BBC

After being sacked by Tottenham, Ange Postecoglou went on holiday where he happened to be staying at the same hotel as Spurs fan Jeremy Conrad who sent him a letter which has since gone viral.

Jeremy said the letter was to thank the former manager for helping to “rebuild the connection between the fan base and the club”.

“He wouldn’t sit there and take abuse aimed at the club, he stuck up for us and truly is one of our own.”

Postecoglou thanked Jeremy by taking a picture with him and giving him signed a Tottenham Hotspur shirt.

This clip is originally from the 8th June 2025.

"I probably won't be at Brentford forever," Thomas Frank told BBC Sport in January when asked about his ambitions. "I will maybe walk into another club."

That club could be Tottenham Hotspur, who finished 17th in the Premier League table - seven places below Brentford - but will play in the Champions League next season after winning the Europa League.

Spurs have closed the door on the Ange Postecoglou era and are bidding to replace him with the Dane who established Brentford in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship in 2021.

Frank, 51, is the second-longest-serving current manager in English football's top-flight behind Manchester City's Pep Guardiola.

"It is just a question of time," said six-time Premier League-winning boss Guardiola last September, when asked if he was surprised Frank, appointed by Brentford in 2018, had not been offered a bigger job.

Frank did not play football professionally, external but has overseen 152 Premier League games - winning 54, losing 60 and taking 200 points from a possible 456.

Of the 54 managers to take charge of 150-plus games in the Premier League era, Frank ranks 29th for points per game (1.32).

During his Brentford reign, Frank has spent £254m on players and received £183m in sales - a net spend of £71m. Tottenham have spent £961m on transfers since 2016-17, according to FootballTransfer.com data., external

Frank, who has been described as the opposite of Postecoglou for his adaptability, would be Tottenham's fourth permanent manager since 30 June 2021.

Nuno Espirito Santo lasted just four months, Antonio Conte 16 months and Postecoglou, despite ending the club's 17-year wait for a major trophy, has been sent packing after two years.

"There's much more pressure at Tottenham than there is at Brentford, because of the expectation - and the manager has to handle that expectation," Chris Sutton, a Premier League winner with Blackburn Rovers in 1994-95, told BBC Sport.

Frank's boundless energy and motivational skills have got the very best out of Brentford, who are planning for a fifth consecutive season in the Premier League despite one of the smallest budgets.

He has built a reputation for producing teams full of strong characters with no egos, and has helped the likes of Ivan Toney, Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa become better players - as well as many others.

Often described as a 'great human', Frank built strong relationships and socialised with his players and staff - including his love of padel - and has been praised regularly for his motivational skills.

Brentford midfielder Christian Norgaard told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Thomas is very personal with the players.

"He cares a lot about how we are and how we feel. It's a very important quality for a manager to have.

"Not every manager has it, and the ones that do seem to have more success. He's definitely a leader and someone who guides us. He's done a fantastic job in the years that I've worked with him at Brentford."

Managing Brentford feels a very different proposition to managing Spurs though - moving from a club with consistently one of the lowest budgets in the division, to one full of high-paid, high-profile players.

Sutton described Tottenham's decision to part ways with Postecoglou as "madness", and added: "That is how things work at the club that Frank is walking into."

He also also believes Spurs are taking a gamble on a manager who has no experience in the Champions League.

"Thomas Frank has done a brilliant job at Brentford, but this is a whole different kettle of fish," said Sutton.

"Because of the expectation at Tottenham, Frank won't get time to get his feet under the table. He will be under pressure from the off.

"Postecoglou has just won them their first major European trophy for 41 years and has gone. So already you have to wonder what does Frank need to do this season to keep his job?

"The aim for Frank will be to keep them in the Champions League, and whether that is by making the top four or five, that is not going to be easy.

"That is a big ask for this squad, to compete on both fronts. We know this Tottenham team is better than 17th place, because they finished fifth in Postecoglou's first year, but other Premier League teams have improved since then."

Brentford finished 2024-25 with more points than Tottenham (56 compared with 38), more goals (66-64) and fewer goals conceded (57-65).

In addition, Mbeumo (20), Wissa (19) and Kevin Schade (11) scored 50 goals between them after Frank was forced to adapt following the departure of Toney - 36 goals in 83 top-flight appearances for the Bees - to Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli.

There have been many different versions of Brentford though since Frank first took charge. High-possession football, more counter-attacks, more percentage football - Frank has played them all, leading to many seeing him as one of the game's more adaptive coaches.

From attacking flair and bravery, to at times being more pragmatic, what will Spurs look like under Frank?

"It's a surprisingly difficult question to answer because he's a really flexible manager," said football tactics writer Alex Keble.

"He will automatically adapt his tactics to whoever the opposition is, a bit like Unai Emery at Aston Villa.

"In many ways he's the opposite of Ange Postecoglou, who is famously wedded to one idea.

"There's a statistic - what Opta call 10+ - referring to the number of passes and sequences [in one move]. In 2023-24 Brentford registered 245. In 2024-25 that figure was 325.

"That tells you as time has gone on, Frank has wanted to play a more possession-based game. There's certainly plenty of counter-attacks, fast transitions and plenty of highly choreographed long balls forward - direct football."

Who are the Tottenham players who could benefit from the arrival of Frank, a manager who pays great attention to stats?

"You can certainly imagine Dominic Solanke linking with Wilson Odobert in a way Wissa and Mbeumo interact," added Keble.

"Defensively, Tottenham are least like Brentford. Would Frank look at the Spurs squad and think 'I can't play Brentford football here?'"

Spurs fans struggled to buy into the brand of football under recent managers Jose Mourinho and Conte. Will they take to the Frank style?

"I think the way he played at Brentford was quite balanced - they had different ways of playing, depending on the opposition," added Sutton.

"His Brentford team played good football at a high intensity, but ultimately fans take to managers when they win games, and that is it.

"I do think he has got different strings to his bow, but it will be interesting to see what Tottenham do recruitment-wise this summer."

Former Tottenham midfielder Danny Murphy is another to praise Frank's flexible approach.

"They had a great intensity and physicality about them," Murphy told BBC Sport about Brentford last season. "They vary their game as well as any other team in the Premier League."

Frank, praised for his methodical detail, has likened managing in the Premier League to being a head chef in a high-end restaurant.

"The chef needs to be able to cook the food himself," said Frank.

"He's got 20 other chefs doing all these things for him so he's leading all these many chefs through his vision, his recipes and they are maximising every little detail.

"But he knows how the perfect outcome should be."

His profile has rocketed since he arrived in England in 2016, being appointed Brentford's assistant head coach, external under Dean Smith.

Despite not playing professionally he has ended up in the Premier League after starting his coaching journey with the under-8s of his hometown club Frederiksvaerk.

He progressed to become coach of Denmark at various youth levels until 2013, when he was offered a first-team coaching role at Danish Superliga giants Brondby.

Former striker Lee Rochester Sorensen, who was part of the Denmark Under-17s side, said: "He was always looking to improve and had a plan for every step of the way.

"Thomas always had a plan A, B and C, making it clear what was needed through the four phases of play, from our goalkeeper to our attackers - he'd tell us how to press our opponents and the reasons why."

Ex-Brondby midfielder Martin Ornskov enjoyed Frank's collaborative approach during their time together at the club.

"There were times when he'd discuss solutions with us during games," he said. "Far from seeing it as a weakness, I saw that as a strength.

"I knew he'd be liked as a person and could evolve as a coach, but to work in the Premier League without having the experience or being a big name was a huge test.

"But the thing about Thomas was he was always so curious about football - he lived for the game. I saw a different coach at the end of my three years with him."

After Frank Lampard left his role as Chelsea boss in 2023, Frank invited the former England midfielder to watch Brentford train.

"When you see someone like Thomas and how diligent he is and how well he speaks, you understand he has put thousands of hours into viewing, observing, working out his way, his approach to people," Lampard, now boss at Coventry City, told the Football Daily podcast.

BBC Radio London commentator Phil Parry added: "Thomas Frank as a manager is exceptionally gifted, as a person he's great - he's an exceptional coach and leader.

"He also accepts he is the head of something that is very important. He stands on the shoulders of other giants who make that thing tick."

Chris Sutton was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.

Tottenham are moving towards appointing Brentford boss Thomas Frank as their new head coach following the sacking of Ange Postecoglou.

Brentford are expecting a formal approach from Tottenham in the coming days but there has been no confirmation so far of dialogue between the two clubs.

The Dane, 51, has emerged as a leading contender to replace Postecoglou.

Brentford would be entitled to compensation for Frank, with sources indicating it would cost Tottenham more than £10m to extract him from his contract which runs until 2027.

That figure could rise depending on how many members of staff Frank decides to bring with him if he is named Spurs boss.

Postecoglou was sacked on Friday, 16 days after leading them to victory in the Europa League final, their first major trophy for 17 years.

However, it came towards the end of their worst Premier League season, as they finished 17th after losing 22 of their 38 matches.

Frank took over at Brentford in 2018 and guided them into the Premier League, winning the Championship play-off final at Wembley in 2021 and establishing them as a top-flight club on a small budget.

Brentford finished 10th in the Premier League this season, seven places and 18 points above Spurs.

'Frank is the opposite of Postecoglou'

Alex Keble

Football tactics writer

Thomas Frank is a really flexible manager. He will automatically adapt his tactics to whoever the opposition is, a bit like Unai Emery at Aston Villa.

In many ways he's the opposite of Ange Postecoglou, who is famously wedded to one idea.

There's a statistic - what Opta call 10+ - referring to the number of passes and sequences [in one move]. In 2023-24 Brentford registered 245. In 2024-25 that figure was 325.

That tells you as time has gone on, Frank has wanted to play a more possession-based game. There's certainly plenty of counter-attacks, fast transitions and plenty of highly choreographed long balls forward, direct football.

You can certainly imagine Dominic Solanke linking with Wilson Odobert in a way Wissa and Mbeumo interact," added Keble.

Defensively, Tottenham are least-like Brentford. Would Frank look at the Spurs squad and think: 'I can't play Brentford football here?'

Why was Postecoglou sacked?

It's worth reminding ourselves: Why exactly was Ange Postecoglou sacked 16 days after leading Tottenham to a first piece of major silverware in 17 years?

The main factor behind club chairman Daniel Levy's decision to sack the manager was Tottenham's dismal league campaign.

Spurs lost 22 of their 38 Premier League games, resulting in a 17th place finish and their worst ever Premier League campaign.

Though many of Tottenham's players posted heart-felt farewell messages on social media following Postecoglou's dismisal, things weren't always rosey behind the scenes.

There were internal tensions regarding Spurs' awful injury record this term, no doubt a contributing factor to poor performances.

"It's been the blame game," one well-placed source told BBC Sport.

Postecoglou was left frustrated by Spurs' failure to sign his main targets last summer, including Desire Doue, now a Champions League winner with Paris Saint-Germain.

Postecoglou likely would have been sacked shortly after the Europa League final had Spurs lost to Manchester United, but Levy wanted to put time between the emotional outpouring that came after the victory in Bilbao and making his final decision.

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Would Frank be right appointment for Spurs?

We asked you early if you were in favour of Thomas Frank becoming the next Tottenham manager.

At the last count, thumbs down had it, with 1,408 compared to 1,271 thumbs up.

Maybe this was not the right question, though.

Rather than asking whether you are in favour of the move, maybe the question should be:

Do you believe Thomas Frank would be the right appointment for Tottenham?

Thumbs up for yes, down for no.

Post

Craig Nelson

BBC Sport reporter

We have already had plenty of people citing Nuno Espirito Santo's short tenure at Spurs as a template for how they believe things would pan out for Thomas Frank, should he be appointed manager.

Nuno arrived following a solid few seasons as Wolves boss in the Premier League and has since shown that was not a flash in the pan by helping to guide Nottingham Forest into Europe.

Readers are now holding up former Brighton manager Graham Potter's unsuccessful time at Chelsea as another cautionary tale...

Pochettino rules himself out

As mentioned, inevitably, Mauricio Pochettino has been linked with the vacant managerial position at Tottenham.

The former Spurs boss still holds a place in fans' hearts five-and-a-half years after he was sacked by Daniel Levy. After all, he did lead Spurs on a memorable run to the 2019 Champions League final.

However, Pochettino - who was appointed United States men's team manager in October 2024 - has ruled himself out of the running.

"Today it's not realistic," said Pochettino. "Look where I am. Look where we [his backroom staff] are. The answer is so clear.

"Since I left in 2019, my name has always been on the list [of rumours]. I've seen the rumours.

"If something happens [in the future], you for sure will see, but I am so happy in this moment and we cannot talk about this type of thing."

'Heat on Frank straight away'

Chris Sutton

Former Premier League striker for BBC Sport

Thomas Frank has done a brilliant job at Brentford but this is a whole different kettle of fish.

Because of the expectation at Tottenham, Frank won't get time to get his feet under the table. He won't have a chance to put his slippers on and work things out about his squad, because he will be under pressure from the off.

Ange Postecoglou has just won them their first major European trophy for 41 years and has gone. So already you have to wonder what does Frank need to do this season to keep his job?

The aim for Frank will be to keep them in the Champions League, and whether that is by making the top four or five, that is not going to be easy.

We've seen how the demands of Champions League football has affected the league form of teams like Newcastle and Aston Villa in the past couple of years, especially now there are so many group games.

That is a big ask for this squad, to compete on both fronts.

We know this Tottenham team is better than 17th place, because they finished fifth in Postecoglou's first year, but other Premier League teams have improved since then.

Managing the revolving door at Brentford

Alex Brotherton

BBC Sport journalist

Little has fazed Thomas Frank during his tenure at Brentford, especially not player sales.

The reality of being a small fish in a big pond is that Brentford have to sell their top talents when suitable offers come in - key players Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins, David Raya, Said Benrahma and Neal Maupay fetched a combined fee of over £124 million.

This summer the Bees have already received an offer for striker Bryan Mbeumo worth £45m plus £10m in add-ons.

But Frank and the club's recruitment department have always found a way to replace top players with promising talents at cheaper prices.

That ability to cope with losing key players could come in handy at Spurs.

Frank starts fast

One noteable thing about Thomas Frank's Brentford this season was their appetite for scoring early goals.

The Bees scored inside 40 seconds in three successive Premier League games in September, a strategy devised by Frank and his coaching staff to catch opponents off guard.

"Of course there is planning that goes into it," Frank said. "We have a kick-off strategy and we tweak it from game to game. And as a mindset and philosophy, we like to get straight on the front foot and be positive.

"There are some margins going our way of course, but I want to give credit to the coaching staff and the players."

Tottenham have sacked head coach Robert Vilahamn after two years in charge.

The Swede led Spurs to their first Women's FA Cup final in May 2024 but his side finished second-bottom in this season's Women's Super League.

Relegated Crystal Palace were the only side to concede more goals than Tottenham and the club's points tally of 20 was 11 fewer than they recorded in the 2023-24 campaign.

"There have been some special moments during Robert's tenure," said women's managing director Andy Rogers.

"However, results and performances this season have not been to the level we would expect and now is the right time to make a change."

Tottenham Hotspur have exercised the option to extend Wales defender Ben Davies' contract, which will now run until the summer of 2026.

The 32-year-old is Spurs' longest-serving player, having joined from Swansea City in 2014.

Davies' current deal was due to expire this summer and Tottenham say they are "delighted" he will be staying for the 2025-26 season.

Capable of playing at left-back or centre-back, Davies has made 358 appearances in all competitions for Spurs, scoring nine goals and captaining the team 13 times.

He is currently with the Wales squad preparing for Monday's World Cup qualifier in Belgium.

Davies has regularly worn the captain's armband for his country in the absence of injured midfielder Aaron Ramsey and led Wales to a 3-0 win over Liechtenstein on Friday.

United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino has ruled himself out the running to replace Ange Postecoglou, saying a return to Tottenham at this point is "not realistic".

Postecoglou, 59, was sacked on Friday, despite leading the club to their first piece of silverware in 17 years with victory in the Europa League.

Pochettino, whose five-year stay at the club came to an end in November 2019, has been linked with a return to Tottenham.

But the Argentine, who was appointed US manager in October 2024, says he is happy in his new role.

"Today it's not realistic," said Pochettino, 53. "Look where I am. Look where we (his backroom staff) are. The answer is so clear.

Tottenham captain Son Heung-min says sacked manager Ange Postecoglou is a "legend" who has "changed the trajectory of this club".

Postecoglou, 59, was sacked on Friday just over two weeks after ending the club's 17-year wait for silverware with victory in the Europa League final.

Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League after losing 22 out of 38 matches.

"Gaffer. You've changed the trajectory of this club," Son posted on Instagram, external.

"You believed in yourself, and us, since day one and never wavered for a second. Even when others did.

"You knew what we were capable of all along. You did it your way. And your way brought this club the best night it's had in decades. We will have those memories for life.

"You trusted me with the captaincy. One of the highest honours of my career. It's been an incredible privilege to learn from your leadership up close. I am a better player and a better person because of you.

"Ange Postecoglou, you are a Tottenham Hotspur legend forever. Thank you, mate."

The South Korea winger was not alone in paying tribute to Australian Postecoglou.

Goalkeeper Vicario said, external: "Boss, I just want to say a massive thank you for everything you have done for me and for all of us.

"From that very first call, right from the beginning, you always showed so much belief in me.

"Giving me the opportunity to be part of the leadership group... those moments, and many others, will stay with me forever.

"You are not only a top manager, you are an incredible person to work for, a real leader, a mentor, and someone I'll always look up to.

"What we achieved TOGETHER will stay in the history books.

"Wishing you nothing but success as I know you will go on to achieve more and more.

"Thank you, Boss. Forever grateful, Vic."

Defender Micky van de Ven said, external: "Gaffer, Thank you for everything!

"Believed in me from the first day I arrived at the club. Many ups and downs in the last two years but you kept believing in us and kept pushing us.

"Big part of the success from the club this year, and forever grateful that u made me part of it.

"All the best."

Forward Dominic Solanke said, external: "Thank you for bringing me to this wonderful club, thank you for bringing us a wonderful trophy.

"Won't ever forget the convo we had before I signed and we achieved a dream! All the best in your next adventure."

Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust, external said the vast majority of fans will will "love Ange forever" although league results were a "long way short" of expectation.

The fans group called for Postecoglou's replacement to be "fully supported" by the club's board in order to build on the "cup success that Ange has lain".

Brentford boss Thomas Frank is among the leading candidates to replace Postecoglou, while Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola, Fulham's Marco Silva, Crystal Palace's Oliver Glasner and former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino are also linked with the vacancy.

Tottenham's euphoric players stepped off the plane the day after the night before and ventured straight into central London.

The squad, according to well-placed sources, ended up in trendy London nightspot Mistress of Mayfair to mark the club's Europa League final victory over Manchester United in Bilbao.

Once there, the players frantically waved white table handkerchiefs above their heads to a live rendition of Freed From Desire expertly played by the in-house saxophonist.

Their manager, Ange Postecoglou, was elsewhere - having a separate celebration in the capital.

Outwardly, the head coach's relationship with his squad appeared to be one of the strongest reasons to keep the 59-year-old.

Away from the glare of the cameras, however, there were cracks in that togetherness.

Now, just 16 days after victory in Bilbao, Postecoglou has been sacked after his customary second-season success.

Here we look at some of the key reasons - from a breakdown in relationships, to concern over injuries, tactics and signings - before assessing who might be next.

Public backing from a host of players - including key figures Cristian Romero and James Maddison - and the squad's determination to include Postecoglou in their on-pitch celebrations in Bilbao appeared to be an indication of deep connections.

But it had not gone unnoticed that Postecoglou had become increasingly distant from the squad in recent months.

At the start of his reign, the Australian would regularly have breakfast - certainly at away games - with the rest of his team.

Recently, however, his obligatory ham and cheese toastie had been delivered to his room by a member of staff.

On those away trips, it had been known for him not to be visible around the team hotel until noon.

As a result, some players started taking issues they'd usually approach Postecoglou with to other members of the backroom team.

But while Postecoglou may have maintained a divide between himself and his players in recent months, his loyalty to his staff cannot be questioned.

Indeed, it was said the biggest concern Postecoglou had about losing his job was his staff. He had been at pains to make sure they would be looked after.

The story of Tottenham's campaign started with the visit of one of European football's emerging 'Golden Boys'.

It is a little-known fact that Spurs' preparations for the 2024-25 campaign started with a visit from Desire Doue.

The talented attacker, then playing for Rennes, was so intrigued by Postecoglou's project he made an undercover visit to the club's training ground in Enfield amid optimism a deal could be done.

Fast forward nine months and Doue, who in the interim had signed for Paris St-Germain, was the star of the Champions League final.

In retrospect, Spurs' failure to lure him was a sign of what was to come - a series of blows during a truly forgettable domestic season.

It's important to stress their inability to land Doue, 20, wasn't for the want of trying - but while his reputation has soared, Tottenham and Postecoglou were left in despair all too often.

Speak to those behind the scenes at Tottenham and they will explain injuries have been the most pertinent factor behind their recent issues.

Romero, Son Heung-min, Dominic Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski, Micky van de Ven, Richarlison and Guglielmo Vicario are among the players to have spent extended spells on the sidelines this season - many with muscular issues.

Maddison, Kulusevski and Lucas Bergvall were all unavailable in Bilbao while Son started on the bench because he was deemed unfit having only recently returned from injury.

Multiple sources have told BBC Sport the club's injury record has been at the centre of some friction between members of the coaching team and medical and strength and conditioning staff over the course of the season.

"It's been the blame game," one well-placed source said.

Richarlison's injury-disrupted campaign has been a real bone of contention, according to sources, particularly in the aftermath of the 4-0 Carabao Cup defeat by Liverpool in February when, having only recently returned from hamstring and groin problems, the Brazil international injured a calf.

There have been other examples this season when Postecoglou's team and the medical and fitness department have not seen eye to eye.

Much has been made of Postecoglou's attacking approach or, more pertinently, the accusation he was unwilling to adapt.

"It's just who we are, mate," he famously said when questioned about his tactics earlier this season.

Some continue to call his apparent refusal to ditch his philosophy commendable. Others believe his stubbornness was the root of Tottenham's difficulties.

Certain members of the team felt during the first half of the season they were too open, and Postecoglou should have considered making defensive tweaks. The Australian's apparent reluctance to adapt led to a degree of internal frustration.

Letting a two-goal lead slip in the 3-2 loss at Brighton raised eyebrows, and there was similar angst in the 4-3 loss to Chelsea in December after Spurs raced 2-0 ahead inside 12 minutes.

Intriguingly, well-placed sources insist Postecoglou did tweak his defensive approach in both games.

Postecoglou was also widely praised for the way he set up his team sturdily in the Europa League quarter-final second-leg win over Eintracht Frankfurt.

Spurs were particularly robust in the comprehensive semi-final victory over Bodo/Glimt, too, then kept another clean sheet in Bilbao to finish the job.

Speaking in the aftermath of the Europa League final victory, Postecoglou made clear his hope he would stay in charge.

It seemed perfectly reasonable, with a trophy and Champions League qualification not generally leading to the sacking of a manager.

Unfortunately for Postecoglou, Daniel Levy simply wasn't for turning - the Tottenham chairman sticking with 'Plan A' to dispense with the Australian.

The euphoria and affection directed towards Postecoglou from players and supporters may have run some interference, but not enough to change the direction of travel.

Had Spurs lost to United, it is widely acknowledged Postecoglou would have been relieved of his duties before now.

Victory added some emotion into the equation - but clearly not enough for Levy to have a change of heart.

The delay in making the decision is the result of various factors. Most pertinently, Postecoglou, Levy and chief football officer Scott Munn - whose job is also under threat - were away last week.

But sources have also claimed Levy wanted to put time between the emotional outpouring that came after the final and making his decision.

At the heart of his thinking was Tottenham's 17th-place finish in the Premier League after 22 losses in 38 matches. In the end, he could not look past it.

In fact in the statement announcing his sacking, Spurs pointed out - with eye-opening precision - the team had taken 78 points from their past 66 games.

Attention will now turn to who replaces Postecoglou.

Multiple sources have told BBC Sport there is an interest in Brentford head coach Thomas Frank.

Frank has a good relationship with Spurs technical director Johan Lange, which could be a deciding factor when Levy comes to decide who he appoints.

It is understood consideration was given to the prospect of making an unlikely move for Eddie Howe, but Newcastle's qualification for the Champions League would, you imagine, nip that in the bud.

A return for Mauricio Pochettino would have significant support from fans but is a move that comes with a number of obstacles.

Pochettino is managing the United States, who will co-host next year's World Cup, and it would take a compensation package described to BBC Sport as one of the "biggest in football history" to release him.

Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola, Fulham's Marco Silva, recently appointed Al-Hilal boss Simone Inzaghi and Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner are among the others to have been considered.

So just a fortnight after Spurs were partying, all eyes are now on what present Levy delivers for the club.

The famous phrase "the game is about glory" echoes around the magnificent Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before every game as a call to arms and the club's mission statement.

They were the words of the legendary Danny Blanchflower, who captained Spurs to the league and FA Cup Double in 1961, the charismatic figure who epitomised the stylish image the club wished to portray.

Ange Postecoglou, the Australian manager who led Spurs to the first glory they have enjoyed in 17 years by winning the Europa League, has discovered in the most brutal manner that this message carries a hollow sound in the hands of chairman Daniel Levy.

Postecoglou followed that time-honoured Spurs mantra, fulfilling a promise to win a trophy in his second season. His reward for grabbing the glory was the sack.

In the statement confirming Postecoglou's dismissal after two seasons, Spurs revealed the new reality by saying: "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."

In other words, head not heart. Glory and emotion are welcome but are not the currency that carry most weight at Tottenham Hotspur these days.

Glory and emotion, at least under Levy, are not enough for Spurs any more, even though this chairman's only previous brush with success during his time as chairman was winning the League Cup with Juande Ramos as manager in 2008.

Postecoglou, justifiably, reflected on his work with "pride".

In a statement he said: "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."

When history tells the tale of Postecoglou's time at Spurs, it will remember the historic night in Bilbao when Manchester United were overcome in a manner his critics claimed was beyond him - organised, disciplined, tactically sound, victorious.

It will also recall a dreadful Premier League season and a 17th-place finish, with 22 defeats and only 11 victories, but Postecoglou's legacy will see him remembered as only the third Spurs manager to win a European trophy after the great Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw.

And this is why there was a strong case for Postecoglou keeping his job, with even the confirmation of his dismissal acknowledging he had established "a great platform to build upon".

Of course Postecoglou had flaws, such as his stubborn refusal to change his high-line, high-risk strategy, even when it was being exposed in his first season, but the Europa League showed he could do it differently, especially when a crippling injury list thinned out.

Many Spurs fans will feel it is right to sack Postecoglou, but others will believe his success earned him the right to a third season, an opportunity to build on the emotional scenes witnessed in Bilbao, then on the streets around Tottenham at the Europa League homecoming.

The Premier League placing will be 'Exhibit A' in the case against Postecoglou, but it is a reflection of the cold state of the game these days when securing a club's first silverware in 17 years sees you out of a job.

Comparisons will be made with Manchester United's ill-fated and expensive decision to keep Erik ten Hag last summer after they won the FA Cup, only to sack him in October, but they had also won silverware under his predecessors Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal.

Spurs, in contrast, were starved of trophies until Postecoglou changed all that. They had no recent history of winning until the Australian arrived following a brilliant spell at Celtic.

Postecoglou achieved something that was beyond those who went before him, illustrious names like Mauricio Pochettino, Mourinho and Antonio Conte, by providing Spurs with the glory they once regarded as their hallmark.

Former England striker and BBC pundit Alan Shearer made his feelings clear on X when he posted: "What a stupid game football is!"

And ex-Celtic striker Chris Sutton told BBC Sport: "I would love to know the thought process behind the decision to get rid of him. Is it saying the finance of the Premier League is the be-all and end-all? So finishing fourth or fifth in the Premier League and not winning a trophy is what matters.

"It is like they are morphing into Arsenal under Arsene Wenger at the end, if that's what is important.

"But money over glory sums up the owner, Daniel Levy, doesn't it?

"Nothing surprises me in football any more, so Postecoglou is better off out of it really - and maybe they can go back to being mediocre old Tottenham again now."

Sutton added: "To get someone in who wins them silverware, then straightaway get rid of him, that sums up modern football, doesn't it? It's absolutely bonkers."

It was Levy who grabbed the microphone at the post-match party in Bilbao and shouted: "We're champions.

"This has been a very long time coming - 1984 was the last time we won a European cup. Tonight was have made history and I want to thank Ange and all the coaching staff, all the players. You guys have gone down in history.

"This a magnificent achievement for the club and hopefully gets us on the road we absolutely deserve to be - which is at the very top."

If they achieve, or get anywhere near, to that target remains to be seen, but it will be done without Postecoglou, who clearly wanted to carry on in charge.

Levy was basking in the glory Postecoglou brought him, but this did not stop him taking a decision which he insisted could not be shaped by emotion.

The pressure and scrutiny will now switch back to Levy, who has followed his long track record of sacking managers who did not win trophies by sacking the one who did.

Postecoglou brought glory - only to learn the harsh lesson that it is not enough for Daniel Levy.