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Spurs players quickly take to social media to offer their thanks and gratitude to Europa League-winning boss

Embrace: Dominic Solanke was among the Tottenham players to show his support for the sacked Ange Postecoglou

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George Flood

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Tottenham stars have continued to show their public support for Ange Postecoglou following his sacking by the club.

Postecoglou was relieved of his duties as manager by Spurs on Friday evening on the two-year anniversary of his appointment, just two weeks after ending the club’s 17-year major trophy drought with victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final in Bilbao.

The Australian’s fate was ultimately sealed by a dismal Premier League campaign that saw Tottenham slump to a worst-ever 17th-place finish, just one spot above the relegation zone, losing 22 of their 38 matches and amassing only 38 points in total.

Spurs’ first trophy since 2008 and first success in Europe for more than 40 years meant that Postecoglou remained a hugely popular figure among players and fans alike despite those woeful domestic struggles, making the decision to sack him very controversial and divisive indeed.

The esteem in which the former Celtic boss is still held in the Tottenham dressing room was made abundantly clear by Spanish right-back Pedro Porro, who wrote on social media soon after his sacking: “Thank you for everything, boss.

“For mentoring me early on, helping me settle into the club, and trusting me out on the pitch. I’ll always be grateful for the way you led us, defended us, and kept us going through all the highs and lows.

“Above everything, you gave us one of the greatest moments in the club’s history and for that, you’ll always be celebrated. Wishing you all the very best, boss.”

Porro has since been joined by several Tottenham team-mates in expressing their thanks and gratitude to Postecoglou on Instagram, with central defender Micky van de Ven writing: “Thank you for everything! Believed in me from the first day I arrived at the club.

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“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.”

Midfielder Lucas Bergvall wrote: “Thank you for everything you have done for me. Thank you for bringing this club a European trophy and memories to last a lifetime for us and every Spurs fan around the world. Wishing you all the best.”

Brazilian forward Richarlison wrote: “Mister, massive thanks for helping me out and believing in me during one of the trickiest periods of my career and my life.

“Everyone who loves the Spurs will remember that Big Ange always bags trophies in his second season. We’ve made history! Cheers and good luck on your journey! I’ll always be rooting for you.”

Striker Dominic Solanke said: “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.”

Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario wrote a lengthy tribute to Postecoglou, which read: “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.”

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Tottenham fans have expressed their concern at “yet another change in direction” becoming a “habit” at the club as they paid tribute to the departing Ange Postecoglou.

Postecoglou was sacked as Spurs manager on Friday evening two years to the day since he was first appointed as the permanent successor to Antonio Conte, despite ending the club’s 17-year major trophy drought with victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final just two weeks ago.

The Australian ultimately paid the price for overseeing Tottenham’s worst-ever Premier League season in which they lost 22 of 38 games en route to finishing 17th in the table - one place above the relegation zone - and did not reach the 40-point mark.

In an official statement reacting to his dismissal, the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust (THST) hailed the former Celtic boss for providing them with memories to last a lifetime, though acknowledged that their Premier League struggles this term had been unacceptable.

“On behalf of our members and Spurs fans everywhere we would like to thank Ange Postecoglou for his passion and commitment during his two years at Spurs,” the THST said.

“The vast majority of fans will love Ange forever because of the incredible moments he gave us in the Europa League, culminating with our first trophy in 17 years and first European trophy since 1984.

“The memories of that amazing night in Bilbao and the victory parade will live forever in our hearts. They will become stories we will tell our children and our grandchildren.

“Spurs fans will understandably have different opinions on what comes next. Many would want to see whether Ange could have built on the new confidence he gave us and the players, next season.

“However the league results have been a long way short of what Spurs fans expect. We travel the length and breadth of the country to watch our team.

“We come from all over the World to support them. We pay amongst the very highest ticket prices in Europe. Twenty two league defeats in one season is not okay.”

The THST went on to express concern over another change in approach, with Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo, Conte and Postecoglou all now having come and gone since Mauricio Pochettino’s five-year stint at the helm was ended by his sacking in November 2019, plus interim coaches Ryan Mason and Cristian Stellini.

They called on the next manager to be fully backed in the transfer market this summer in order to build a squad capable of competing on multiple fronts next season as they return to the Champions League, an ambition that Tottenham pointed to as a key factor as to why they felt a change was needed.

“Our concern now is that it appears we will have yet another change of direction and that this is something that is becoming a habit since we said goodbye to Mauricio Pochettino in 2019,” added the THST.

“We can only hope that the right decision has been made and that the new manager is fully supported by the Board and everyone at the Club to build on the cup success that Ange has lain. He will need the finances to build a strong squad that can challenge simultaneously on many fronts.

“We wish whoever is appointed well. Spurs fans have had a taste of glory and we don’t want to wait another seventeen years for more.”

Search for new boss underway as attention turns to who will take over at Spurs

In the frame: Marco Silva, Thomas Frank and Oliver Glasner have all been considered by Tottenham

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Oli Gent

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Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Dan Kilpatrick

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Tottenham have confirmed the sacking of Ange Postecoglou.

The Australian leaves after guiding Spurs to Europa League glory at the end of a disappointing Premier League season in which they finished 17th.

Daniel Levy has already started his search for a new manager as attention turns to who will replace Postecoglou.

Here, Standard Sport assesses who is in the frame to take over...

Thomas Frank

After Harrogate Town’s Simon Weaver and Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Frank is the third-longest-serving manager in English football.

Buzzing Bee: Thomas Frank

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The Dane has spent almost seven years at Brentford and he his reputation has grown since he guided them to the Premier League in 2021.

The 51-year-old has alternated between a 3-5-2 and 4-3-3 shape in his time with the Bees, often plumping for the former against stronger opposition and the latter in games that his side are expected to win.

Brentford finished 13th in their first season in the Premier League, before an finishing 9th in 2022-23 when they only missed out on European football on the final day.

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In 2023-24, Frank had to contend with an injury-ravaged squad, and he kept the Bees afloat after a season of uncertainty. Last season, they finished 10th.

Andoni Iraola

The Bournemouth boss has excelled in his second season in charge at the Vitality Stadium.

Cherry blossom: Andoni Iraola

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The Cherries finished ninth in the Premier League and have played some scintillating football, securing some big scalps along the way.

They did the double over Arsenal, beat Manchester City 2-1, thrashed Manchester United at Old Trafford, and dismantled Nottingham Forest 5-0 at home.

Before his move to Bournemouth in 2023, Iraola built his managerial pedigree in his native Spain, taking Mirandes to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey for just the second time in their history in 2020.

He got Rayo Vallecano promoted to La Liga in 2021, before leading them into the last four of the Copa del Rey the following season.

The Spaniard tends to prefer a possession-based style of play, favouring a 4-2-3-1 shape - a blueprint that Spurs are used to.

Marco Silva

Another coach from the Iberian peninsula, Siva’s reputation in the English game has grown greatly during his four years at Fulham.

Premier League proven: Marco Silva

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He led Fulham to an immediate return to the Premier League in 2022, clinching the Championship title.

Since then, he has consolidated and progressed the Cottagers. He guided them to 10th in their first season back in the top-flight, before 13th and 11th finishes.

The Portuguese previously managed Hull City, Everton, and Watford.

On the continent, he has taken charge of Estoril and Sporting Lisbon in Portugal, and he won the Greek Super League in his one and only season at Olympiacos.

Oliver Glasner

FA Cup-winning manager has done a brilliant job at Crystal Palace and led them to their first ever major trophy at Wembley last month.

Palace chairman Steve Parish has made it clear that Glasner will be at Palace next season to lead the Eagles into the Europa League, but the Austrian is liked by top clubs around Europe.

Winner: Glasner led Palace to FA Cup glory this season

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He was a target for Bayern Munich during last summer and impressed with his work at Palace since taking over at Selhurst Park in February last year.

The FA Cup was his second major trophy as a manager after the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022.

Xavi

Perhaps a wildcard pick, Barcelona legend Xavi is still without a club since he left his boyhood club last year.

Wildcard: Barcelona icon Xavi

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The Spaniard’s first managerial role came in Qatar, where he led Al Sadd to seven trophies, as well as the semi-finals of the Asian Champions League in 2019, where they were defeated by Saudi side Al-Hilal.

He moved to Barcelona in November 2021 to replace Ronald Koeman, and he won La Liga in 2022-23, having won the league eight times as a player.

Across 142 games in the Barca dugout, Xavi won 89 of them, giving him a 62.68 win percentage.

In 2023, Xavi told Mundo Deportivo that he took “a little bit” from all the managers he played under, including Louis van Gaal, Frank Rijkaard, Pep Guardiola, and Luis Enrique.

He said that “I got my masters in man-management from [Luis] Aragonés [Spain manager from 2004-2008) and my masters in tactics from Guardiola.”

As is to be expected with Barcelona’s principles coursing through his veins, Xavi’s favoured system is a possession-based 4-3-3.

Other candidates

As for other names that have been linked with the vacancy at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino is a long-shot, having joined the United States national team in September 2024.

In his time in north London, the Argentine had a 54.27 win percentage, winning 159 of his 293 games in charge.

Familiar face: Mauricio Pochettino

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He took them to within an inch of the Premier League title in 2015-16, only to be pipped by Leicester City, and he also led them to the Champions League final in 2019.

Since then, he has taken charge of Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, but both spells were largely unfruitful.

Francesco Farioli has just left Ajax in wake of an end-of-season collapse that cost them the Eredivisie title.

Ajax were top of the Dutch top flight with a nine-point lead with seven games to go but ended up finishing a point behind champions PSV Eindhoven.

Burnley’s Scott Parker has also been linked with the Spurs job.

Parker, who played for Spurs between 2011 and 2013, took Burnley back to the Premier League at the first time of asking this season as they finished second in the Championship with more than 100 points.

Smooth operator: Scott Parker

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Before that, the former England international took charge of Fulham and Bournemouth, taking both clubs back up to the top flight from the Championship.

Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna would be returning to familiar surroundings if he joined Spurs.

The Northern Irishman played in the academy at Tottenham but did not make a first-team appearance.

Tractor Boy: Kieran McKenna

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Instead, a hip injury prevented him from developing as a player, and he pivoted into coaching, where he began plying his trade in the Spurs youth set-up.

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Tottenham coach Ryan Mason is set to land his first managerial role after agreeing to take over at West Brom, the PA news agency understands.

West Brom have been on the hunt for a new manager since Tony Mowbray was dismissed on April 21.

Mason quickly emerged as a leading candidate, but Spurs' roller-coaster 2024-25 campaign - in which they secured Europa League success - only ended on May 25. After a short holiday, the former England midfielder was given time to deliberate and has now decided to accept West Brom's offer.

It brings a seven-year coaching career at Tottenham to an end for Mason, who progressed through the club's academy to also play 70 times for his boyhood team.

Mason was forced to cut short his playing career in 2018 at the age of 26 after he sustained a fractured skull in a Premier League match for Hull away to Chelsea a year earlier.

A decade on from earning his solitary England cap against Italy, the London-born coach will embark on his first managerial role in the Championship.

Highly-rated coach Mason held talks with Belgian club Anderlecht in October before a mutual decision was made to remain at Spurs, which enabled the 33-year-old to play his part in the club's first trophy since 2008.

After two previous caretaker stints at Tottenham, including leading the club into the 2021 Carabao Cup final, Mason has long been tipped for a future in management.

Mason initially started coaching at youth level for Spurs upon his retirement in 2018 before being promoted to Antonio Conte's coaching staff three years later not long after a seven-game spell as interim boss.

Another caretaker role came in 2023 following Conte's departure before Ange Postecoglou kept Mason as part of his backroom team.

After a further two years as Tottenham first-team coach, Mason will take over West Brom after they finished ninth in the Championship.

Mowbray was dismissed in April after their play-off hopes ended despite only being hired in January to replace Carlos Corberan, who left to take over at Valencia.

Mason, whose contract at Spurs was up this month, will be tasked with leading West Brom back into the top flight for the first time since 2021.

Donna-Maria Cullen has been on the Spurs board since 2006 but is leaving in the first of a number of anticipated changes at the club this summer.

Cullen said: “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.

“She deserves recognition for the contribution she played in the formation of the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, which has positively impacted countless individuals in our communities, and in establishing the London Academy of Excellence, providing children with exceptional educational opportunities.

“Donna has pushed the conscience of the club to be at the forefront of environmental and diversity initiatives. She also played a crucial role in supporting the amateur part-time Spurs Ladies, enabling the development of our professional women’s team.

“Her daily input will be greatly missed, however she fully deserves to take time for herself, and I know that we shall be able to call upon her advice when needed. We wish her well for the future.”

Tottenham fans can be forgiven for wondering what might have been as Desire Doue played a pivotal role for Paris Saint-Germain in their stunning Champions League final success against Inter Milan.

Doue was the star of the show in Munich as sublime PSG utterly dismantled the three-time winners 5-0 at the Allianz Arena, recording the biggest-ever win in the showpiece game of European football’s elite club competition.

It was one of the greatest and most dominant Champions League final performances ever witnessed from PSG, who also finally ended their long wait for success on the continental stage having coveted it for so many years and lost to Bayern Munich on their only previous appearance in the final back in 2020.

Luis Enrique is only the sixth manager ever to win the Champions League with two different clubs and was deservedly showered with praise on an emotional night along with so many of his players, backing top scorer Ousmane Dembele to win the prestigious Ballon d’Or award.

However, most of the post-game celebrations rightly centred on Doue, who was virtually unplayable in a magical display as he lit up the final with a goal in either half following an early assist for Achraf Hakimi’s opening goal that set the tone for the night after just 12 minutes.

Doue - who turns 20 on Tuesday - was just the third teenager ever to score in the Champions League final and his latest phenomenal display to cap a remarkable season led to Rio Ferdinand suggesting that he will join Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal, 17, as long-term successors to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at the pinnacle of the game.

It has been a tremendous first campaign at PSG for Doue, who had showcased his significant potential in nearly 80 appearances for first club Rennes before being signed by their French rivals in a €50million (£42.1m) deal last August.

He has since registered 15 goals and 16 assists in 54 total appearances across all competitions, winning a first senior international cap for France and further embellishing his reputation as one of the world’s top young talents as part of a devastating PSG attack alongside Dembele, January signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Bradley Barcola, with whom he often rotates on the left flank.

But things could have been very different this season for Doue, who was on the radar of most of Europe’s top clubs last summer after his fine form at Rennes.

Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Bayern Munich were all linked with the precocious teenager at one stage or another, though it was Tottenham who looked to get the closest with Doue reportedly even visiting their Hotspur Way training ground before eventually opting to stay in France with PSG.

Spurs instead bolstered their wide options with the surprise £25m signing of Doue’s compatriot Wilson Odobert, who flashed glimpses of potential after joining from relegated Burnley but was restricted to just 22 appearances across all competitions due to injury and made only nine starts in the Premier League.

Tottenham also agreed with RB Leipzig to extend the loan spell of former Chelsea forward Timo Werner, though he very much flattered to deceive, faced public criticism from manager Ange Postecoglou and scored just once in 27 appearances, starting four top-flight games in total this season - the last of which was in February, with Werner also struggling with injury.

Spurs - who did at least get a good return on their £65m outlay on England striker Dominic Solanke as they lifted the Europa League against Manchester United in Bilbao to end their 17-year wait for a major trophy - went on to sign Bayern Munich’s French forward Mathys Tel on loan in January with the option for a permanent summer transfer, though it remains to be seen if that clause will be triggered after he scored only three times in 20 outings in north London.

The annual match will be contested at Udinese’s Stadio Friuli (otherwise known as Bluenergy Stadium) on Wednesday, August 13, 2025 - two days before the start of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign.

This meeting pits the holders of the two main European club competitions from the 2024/25 season which means newly-crowned Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain will face Spurs following their Europa League success.

Tottenham booked their Super Cup place by overcoming Manchester United in the all-English Europa League final earlier in the month as Brennan Johnson’s goal on the stroke of half-time proved to be the difference.

As a result, after going 17 years without winning a major trophy, the north London outfit will have the chance to win a second in the space of three months when they face PSG in Italy at the start of next season.

That said, the Parisians know how to get the job done against Premier League opposition.

En route to Saturday’s Champions League final, PSG overcame Liverpool, Aston Villa and then Arsenal before producing a dominant display against Inter Milan to win the competition for the first time in their history.

The current holders of the competition are Real Madrid. The last English side to win the Super Cup were Manchester City a couple of seasons ago, whilst a French side has never emerged victorious.

Tottenham have confirmed the £21million permanent signing of Kevin Danso as five players exit the club.

Spurs have also confirmed that Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s loan move to Marseille has been made permanent, understood to be for a fee of around £17m.

Danso, who joined Spurs on loan from Lens in January, and was part of the Europa League final-winning squad, has agreed a five-year deal which will begin on June 1.

The 26-year-old made 15 appearances for Spurs since his arrival, including a late cameo against Manchester United in Bilbao as the club ended their 17-year trophy drought.

Forster, 37, leaves the club after making 34 appearances across three years. Reguilon departs after five years, and loan spells with Atletico, Manchester United and Brentford.

Whiteman is an academy graduate and made one senior appearance, coming in November 2020.

Werner will return to RB Leipzig after spending 18 months on loan at Spurs, in which time he scored three goals. His last appearance came in February before suffering a hamstring injury.

Tottenham are yet to provide an update on the future of fellow loanee forward Mathys Tel, whose loan deal expires at the end of June and can be bought for around £45million.