Firstpost

Helping Tottenham Hotspur win their first major trophy in 17 years wasn’t enough for Ange Postecoglou to save his job as manager, with the on Friday. The bombshell of an announcement came just half a month after Postecoglou’s men defeated Manchester United 1-0 in Bilbao to win the UEFA Europa League, adding a trophy to their cabinet for the first time since Juande Ramos’ side won the League Cup.

Tottenham however, had finished 17th in the 2024-25 Premier League season, just above the relegation zone, after 22 defeats in 38 games, which had already cast a shadow on his future at the north London club.

The was an aberration in what was ultimately a disastrous season for a team that had finished runners-up at the UEFA Champions League just six years ago. And for a club that was seen as a regular in the Premier League top six, fighting relegation certainly is embarrassing.

In the end, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy decided not to take a leaf out of Manchester United’s book and give Postecoglou another shot the way the ‘Red Devils’ extended Erik Ten Hag’s job last year, and made his exit official.

So who are the candidates likely to replace “Big Ange” at Spurs? We take a look at some of the names currently doing the rounds:

According to BBC Sport, Brentford boss Thomas Frank is a favourite to succeed Postecoglou as Spurs manager in the following season. The 51-year-old has been in charge of ‘The Bees’ since 2018 and has not only steered them into the Premier League from the Championship, he helped them finish 10th this season – seven places above Tottenham and five above United.

Also in contention is Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, whose team finished level on 56 points with Brentford but finished ahead at the ninth spot due to a superior Goal Difference. Iraola’s heroics in Spain – helping second-tier clubs Mirandes and Rayo Vallecano into the semi-finals of Copa del Rey and steering the latter into LaLiga – further helps boost his chances of landing the job at Tottenham.

Also in contention are Marco Silva and Oliver Glasner. While Silva’s Fulham finished just two points short of Bournemouth and Brentford, Glasner helped Crystal Palace pull off their biggest victory ever – a 1-0 victory over Manchester City in the League Cup final that helped them win the first trophy of its 120-year history and condemned Pep Guardiola to a trophyless season.

Is Pochettino set for a Spurs comeback?Â

Mauricio Pochettino managed the cub for five years from 2014 to 2019, helping the club make their only appearance in a Champions League final during this period besides finishing among the top three in three consecutive seasons (2015-2018). And though he did not win a trophy with the club during his time in charge, Pochettino certainly ranks among the greatest gaffers in Spurs’ history.

Pochettino has had one-year spells with Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea since he was sacked by Spurs just six months after the Champions League final, where they lost to Liverpool 0-2, and currently manages the United States men’s football team.

And when asked about the possibility for a second spell at his old club on Saturday, a day after Postecoglou’s firing, the Argentine chose to play down the talk.

“After I left in 2019, every time that I was free, and the place of the position of the manager or head coach in Tottenham Hotspur (was vacant), my name is appearing on the list.

“If you have seen the rumors, I think there are 100 coaches in the list. I think, don’t be worried about that,” Pochettino said during a press conference after USA’s 2-1 home defeat against Turkey in a friendly.

Pochettino added that a move back to Tottenham is “not realistic”, but did not rule out the possibility with absolute certainty.

“If something happened, you for sure you will see, but we cannot talk about this type of thing, because I think today, it’s not real. It’s not realistic. And look at where I am, where we are.

“And the thing is, the answer is so clear, no? But we’re talking about it because it’s my club, like Newells or Espanyol,” he added.

Erling Haaland scored twice as Manchester City pummelled West Ham 4-1 in the Premier League on Saturday while in-form Newcastle inflicted another painful defeat on Ange Postecoglou’s struggling Tottenham.

Chelsea’s recent woes continued with a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace, meaning they have taken just two points from four games over the festive period.

Defending champions City returned to winning ways at Leicester last week after a long lean spell and picked up three more points against Julen Lopetegui’s West Ham at the Etihad.

Pep Guardiola’s men took the lead in the 10th minute when Vladimir Coufal deflected Savinho’s cross past goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.

Savinho also had a hand in the second goal, shortly before half-time, beating his man twice before crossing to Haaland, who lost Max Kilman and headed home.

The same players combined for City’s third in the 55th minute, before Phil Foden joined the party for their fourth. The home side were denied a clean sheet by Niclas Fuellkrug.

West Ham appeared to have turned the corner last month but they have now conceded nine goals in two games following a 5-0 mauling at home by Premier League leaders Liverpool.

‘Angriest in career’

In the early kick-off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Newcastle came from behind to clinch a fifth straight Premier League win and heap more misery on injury-hit Spurs.

The home side went ahead in the fourth minute through Dominic Solanke.

Newcastle levelled two minutes later when Antony Gordon arrowed an effort into the bottom corner but Postecoglou stood in disbelief on the touchline looking at referee Andrew Madley after Joelinton intercepted Lucas Bergvall’s pass with his hand in the build-up.

VAR deemed Joelinton’s arm to be in a natural position and the contact to be accidental, which provoked a furious reaction from Tottenham’s bench and they were up in arms midway through the first half when the already-booked Dan Burn avoided a second yellow card for handball by the centre circle.

In-form Alexander Isak scored what turned out to be the winner towards the end of the first half.

The victory leaves Newcastle in fifth spot, which may yet prove enough to secure a place in the Champions League next season, but Spurs have slumped to 12th in the table after five defeats in seven matches.

Postecoglou said he was proud of his players but was the “angriest I think I have ever been in my career”.

“I think it’s clear,” said the Australian. “Now whether people agree with me or not whether it wasn’t handball or it was accidental, I’m just not interested in any of that discussion.

“I know what everyone wants me to say, but all I’ll say is that on any other day, on a fair and even playing ground, we would have won that game. Simple as that.”

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe admitted the ball hit Joelinton’s arm but said he was not in control of the referee’s decision.

“I believe his arm is down in a natural position and the referee and VAR have followed the rules and protocols that are in place,” he said. “That’s why it is given.”

Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea were closing in on Liverpool just two weeks ago but are now nine points behind the Reds, having played two games more.

The Italian made six changes for the match at Selhurst Park and his side took the lead when Jadon Sancho drove down the left and found Cole Palmer, who sliced a low shot into the bottom right corner.

The visitors enjoyed the bulk of possession but they could not capitalise and Jean-Philippe Mateta levelled in the 82nd minute.

Aston Villa beat relegation-threatened Leicester 2-1 at home with goals from Ross Barkley and Leon Bailey.

Brentford recorded a rare win on the road, smashing bottom side Southampton 5-0, and Bournemouth beat Everton 1-0.

Second-placed Arsenal are in action at Brighton in the 1730 GMT kick-off while Premier League leaders Liverpool host crisis-hit Manchester United on Sunday.

Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur, LIVE: Manchester United will be hoping to revive their fledgling Premier League campaign when they take on Tottenham Hotspur at the Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester on Sunday.

The ‘Red Devils’ currently find themselves outside the top-10, lying at the 11th spot with two wins and as many defeats along with one draw, conceding as many goals as they have scored so far (5).

United began their season with a 1-0 victory over Fulham at home but would suffer an away 1-2 loss at the hands of Brighton followed by a 0-3 hammering against Liverpool at home.

The Erik Ten Hag-managed side returning to winning ways with a 3-0 win against a 10-man Southampton, and after thrashing Barnsley 7-0 in the third round of the EFL Cup, were held to a goalless draw at Crystal Palace.

The Spurs aren’t much better off, sitting just one spot above United at 10th with as many wins, losses and draws. They began their season with a 1-1 draw against Leicester City away from home and collected their first win right after, thrashing Everton 4-0 at home.

Ange Postecoglou’s men, however, would suffer setbacks in their next two outings — losing to Newcastle 1-2 away and 0-1 at home against a depleted Arsenal in a fiercely-contested ‘North London Derby’. They had returned to winning ways last week with a 3-1 victory over Brenford.

Both managers are under a lot of pressure at the moment, with United boss Ten Hag having narrowly avoided the sack at the end of last season after his team defeated Premier League champions and city rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

Teams:

Manchester United: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martínez, Dalot; Mainoo, Ugarte; Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Zirkzee

Subs: Bayindir, Evans, Lindelof, Casemiro, Eriksen, Mount, Amad, Antony, Højlund.

Tottenham Hotspur: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Maddison, Kulusevski; Johnson, Solanke, Werner