June 11 – There are controversial managerial sackings. And then there is – make that was – Ange Postecoglou.
Rarely, if ever, has getting rid of a manager been so hotly contested as the decision by Tottenham Hotspur to dispense with the services of the man who led the club to their first European trophy for 41 years (becoming only the third Spurs manager to do so) – and their first major piece of major silverware for 17.
Even by chairman Daniel Levy’s notoriously ruthless standards, this was as unwarranted a firing as they come.
Yes, Spurs suffered a disastrous domestic campaign. Yes, they ended the Premier League season in 17th place – their lowest finish since 1976/77 – just one place above the unthinkable relegation zone. And yes, notwithstanding a squad ravaged by slew of injuries, they lost a joint club record 22 league fixtures. All in themselves justifiable reasons to consider change – were it not for what happened at the Europa League final in Bilbao last month.
How many people will remember the afore-mentioned statistics in years to come when compared to that euphoric night when Tottenham shrugged off their Spursy tag (dictionary definition: a term associated with Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, used to describe the team’s tendency to collapse or fail to capitalise on opportunities, particularly in crucial moments) and did something even their great rivals Arsenal haven’t done for five years – win a major trophy.
This is why there was a strong case for hanging on to Postecoglou for a third season whilst acknowledging that he had clear flaws in terms of how he set his team up to play. Yet instead, Spurs are searching for their 11th permanent manager since the turn of the century.
It was telling that in their statement, the club explained the need to “compete on multiple fronts” and that they could not base their decision on “emotions” alone, an implicit suggestion that they were far from happy with Postecoglou admitting that from February his priority was on winning the Europa League rather than league form.
Understandable concerns if he had come up short. But he didn’t. He gambled. And the gamble paid off with Levy among those who basked in the glory of Bilbao – only to put reputation first and sack the manager a few days later.
One passionate fan, clearly exasperated, wrote a heartfelt open letter to Levy – viewed multiple times on social media – denouncing him for sweeping away the desperately craved feelgood factor. He cited hope, pride and identity and accused Levy of turning Spurs back into a laughing stock.
He had a point. The club’s motto is ‘To Dare Is To Do’ and their historic club song specifically about glory. Not about finishing a season in a decent position but with no silverware to show for it. ‘Control over courage’ in the words of the afore-mentioned fan. And, he opined, “the last straw” for the current Spurs leadership.
In addition to those who were in Bilbao, no-one will ever forget the 200,000 delirious supporters lining the streets in and around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium two days after the defeat of Manchester United. Or the hero-worshipping response Postecoglou received when he took to the podium.
It went down a storm, with many of those who had initially wanted the Greek-Australian out because of the woeful league form changing their minds and prepared to give him another chance as a result of ending the club’s long trophy drought and, not insignificantly, securing Champions League football to boot.
The double achievement may not have been secured in the way the Tottenham hierarchy, and to be fair part of the fan base, would have ideally chosen. But the end result was exactly the same. This is the point.
Spurs may have lost several millions because of where they finished in the league but ironically that will be more than outweighed by prospective Champions League income. Which, with financial considerations supposedly so important, makes the decision to sack Postecoglou all the more baffling.
And now, instead of looking forward to steering Spurs into European club football’s most prestigious club competition after fulfilling to his pledge to win a trophy in his second season, Postecoglou’s “reward” is to look for another job, the feat in Bilbao not enough to save him.
He will doubtless have received a huge payoff (the reported figure is £4 million) but his farewell statement oozed class.
“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,” he wrote. “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.”
Emotional stuff and it begs the question, exactly what position in the league would have been sufficient to keep Postecoglou in the role? 16th? 10th? 6th? We will likely never know.
What we DO know is that according to multiple reports, Tottenham have turned their attention to Brentford’s Thomas Frank to become the latest to walk through the thorny Spurs managerial revolving door.
Frank has worked wonders establishing Brentford as a top-flight club year after year. His refreshing, approachable manner has long endeared him to fans and the media alike and he is said to get the best out of his players.
But he has no top-flight European experience at club level and taking over at Tottenham, if indeed that is what transpires, is a totally different kettle of fish in terms of managing expectations to doing the business at an unfashionable mid-table team.
Memories are short in football and if Frank (or whoever else is appointed) hits his strides early doors, the positivity that enveloped the fanbase in the wake of Tottenham’s European triumph could quickly return.
If not, the likeable Dane may be in for a rough ride…
