head up high no matter what the verdict.

The chance to celebrate with more than 200,000 Spurs fans who lined the streets of north London for a trophy parade will, in time if it hasn't already, cement his status as a manager who delivered the most memorable moment Spurs have enjoyed in 17 years. Whatever the divisions that exist within the fan base now, he will likely be cheered whenever he does return.

And yet, Levy felt the success came at too big a cost. Once the last of the ticker tape fell to the floor, the view was taken that Postecoglou's high-risk style could not deliver the sort of sustained success that Tottenham have long craved.

For years, the Spurs hierarchy have faced accusations of lacking the hunger to win trophies, of compromising the football for the finances or greater pragmatism. Inadvertently, Postecoglou ended up distilling this question down to the starkest terms of all: After almost two decades without any silverware, would you sacrifice an entire league campaign to win a trophy?

The answer, it turns out, is, Thank you for a glorious night, but no.

Ange Postecoglou's dramatic Tottenham Hotspur tenure has come to an end, 16 days after delivering the club's first trophy in 17 years.

Despite the team's glorious night in Bilbao, Daniel Levy and the rest of the Spurs hierarchy faced a tough decision: Should they focus on the unprecedentedly poor Premier League campaign in which Spurs recorded a club-record number of defeats? Or had Postecoglou earned more time to get things right following the success in Europe.

In the end, and after "significant reflection," the board made a decision based on Spurs' domestic struggles. Having followed through on his early-season promise that he always wins things in his second year in charge, Postecoglou was unable to get the third season he referenced during Spurs' trophy parade.

From a record-breaking start to life in north London, to a succession of damaging Premier League defeats and a last hurrah in Bilbao, there were six key matches that came to define his tenure.

Spurs 1-4 Chelsea (Nov. 6, 2023)

Spurs' defeat to Chelsea may have been their first in the Premier League under the Australian, but it has an argument to be one of their most damaging.

At kick-off, Postecoglou's team were top of the Premier League thanks to a never-before-seen high octane style of play, but by the full-time whistle two of their best performers -- James Maddison and Mickey van de Ven -- had suffered serious injuries, while both Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie had been sent off. Spurs were never the same after that.

As well as the two red cards, Chelsea's chaotic 4-1 win featured five disallowed goals and a further four incidents that required checking by the video assistant referee (VAR). It meant that Nicolas Jackson's hat trick became a footnote in match reports as Postecoglou's nine men continued to hold a mind-bogglingly high defensive line despite their numerical disadvantage.

Newcastle United 4-0 Spurs (April 13, 2024)

Spurs have saved some of their worst performances for their clashes with Newcastle over the past couple of years. Almost exactly a year after Tottenham had been humiliated in a 6-1 loss at St, James' Park that marked the end of Cristian Stellini's time as acting head coach, they succumbed to a 4-0 defeat under Postecoglou.

Alexander Isak's rich goalscoring form against Spurs continued as he took advantage of some calamitous defending to net a brace, while Anthony Gordon and Fabian Schär's strikes added some gloss to the scoreline.

The result significantly dented Spurs' hopes of a top-four finish and they proved unable to keep pace with Unai Emery's Aston Villa who eventually secured the final Champions League qualification spot.

Spurs 1-2 Ipswich Town (Nov. 10, 2024)

Ipswich's victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium saw them become the second team to earn their first win of the season against Postecoglou's team, after Crystal Palace had done the same two weeks previously. To make the result even more frustrating for Spurs fans, it was sandwiched between a 4-1 win over Aston Villa and a 4-0 triumph at Manchester City.

Sammie Szmodics opened the scoring for Kieran Mckenna's bottom-of-the-table side before the impressive Liam Delap doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time. Rodrigo Bentancur halved the deficit in the 69th minute but Spurs could not find a way past a watertight Ipswich defence.

The result was the clearest example yet of Spurs' penchant for extremes under Postecoglou.

Manchester City 0-4 Spurs (Nov. 23, 2024)

In suitably rollercoaster fashion, Tottenham followed up the loss to Ipswich with an eye-catching rout of Manchester City at the Etihad.

Goals from Maddison, Pedro Porro and Brennan Johnson stunned Pep Guardiola's side and seemed to mark the point at which Spurs would turn a corner and return to the all-conquering form that had defined the early months of Postecoglou's tenure the previous season.

Typically, however, a 1-1 draw with a 10-man Fulham team followed a week later, before Spurs -- by now struggling with several injuries -- were outclassed by Bournemouth at the Vitality to leave their season in tatters.

Spurs 1 - 0 Manchester United (May 21, 2025)

Amid their terrible Premier League campaign, Spurs battled their way to the Europa League final while playing the most un-"Angeball" football imaginable.

That resolute defence, marshalled by the fit-again Romero and Van de Ven, gave Spurs one last chance to salvage their season against Ruben Amorim's equally underperforming United side.

In a stodgy final in northern Spain, Johnson's suitably scruffy goal proved enough to end Spurs' long goal drought and make Postecoglou a Spurs legend. The win saw Postecoglou become only the third manager in club history to deliver a major European trophy, alongside Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw.

Spurs 1 - 4 Brighton & Hove Albion (May 25, 2025)

Four days after their Europa League triumph, and a great deal of celebrating, Spurs hosted Brighton in north London with Postecoglou's team looking to end the season on a high amid the party atmosphere.

When Dominic Solanke gave Spurs the lead from the penalty spot on the final day of the season, it seemed like they might get their wish. But a second-half collapse condemned Spurs to a 17th-place finish and their 22nd defeat in 38 Premier League games -- the most recorded in a single season by a non-relegated team in Premier League history.

After the highs of the trophy parade through the streets on north London that took place two days before the game, it was a fitting way for Postecoglou's tumultuous Spurs reign to come to a close.

Tottenham Hotspur sacked head coach Ange Postecoglou on Friday after deciding a change was necessary for the club "to compete on multiple fronts."

The 59-year-old guided Spurs to their first trophy in 17 years after beating Manchester United in last month's Europa League final -- a result which also secured Champions League qualification for next season.

However, Postecoglou also oversaw a staggering 22 league defeats -- the worst Premier League record for a team to avoid relegation -- as they finished 17th in the table.

Sources have told ESPN that chairman Daniel Levy informed Postecoglou of the decision after the pair returned from their respective holidays earlier this week.

Spurs will step up their search for a replacement with sources suggesting Brentford boss Thomas Frank, Fulham's Marco Silva and Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola among those under consideration.

Postecoglou departs after just two seasons in charge with sources suggesting he will receive a pay-off of up to £4 million ($5.4m). The Australian also received a £2m bonus for winning the Europa League.

In a statement released on Friday, just 16 days after the final, Tottenham said: "Following a review of performances and after significant reflection, the Club can announce that Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties.

"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."

The club added that it "could not base our decision on emotions" aligned to the Europa League 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," the statement continued.

"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."

Postecoglou released his own statement shortly afterwards.

"When I reflect on my time as Manager of Tottenham Hotspur my overriding emotion is one of pride," he began.

"The opportunity to lead one of England's historic football clubs and bring back the glory it deserves will live with me for a lifetime.

"Sharing that experience with all those who truly love this club and seeing the impact it had on them is something I will never forget. That night in Bilbao was the culmination of two years of hard work, dedication and unwavering belief in a dream.

"There were many challenges to overcome and plenty of noise that comes with trying to accomplish what many said was not possible.

"We have also laid foundations that mean this club should not have to wait 17 more years for their next success.

"I have enormous faith in this group of players and know there is much more potential and growth in them.

"I sincerely want to thank those who are the lifeblood of the club, the supporters. I know there were some difficult times but I always felt that they wanted me to succeed and that gave me all the motivation I needed to push on.

"It's important to acknowledge the hard working people at Spurs who gave me encouragement on a daily basis. And finally, I want to thank those who were with me every day for the last two years. A fantastic group of young men who are now legends of this football club and the brilliant coaches who never once doubted we could do something special.

"We are forever connected."

Tottenham Hotspur referenced the infamous "lasagna-gate" incident in their kit launch for the 2025-26 season.

"Lasagna-gate" took place ahead of the final day of the 2005-06 season, where Spurs were primed to secure Champions League qualification. They only needed to match Arsenal's result to secure a top four finish ahead of their north London rivals.

But on the night before their game against West Ham, a signifcant number of the Spurs squad fell severly ill through food poisoning from a hotel buffet dinner. The food item suspected to have triggered the illness was lasagna.

Spurs manager Martin Jol later confirmed that upto 10 players fell ill that night. A depleted Spurs side subsequently lost 2-1 to West Ham the next day and missed out on Champions League qualification.

The north London club hinted at the incident, which has become a part of Premier League folklore, in their kit-release video on Tuesday.

The video is voiced-over by former captain Ledley King, who talks about supporting the club "in sickness" as a plate of lasagna appears on screen.

Ange Postecoglou is set to learn his fate as Tottenham Hotspur manager this week after the club began announcing boardroom changes on Monday with the departure of executive director Donna-Maria Cullen, sources have told ESPN.

Sources have told ESPN that Postecoglou's job is under threat -- with those close to the 59-year-old believing he is at high risk of losing his job -- despite ending Spurs' 17-year wait for a trophy by winning the Europa League last month.

Postecoglou oversaw Spurs' worst ever Premier League season, including 22 defeats -- the most in a season without a team getting relegated -- and is on holiday after admitting he was uncertain whether he would see out the final two years of his contract.

Sources have told ESPN that new chief executive officer Vinai Venkatesham has now started work at the club and he will play a role in determining the manager's fate as part of a series of alterations to the club's structure.

In an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Monday while on a family holiday in Greece, Postecoglou said he hasn't wanted to let the club "just enjoy the moment" because he "wanted us to think about what's next."

"Don't settle for this," he told ABC's Australian Story. "We've got a taste of it now. My players have got a taste for it. The club's got a taste for it. Well, let's make sure we're back here again."

Possible replacements for Postecoglou include Brentford boss Thomas Frank, Fulham's Marco Silva and Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, although the latter is expected to sign a new contract to remain on the south coast.

A final decision is expected on Postecoglou's future in the coming days but early on Monday, Tottenham announced in a statement that Cullen would be stepping down from her position as chairman Daniel Levy's most trusted advisor.

Cullen, who joined the Spurs board in 2006 and is a trustee of the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, said in a statement: "This has been such a hard decision to make. The club has been my life for the past three decades. I have had the privilege of working with Daniel, whose vision and energy has driven the club forward, and so many talented and wonderful colleagues.

"It has been quite some journey, starting at White Hart Lane, with a brief stay at Wembley and finally our new home -- amazing memories home and away. Ending this season with the Europa League trophy was a dream come true.

"The time is now right for me to gather more time for myself and my family, whom I thank for all their support over the years. I shall spend the coming months ensuring there is a smooth handover with my staff. Thank you all. I wish everyone at the club all the success in the world."

Levy said: "Donna has made an immense contribution to the club, over an extensive period. Her diverse responsibilities grew significantly and replacing her roles with a single individual will be impossible.

"While many may associate her primarily with marketing and communications, Donna's impact extends far beyond those areas. Notably, her leadership and political acumen at planning committees, was instrumental in the club being able to build one of the finest stadiums and training centres in the world."

Venkatesham is already advertising for candidates to work alongside him in a supporting role while there are also significant doubts over chief football officer Scott Munn's position and likely changes coming in the medical and sport science teams.

The Premier League is over. Liverpool were worthy champions, while the previous Big Six of Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur all had mixed seasons for one reason or another. Some worse than others ...

To get an insight into which players performed well and which struggled, we've given the top 20 stars from each squad a rating out of 10, based on minutes played in the league.

As ever, 10 equals the best, and any player who didn't manage enough minutes to break into their top 20 -- through injury, January transfer, or managerial decision -- doesn't get a rating.

ARSENAL (4-3-3)

GK: David Raya (8)

RB: Jurriën Timber (7) | CB: William Saliba (7) | CB: Gabriel Magalhães (9) | LB: Myles Lewis-Skelly (8)

CM: Thomas Partey (7) | CM: Declan Rice (9) | CM: Martin Ødegaard (5)

FW: Bukayo Saka (7) | ST: Kai Havertz (6) | FW: Leandro Trossard (6)

MANAGER: Mikel Arteta (7)

SUBS: RB: Ben White (6) | LB: Riccardo Calafiori (6) | CB: Jakub Kiwior (6) | CM: Jorginho (5) | CM/ST: Mikel Merino (7) | FW: Raheem Sterling (3) | FW: Gabriel Martinelli (6) | FW: Ethan Nwaneri (7) | ST: Gabriel Jesus (4)

Arsenal's campaign provided some unforgettable moments for their supporters. After finishing third in the new Champions League group stage, Declan Rice's incredible free kicks vs. Real Madrid helped the club to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2009, while a 5-1 humiliation of defending champions Manchester City in February was the tip of a Premier League iceberg that included a 15-game unbeaten run.

However, Arsenal failed to deliver in the defining moments. They never led the league and weren't really close to reining in Liverpool's lead in the second half of the season, were knocked out of the FA Cup in the third round by struggling Manchester United on penalties, were soundly beaten by Newcastle United (2-0 both home and away) in the Carabao Cup semifinal, and were outclassed by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. In the end, a season that showed so much promise fizzled out without a trophy and ended in a tight race to finish second behind Liverpool.

The league's meanest defense (34 goals conceded) was stable throughout, with goalkeeper David Raya (8) standing out and William Saliba and Jurriën Timber earning ratings of 7 out of 10 for their performances at the back, while teenage midfielder Myles Lewis-Skelly (8) shocked everyone by usurping the likes of Riccardo Calafiori (6) and Oleksandr Zinchenko (not enough minutes for a rating) to claim the left-back spot. But the standout performer, before his season-ending injury saw him replaced by Jakub Kiwior (6), was Gabriel Magalhães (9), who was indomitable at the heart of the defense and equally domineering in the air at set-pieces in the opposition box.

While Arsenal's defensive solidity and threat from set-pieces undoubtedly offered reasons for encouragement, there was a lack of attacking creativity that cost them dearly -- ensuring they dropped key points from 14 draws and four defeats. In midfield, Rice (9) was excellent when given the freedom to get forward with Thomas Partey (7) or Jorginho (5) mopping up behind him, but he was often left to do everything himself as captain Martin Ødegaard (5) struggled to hit the heights of last season.

Injuries certainly played their part, with Ben White (6), Bukayo Saka (7), Kai Havertz (6) and Gabriel Jesus (4) all out of action for long periods -- it meant that unlikely frontman Mikel Merino (7), who is usually a central midfielder, had to offer a makeshift solution up front. But while teenage sensation Ethan Nwaneri (7) provided some moments of quality and helped to mitigate the three-month loss of Saka, there were too many uninspiring performances from the likes of Leandro Trossard (6) and Gabriel Martinelli (6). Meanwhile, even from off the bench, Raheem Sterling (3) rarely got on the pitch due his complete lack of form.

Manager Mikel Arteta (7) gave it everything, claiming the Gunners were "the best team in the Champions League," but not signing a striker in January clearly hurt his side. A good summer in the transfer market will be hugely important, as he will want to prove to everyone that his side can get over the line and fulfill their obvious promise by winning a trophy. This season was another "nearly" effort that just proved not to be good enough. -- Danny Lewis

CHELSEA (4-2-3-1)

GK: Robert Sánchez (6)

RB: Malo Gusto (7) | CB: Tosin Adarabioyo (6) | CB: Levi Colwill (8) | LB: Marc Cucurella (7)

CM: Moisés Caicedo (9) | CM: Enzo Fernández (8)

FW: Pedro Neto (6) | AM: Cole Palmer (8) | FW: Noni Madueke (7)

ST: Nicolas Jackson (7)

MANAGER: Enzo Maresca (8)

SUBS: GK: Filip Jørgensen (5) | RB: Reece James (6) | CB: Wesley Fofana (7) | CB: Trevoh Chalobah (7) | CM: Romeo Lavia (6) | CM: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (5) | FW: Christopher Nkunku (5) | FW: João Félix (4) | FW: Jadon Sancho (6)

In time, Chelsea's 2024-25 campaign might best be remembered as one of transition, away from the transient model of old, toward something more sustainable and, above all else, successful. After two turbulent seasons marked by managerial changes, bloated squads, €1.6 billion of spending and lackluster displays on the pitch, the Blues have found their feet again under manager Enzo Maresca (8).

While hopes of a Premier League title run proved to be premature, the side shook off a dip in form to finish fourth and sneak into the UEFA Champions League places this term, and return to Europe's premier competition for the first time since 2023, while also landing a place in the Conference League final where they will face Real Betis on Wednesday.

Coming into this season, one of Maresca's biggest challenges was to restructure Chelsea's porous defense. The Blues shipped 63 goals last season en route to finishing sixth in the Premier League -- conceding only four fewer than 17th-place Nottingham Forest. But barring the odd wobble from goalkeeper Robert Sánchez (6), Chelsea have looked fairly assured at the back, recording 11 clean sheets in all competitions since the end of February. Levi Colwill (8) and Trevoh Chalobah (7) struck up an impressive partnership in the heart of the defense, as Benoît Badiashile didn't do enough to get a rating, while Malo Gusto (7), Reece James (6) and Marc Cucurella (7) demonstrated their worth as two-way full-backs.

In midfield, Enzo Fernández (8) and Moisés Caicedo (9), two of the side's best performers, started to show why Chelsea paid a combined €240m for their services. They, alongside Romeo Lavia (6) and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (5) on occasion, provided the energy, pressing and ball retention needed to make Maresca's all-encompassing system function.

On the wings, Noni Madueke (7) provided excitement with direct running and goals, while Jadon Sancho (6) and Pedro Neto (6) also had their moments as Mykhailo Mudryk was suspended by the league after a failed drug test. Elsewhere, Cobham graduate Tyrique George (not enough minutes for a rating) benefited from João Félix's (4) mid-season loan exit to AC Milan, enjoying a breakout campaign with eye-catching performances in Europe and the FA Cup.

In attack, the Blues were a bit reliant on the creative genius of Cole Palmer (8), whose star shone brightest in the first half of the season before his form dipped. Striker Nicolas Jackson (7) was Chelsea's second top goal scorer this term, notching 10 in the Premier League and, while the 23-year-old's finishing left much to be desired at times, his pace, intelligent movement and link-up play saw him emerge as Maresca's clear preference in the No. 9 position -- much to Christopher Nkunku's (5) chagrin.

Overall, Maresca deserves credit for giving Chelsea a defined style of play and a clear identity -- something that Mauricio Pochettino failed to instill during his time at Stamford Bridge. Imposing a possession-based style, Maresca's tactical setup used the pace at his disposal and provided Palmer with the creative freedom to unlock opposition defenses.

Even amid all the recent spending, transfer upgrades are still needed to challenge for major honors next season, and if reports are to be believed, a defensive leader and a proven goal scorer will be targeted when the window opens. Should they get their recruitment right in the months that follow, Chelsea might finally be poised to rejoin the elite. -- Tom Fenton

LIVERPOOL (4-2-1-3)

GK: Alisson (8)

RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold (6) | CB: Virgil van Dijk (9) | CB: Ibrahima Konaté (9) | LB: Andrew Robertson (6)

CM: Ryan Gravenberch (8) | CM: Alexis Mac Allister (8)

FW: Mohamed Salah (10) | AM: Dominik Szoboszlai (7) | FW: Cody Gakpo (7)

FW: Luis Díaz (8)

MANAGER: Arne Slot (9)

SUBS: GK: Caoimhín Kelleher (8) | LB: Kostas Tsimikas (6) | RB: Conor Bradley (6) | CB: Jarell Quansah (5) | CB: Joe Gomez (5) |CM: Wataru Endo (7) | CM: Curtis Jones (6) | ST: Darwin Núñez (5) | ST: Diogo Jota (5)

Liverpool ended the season with just their second Premier League title since 1990, after a convincing combination of consistency and swashbuckling attacking play amid Arne Slot's historic first campaign.

Mohamed Salah's sublime form puts the Reds' talisman in line to become the first Ballon d'Or winner from Africa since George Weah in 1995. Yet despite earning a 20th league crown at a canter, Liverpool will be hopeful of better future results in the cup competitions next season. A disappointing FA Cup fourth-round exit to Plymouth Argyle (1-0) raised questions of the quality of the fringe players, before they crashed out of the Champions League at the round of 16 stage on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain and then fell 2-1 against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final inside a week.

Much of Liverpool's success in the Premier League began with impressive performances from the ever-consistent Alisson (8), and Caoimhin Kelleher (8) between the posts. The Republic of Ireland international deputized remarkably when called upon, denying Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé from the penalty spot in their 2-0 Champions League win, during an otherwise flawless spell outside of a late error in December's 3-3 league draw at St. James' Park.

No player in the Premier League contributed to more clean sheets than Virgil van Dijk (9), who was imperious in central defense alongside Ibrahima Konaté (9), while Andy Robertson (6) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (6) struggled a bit, but contributed in less-advanced roles than they played last season.

A mixed campaign for Jarell Quansah (5) saw him impress against Wolves and Paris Saint-Germain, but there is a feeling that his performance levels have dropped since Klopp's departure. Meanwhile, Conor Bradley (6) and Kostas Tsimikas (6) offered cover in the absence of Slot's preferred starters at full-back, but unfortunate luck with injuries overshadowed some early-season promise for Joe Gomez (5).

In midfield, Slot tailored a solution for the holding role through Ryan Gravenberch (8), with Alexis Mac Allister (8) impressing at both ends of the pitch, and Dominik Szoboszlai (7) providing a vital cog in Liverpool's midfield engine. Wataru Endo (7) was frequently relied upon to close games out, while Curtis Jones (6) continued form that saw him called up to the England squad. The fact that Harvey Elliott did not earn enough minutes for a ranking, despite being one of the standouts in preseason, is telling.

Mohamed Salah earns the only 10 out of 10 rating after becoming the club's third all-time top scorer amid a record-breaking campaign, with Luis Diaz (8) and Cody Gakpo (7) also contributing strongly across the season. Darwin Nunez (5) and Diogo Jota (5) both had individual moments of brilliance, but their disappointing overall output outlines the need for greater consistency and Federico Chiesa also did not accumulate enough minutes to get a rating.

Things couldn't have gone much better for Slot (9), who succeeded one of Liverpool's most iconic managers, Jurgen Klopp, before delivering a memorable debut campaign that only fell short in the cup competitions. This summer's focus must now be on adding the extra depth required to sustain their success on all fronts and defend the Premier League title next season. -- Adam Brown

MAN CITY (4-2-3-1)

GK: Éderson (6)

RB: Rico Lewis (6) | CB: Rúben Dias (7) | CB: Manuel Akanji (5) | LB: Joško Gvardiol (8)

CM: Mateo Kovacic (7) | CM: İlkay Gündoğan (5)

FW: Phil Foden (5) | CM: Bernardo Silva (6) | FW: Savinho (7)

ST: Erling Haaland (8)

MANAGER: Pep Guardiola (6)

SUBS: GK: Stefan Ortega (6) | RB: Matheus Nunes (5) | CB: Nathan Aké (6) | CB: John Stones (5) | CM: Nico Gonzalez (6) | CM: Kevin De Bruyne (5) | FW: Jéremy Doku (7) | FW: Jack Grealish (5) | FW: Omar Marmoush (8)

Man City's 2024-25 season represented a stark departure from their recent dominance. After four consecutive Premier League titles and an historic treble in 2022-23, City concluded this campaign without silverware beyond the Community Shield -- a first in eight years. The season was marred by injuries (namely to Ballon d'Or winner Rodri), tactical missteps and underwhelming performances, culminating in a shock FA Cup final loss to Crystal Palace.

City struggled for consistency in all competitions and had a run of six Premier League defeats in nine games before Christmas that left them way off the pace. Even spending more than €150m to sign five new players in January didn't help that much, though the club would probably have taken a third-place finish when they were struggling in seventh spot midway through the campaign.

Pep Guardiola's chopping and changing between the sticks was symptomatic of the side's struggles, as neither Ederson (6) nor Stefan Ortega (6) made the goalkeeper position their own. It was a similar story in defense, as only Rúben Dias (7) avoided drastic dips in form throughout the campaign, with Nathan Aké (6) and John Stones (5) struggling, and Matheus Nunes (5) alternating at right-back with Rico Lewis (6) and Manuel Akanji (5) after Kyle Walker's January exit.

Joško Gvardiol's (8) recent efforts at centre-back, and the potential of 21-year-old Abdukodir Khusanov (not enough minutes for a rating), should allay some concerns in the long term at least. And one silver lining was the rise of young Nico O'Reilly (not enough minutes for a rating) at left-back, as he helped drag City to the FA Cup final with Man of the Match displays against Plymouth and Bournemouth.

In midfield, one very notable absence loomed large over the Etihad: the unravelling of City's season can be traced back to the cruciate ligament injury sustained by Rodri in September. Without him, Kevin De Bruyne (5) and Bernardo Silva (6) were often left exposed centrally, and Nico González's arrival from Porto for €60m in January did little to solve the issue as he didn't play enough minutes for a rating. Mateo Kovacic (7), who was primarily deployed as a deep-lying playmaker, was the pick of City's central midfielders.

One player who massively struggled to hit the heights of recent seasons was 2023-24 PFA Player of the Year Phil Foden (5) as his confidence mysteriously dissipated as the season wore on. Out wide, Jack Grealish (5) also failed to provide the necessary spark for the most part, while Jérémy Doku (7) and Savinho (7) did at least get fans out of their seats with occasional flashes of brilliance.

Up front, Erling Haaland (8) scored 31 goals in all competitions but continued to struggle in crucial matches, going another cup final without scoring. His decision to allow Omar Marmoush (8) to take a penalty at Wembley against Palace, which was subsequently saved, drew criticism. Marmoush, signed for €70m in January, showed moments of brilliance in the Premier League, which included a hat trick against Newcastle, although questions remain over how he and Haaland will fit into the same system next season.

With the title race out of reach, the second half of the season presented Guardiola with the opportunity to experiment tactically, integrate his new signings and reward academy talent. Indeed, after a dreadful midseason run, he steadied the ship admirably, and a spot in the FA Cup final and Champions League next season is impressive. The 2024-25 season could ultimately prove to be a temporary blip in an otherwise flawless City epoch, or the end of the club's dizzyingly successful cycle under Guardiola. Rivals will be hoping it's the latter, although the 54-year-old's recent contract extension suggests he's still very much up for the fight. -- TF

MAN UNITED (3-4-2-1)

GK: André Onana (4)

CB: Matthijs de Ligt (5) | CB: Harry Maguire (6) | CB: Lisandro Martínez (5)

RWB: Noussair Mazraoui (6) | CM: Manuel Ugarte (5) | CM: Bruno Fernandes (8) | LWB: Diogo Dalot (5)

CAM: Alejandro Garnacho (6) | CAM: Amad Diallo (7)

ST: Rasmus Højlund (4)

MANAGER: Ruben Amorim (3)

SUBS: CB: Leny Yoro (6) | CB: Victor Lindelöf (4) | LWB: Patrick Dorgu (6) | CM: Casemiro (5) | CM: Christian Eriksen (4) | CM: Kobbie Mainoo (5) | CAM: Mason Mount (5) | ST: Joshua Zirkzee (5) | ST: Marcus Rashford (5)

Describing Manchester United's league season as a disaster seems like an understatement. Whether under Erik ten Hag or Ruben Amorim, things have been miserable for the Red Devils, who recorded a club-low 42 points (their previous record in the Premier League era was 58) and position of 15th (the previous record was eighth).

The domestic cup competitions provided some relief at times, with highlights including a penalty shootout win over Arsenal in the FA Cup and a 7-0 demolition of Barnsley in the Carabao Cup, though they were eventually defeated by Fulham and Tottenham in those respective competitions. A dramatic run to the UEFA Europa League final meant they had a chance to seal a surprise place in the Champions League with a win, but they lost 1-0 to Spurs at Estadio de San Mames in a terrible match.

Goalkeeper Andre Onana (4) was put under the spotlight due to his costly mistakes, which were part of the reason the club only narrowly avoided their worst-ever league record of 58 goals conceded (54).

Young centre-back Leny Yoro (6) showed promising signs, but struggled with injuries, while Noussair Mazraoui (6) offered some consistency and veteran defender Harry Maguire (6) came up with some big moments in the Europa League -- including playing as a makeshift striker. However, the likes of Matthijs de Ligt (5), Lisandro Martinez (5), Diogo Dalot (5) and Victor Lindelof (4) did not perform to expectations, while Marcus Rashford somehow played more matches than left-back Luke Shaw (who did not qualify for a rating) despite going out on loan in January. But January arrival Patrick Dorgu (6) showed signs of promise and is expected to play a larger part of Amorim's plan for 2025-26.

Finding balance in midfield has been a struggle, though captain Bruno Fernandes (8) stood up when those around him faltered. In recent weeks, he has had more support from Casemiro (5), though the Brazilian had a very disappointing start to the season. Manuel Ugarte (5) has saved his best performances for Europe, while Christian Eriksen (4), Kobbie Mainoo (5) and Mason Mount (5) haven't contributed as much as would be hoped.

Amad Diallo (7) was a leading light in attack, most notably winning a penalty and scoring in United's comeback win over Manchester City. Alejandro Garnacho (6) got into brilliant positions but did not always made the most of them, although the main attacking issue in a side that will record the club's worst goal-scoring season in the Premier League (44 -- the previous worst was 49) comes from those leading the line. Joshua Zirkzee (5) and Rasmus Højlund (4) both put in a host of forgettable performances in front of goal and will want to move on from this season quickly.

In terms of the manager, Amorim (3) replaced Ten Hag in November and brought his 3-4-2-1 system to England, but it hasn't worked out. The club will want to give him time, but despite reaching the Europa League final, he still contrived to lose 16 and draw 10 of his 42 games in charge. An upcoming transfer window and further time to implement his plans will offer hope that things can improve next season, but he might not be around long if things don't change quickly. -- DL

TOTTENHAM (4-3-3)

GK:Guglielmo Vicario (6)

RB: Pedro Porro (7) | CB: Archie Gray (4) | CB: Cristian Romero (5) | LB: Destiny Udogie (6)

CM: Rodrigo Bentancur (5) | CM: Pape Matar Sarr (4) | CM: Dejan Kulusevski (6)

RW: Brennan Johnson (5) | ST: Dominic Solanke (5) | FW: Son Heung-min (5)

MANAGER: Ange Postecoglou (3)

SUBS: GK: Fraser Forster (3) | RB: Djed Spence (7) | CB: Ben Davies (4) | CB: Radu Dragusin (3) | CB: Micky van de Ven (5) | CM: Lucas Bergvall (6) | CM: Yves Bissouma (4) | CM: James Maddison (7) | FW: Mathys Tel (4)

A domestic season to forget for Tottenham saw them record their lowest Premier League finish (17th) of all time and worst top-flight finish since 1977. Spurs fared better in the Carabao Cup as they reached the semifinals, where they were eventually beaten by runners-up Liverpool, but they required extra time in the FA Cup third-round victory over non-league Tamworth and then lost 2-1 to Aston Villa. Winning the Europa League -- the club's first piece of silverware since the League Cup in 2008 -- was some salvation as Ange Postecoglou (3) made good on his "second-season trophy" declaration, as they beat Manchester United to seal an unlikely place in the Champions League.

Relentless injury issues forced manager Postecoglou into lots of tactical reshuffling as several key players battled for fitness throughout the campaign. Indeed, defensive instability left Spurs ranked among the Premier League's worst for both goals and shots conceded. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario (6) was busy between the posts, but delivered some of his best performances during wins over both Manchester clubs. His backup, Fraser Forster (3), was uncertain when stepping in, making too many mistakes with just two clean sheets in 13 appearances.

Injuries to both center-backs Cristian Romero (5) and Micky van de Ven (5) meant Postecoglou was without his preferred pairing for the majority of matches, while Ben Davies (4) and the inexperienced duo of Radu Dragusin (3) and Archie Gray (4) struggled with errors, though Gray showcased his versatility in over four different positions. Djed Spence (7) and Pedro Porro (7) put in some encouraging performances at right-back, with Destiny Udogie (6) also one of Spurs' brighter defenders on the opposite flank.

The industrious Lucas Bergvall (6) adapted swiftly to life in the Premier League after making his first start against Southampton in December and was one of Spurs' most promising players of the campaign. The 19-year-old midfielder outperformed both Rodrigo Bentancur (5) and Yves Bissouma (4), whose levels dropped from last season, while Pape Matar Sarr (5) provided flashes of quality without consistency. In fact, all Spurs' deeper midfielders struggled at times as Postecoglou's system often saw them stuck in wide areas.

Dejan Kulusevski (5) started the season well when used in multiple positions, but despite enjoying a run scoring in five straight matches in December, he endured a drought of three months without finding the net before he was ruled out for the season in May. Kulusevski's injury came just a week after Spurs lost their richest source of midfield goals in James Maddison (7), who scored 12 times while providing 10 assists in 45 matches across all competitions.

Tottenham captain Son Heung-Min (5) produced his lowest-scoring season in the Premier League since he arrived at the club in 2015, while both Dominic Solanke (5) and Brennan Johnson (5) get ratings which underline their underwhelming levels of play, despite scoring some decisive goals. Bayern Munich loanee Mathys Tel (4) failed to ignite the Spurs attack after joining on loan in January.

Postecoglou (4) gets some credit for having to manage serious injury problems and still bringing home the Europa League title. But Spurs' league form didn't improve after they made signings in January and there were tactical issues abound as Postecoglou's high-line system appeared to have been found out. When the dust from the trophy parade settles, it is imperative the Australian manager re-establishes his side among the Premier League's top eight next season ... if he's given the chance. -- AB

Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou said he had not had any discussions with the club regarding his future despite ending a long trophy drought by winning the Europa League title and qualifying for the Champions League.

Spurs ended a painful 17-year trophy drought on Wednesday when they beat Manchester United 1-0 to win the Europa League title and qualified for the Champions League despite sitting 17th in the Premier League.

The title was vindication for Postecoglou, who had said earlier this season that he always won trophies in his second season with a team.

However, his future at the club remains unclear, even after he promised Spurs fans that "season three is better than season two."

The 59-year-old Australian, who signed a four-year contract when he came on board in June 2023, said he had not spoken to Spurs chairman Daniel Levy.

"Somebody rightly pointed out, sometimes they kill off the main character so I could be in strife there," Postecoglou told a news conference with a laugh on Saturday.

"I'm not going to put a limit on what we can achieve but I certainly believe that it's exciting, the possibilities of next year knowing I've got a group of players now and staff and a club that knows what it takes to win.

"I haven't had any discussions with the club ... Maybe they were just waiting for clear air to give me some guidance, but I haven't heard anything from the club."

When pushed on whether he would be at the club next season, Postecoglou said he had not given it a lot of thought.

"I assume at some point somebody will tell me something," he added.

"If not, I'm just going to roll up next year and I'll be a bit like [George] Costanza from [television show] Seinfeld, I'll just sit in the desk and get on with my job."

The club held an open-top bus victory parade on Friday when thousands of fans lined the streets outside their stadium to celebrate, but they must quickly shift focus to Sunday's home game against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Despite most of their players looking the worse for wear after exuberant celebrations, Postecoglou chuckled and said they would field a team but underlined the importance of celebrating the title.

"As I've got older, and I used to be a bit different, but I really feel you need to celebrate your achievements properly and that was kind of my message to the boys," Postecoglou said.

"It's really important because once they've achieved it and they've done it in a very difficult way, it's important for the people around them because then they can relax and enjoy it as well.

"And it's important to make the experience as memorable as possible so that when I ask them to climb the mountain again, there's a reason for it.

"Fair to say they took my words literally and certainly enjoyed themselves over the last couple of days and, like all parties, there's always one family member that embarrasses you and you want to keep control of ... We had a couple of those!"

Ange Postecoglou promised Tottenham Hotspur fans greater success next season after making good on his pledge of always winning a trophy in his second year at a club with a triumph at the Europa League.

Thousands of fans joined an open-bus victory parade on Friday to celebrate Spurs ending a 17-year trophy drought by beating Manchester United 1-0 in Wednesday's final.

"I told them and they laughed. I told them and they didn't believe. And here we are," Postecoglou told the crowd to roaring applause.

"I'll leave you with this: all the best television series, season three is better than season two."

Postecoglou earlier brushed aside concerns about his future at Spurs as the club have their worst domestic season for nearly half a century, sitting 17th in the Premier League table.

UEFA has apologised for running out of winners medals during the Europa League final trophy ceremony on Wednesday after more Tottenham Hotspur players than expected lined up to receive their individual prizes.

Spurs captain Son Heung-Min, Cristian Romero and Rodrigo Bentancur -- who were the last to line up for individual medals -- were left empty-handed after their team beat Manchester United 1-0 to win the club's fourth European title on Wednesday.

Son lifted the trophy without a medal around his neck.

"To our great displeasure, we did not have enough medals available on stage during the trophy ceremony presentation due to an unexpected discrepancy in the player count, as more team members -- including injured players -- participated in the ceremony than initially anticipated," UEFA said in a statement.

"The missing medals were promptly delivered to the winning team in the dressing room, along with our sincerest apologies for the oversight."

Information from ESPN's Tom Chambers contributed to this report

It finally happened. Tottenham Hotspur's 17-year wait for silverware is over, ending their drought by beating Manchester United to win the UEFA Europa League on Wednesday.

Relive all the action from the San Mamés in Bilbao, Spain, with a moment-by-moment account of a famous European night in Spurs' history.