Football London

Tottenham are now looking for a new head coach after Ange Postecoglou was brutally sacked on Friday.

Winning the Europa League was not enough for the Australian and ultimately it was Spurs' atrocious Premier League form that cost him his job. "The board has unanimously concluded that it is in the best interests of the club for a change to take place," Tottenham said in a statement.

Brentford manager Thomas Frank is the favourite to take over from Postecoglou, although the likes of Marco Silva, Xavi and Andoni Iraola are also reportedly in the running. Chairman Daniel Levy and new Spurs chief executive Vinai Venkatesham are set to lead the search for a new boss, with the club confirming any news of an appointment "will be announced in due course".

Spurs would have to pay a fee to obtain Frank's services, although it's said Tottenham chiefs have already met with intermediaries to discuss a potential move for the Brentford boss. So, should the Lilywhites make their move for Frank? Is the Dane the right man? football.london's writers have their say, below.

Sam Truelove

I do like Thomas Frank. My only concern is whether the 51-year-old can make the jump from mid-table Premier League to the Champions League.

The Danish coach has done a spectacular job at Brentford since becoming their head coach in 2018, taking them from the Championship and turning them into European contenders in the Premier League. Tottenham would be a totally different job, though, and the pressure would ramp up significantly.

There are not many names out there that excite me at the minute and Frank probably deserves his shot. He needs time and a few transfer windows though, which he has been given at Brentford, to mould the team how he would like. Postecoglou was given two years and won the club's first trophy in 17 years and it still wasn't enough. Good luck, Thomas.

Verdict: Appoint Thomas Frank

Lee Wilmot

The problem I have with sacking Ange Postecoglou is that many of the names to replace him at Tottenham are pretty underwhelming. Daniel Levy's message was that he wants someone capable of challenging on all fronts, something Postecoglou openly failed to do this season when prioritising - rightly in the end - the Europa League.

Thomas Frank has barely had any experience of European football, but, anyone out there always need to be given their first opportunity by someone and that looks like it could be Spurs.

Frank certainly plays the kind of football that will get the Tottenham fans on board, it's high intensity, possession-based and it's clear to see he's done an incredible job with Brentford.

If he brings Bryan Mbeumo with him, I'm all for it! Frank certainly looks like the best candidate out there if Andoni Iraola is staying at Bournemouth, as it appears, and with Mauricio Pochettino never likely to leave the USA job before the World Cup.

Verdict: Appoint Thomas Frank - reluctantly

Amie Wilson

The job that Thomas Frank has done at Brentford is brilliant, and, as much as I hate this as a fan of one of the ‘smaller’ clubs, he does deserve the chance to take the step up and prove himself at one of the ‘big six’.

I rate him as a manager and he always comes across brilliantly in interviews that I’ve seen. My one reservation is that he’s been at Brentford for so long that the club is pretty much built around the way he works, which wouldn’t necessarily be the case at Spurs.

Sometimes a manager just fits a club and a club fits the manager, who then struggles when moving on to other clubs. Could that be the case with Frank?

It’s a risk that I think Tottenham will however have to take, the manager has done a brilliant job in his time at Brentford. He deserves the chance to show he can now do it elsewhere too.

Verdict: Appoint Thomas Frank

Tom Coley

Frank is a wonderful manager. He has had the time to build at Brentford and it really feels like his club. There is a lot to like, and without insulting Tottenham, this feels like the step up without being a leap right to the very, very top that he deserves.

Let us not forget that Frank had an attacking Brentford side in the Championship before adapting to life in the Premier League. In terms of his flexibility, he is the complete opposite of Postecoglou.

The worry is, can anyone actually achieve at Tottenham in this state? And by achieve, this means in the league. There was such unrest throughout the season at Postecoglou and Levy. The anger directed towards the board and the chairman is not going to die down.

Frank is the sort of character who looks able to deal with this but whether or not he can steer the club forward is another question. It feels like a hard job for anyone. Tottenham could do a lot worse than Frank, though.

Verdict: Appoint Thomas Frank

Hannah Pinnock

It may be a somewhat underwhelming pool of candidates, but Thomas Frank easily stands out. His record at Brentford speaks for itself, especially considering they’re a club consistently punching above their weight.

Frank is, at the very least, a Premier League-proven manager, and reports have often highlighted his man-management as a particular strength. It also speaks volumes that he was reportedly under consideration at Manchester United before they eventually appointed Ruben Amorim as Erik ten Hag’s replacement last year.

The Dane has previously suggested that managing one of England’s top clubs could be the kind of challenge he needs - and what better challenge than guiding Spurs back into the Champions League? It’s also worth noting that Brentford suffered significantly fewer injuries than Tottenham last season, according to PhysioRoom, which is something to consider given the sheer number of issues Postecoglou had to navigate throughout the campaign.

Tottenham are in the market for a new manager after chairman Daniel Levy made the ruthless decision to sack Ange Postecoglou on Friday evening.

Little more than two weeks on from Spurs' incredible UEFA Europa League triumph in Bilbao, Spain, Postecoglou was sent packing and attention immediately turns to who will take over in N17.

Thomas Frank is the overwhelming favourite, with Spurs reportedly in talks with the Brentford boss even before the news of the Australian's sacking on Friday night.

But there are more names in the frame to replace Postecoglou, and reports in Portugal actually suggest another boss is "very close" to taking over - Marco Silva.

Silva has been the Fulham manager for the past four seasons, turning the Whites into an established Premier League club. Prior to that he enjoyed spells at Everton, Watford and Hull in England.

The Portuguese has been linked with a number of bigger jobs in the past few years, given his work at Craven Cottage and could now be on track to take over in north London.

Record in Portugal, via Sport Witness, state: "Marco Silva is set to swap Fulham for Tottenham. Marco Silva is very close to taking over as Tottenham coach.

"Record knows that the agreement between the parties is close to being reached and everything suggests that the Portuguese coach will succeed Ange Postecoglou, who was fired yesterday.

"Everything points to Marco Silva being the chosen one."

Postecoglou prioritised the Europa League this season when there was no chance of finishing in the European places in the Premier League nor getting relegated from the top flight.

And it is clear in the Tottenham statement that challenging on multiple fronts is key for the new manager.

The Spurs statement read: "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. 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."

Tottenham will once again head to Asia as they prepare for the 2025/26 campaign. After visiting Japan and South Korea 12 months ago, this year the Lilywhites, who will have a new man at the helm following Ange Postecoglou's dismissal on Friday evening, will return to South Korea but also play a match in Hong Kong.

Fierce rivals Arsenal will be Tottenham's opponents at Kai Tak Stadium on Thursday, July 31 in what is set to be the first North London Derby played outside of the UK. Tottenham then have a friendly against Newcastle United to come in South Korea, with a date still needing to be confirmed for the match.

Prior to their UEFA Super Cup final clash with Champions League winners PSG in Udine, Italy, Tottenham will once again face Harry Kane's Bayern Munich after playing them twice last summer. This time the match takes place at the Allianz Arena in Munich on Thursday, August 7.

As ever, a number of the club's youngsters will make the pre-season tour squad and game time could potentially be there for them as they look to force their way into the 2025/26 season plans. But who exactly could be given a chance in the friendly games? football.london takes a look at each position below.

Goalkeepers

Unless he has already secured a loan move elsewhere, Josh Keeley should be in a good position to make the squad for the pre-season tour. The shot-stopper was outstanding during his season with Leyton Orient and Tottenham fans are desperate to see him in action.

The issue for Keeley, though, is the likes of Guglielmo Vicario, Antonin Kinsky and Brandon Austin are ahead of him in the pecking order right now. The Irishman will be keeping his fingers crossed that he gets an opportunity to play.

Defenders

George Abbott got a decent amount of minutes to his name last summer and impressed when he was on the pitch for Postecoglou. Subsequently joining Notts County on a season-long loan deal in August, the academy star will return a much better player after making a real impression for the League Two club.

Abbott should be in a strong position to feature again in pre-season due to his versatility. Alfie Dorrington unfortunately missed out Tottenham's 2024 pre-season schedule but he did go on to make his senior bow off the bench in the win over Southampton in December.

Spending the second half of the campaign on loan with Aberdeen, the 20-year-old will be desperate to get an opportunity on the tour of Asia after his absence 12 months ago. Ashley Phillips is also in the same boat as Dorrington as he is still waiting for his Tottenham chance and he could quite easily head out on loan next season.

Even in the first couple of friendlies at Hearts and QPR when Postecoglou had no senior centre-backs at his disposal, Phillips had to settle for a place on the bench before coming on. It really is a big pre-season for the ex-Blackburn Rovers man as his Tottenham career has failed to get off the ground so far.

This summer may also give fans their first glimpse of Luka Vuskovic in a Tottenham shirt. The young Croat was excellent during his season-loan loan spell with Westerlo in Belgium and he appears to have a huge future ahead of him.

Tottenham pulled off quite the transfer coup when they confirmed his arrival in September 2023 and just why they wanted to quickly tie a deal up for him may become clear for all to see in pre-season.

Midfielders

Jamie Donley delivered some sensational performances for Leyton Orient during his year on loan and an opportunity in the Tottenham XI will likely come his way. Given the injuries Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison sustained at the end of the season, Donley could even be handed a starting berth in an attacking midfield role.

He just needs a sustained run of games to show that he can play a part for Tottenham next season. Alfie Devine is someone who has wowed over the past couple of summers but has always headed out on loan rather than remaining in N17.

Donley's recent development could potentially impact Devine but all will become clear in pre-season. It is a big summer for the ex-Port Vale loanee as he bids to make his name at Tottenham.

Callum Olusesi was a regular in the Tottenham squad at times last season due to the amount of injuries the team had to contend with. He did go on to make his senior debut in the Europa League win away at Hoffenheim but he was never introduced from the bench after that.

Olusesi will be hoping that opportunities do come his way across pre-season as it is the game time he requires right now to show that he can be a part of Tottenham's future.

Attackers

Mikey Moore and Will Lankshear were shining lights on Tottenham's pre-season tour last summer. The former really caught the eye and contributed with goals against Hearts and Vissel Kobe, with the latter finding the net against the Scottish side and Team K League.

Lankshear did in fact move ahead of Alejo Veliz and Dane Scarlett during the pre-season campaign and got a good amount of minutes to his name. Scarlett really needs everything to come together for him in the summer.

The striker underwent groin surgery towards the end of the season to ensure that he is ready to make his mark in pre-season. Scarlett, who scored in the Europa League win over Elfsborg, did have an impact in his game time during the second half of the campaign and he could be a good third-choice striker option for the team next term.

Damola Ajayi also scored in the Elfsborg game and minutes could potentially follow this summer. Finally, Yang Min-hyeok could prove to be a very popular figure in South Korea as he returns to his homeland following his move to Tottenham from Gangwon FC.

The winger did not feature for Spurs prior to going on loan to QPR, where he went on to impress in what remained of the Championship season. It remains to be seen what Spurs have planned for Yang going into next term but they will want to take a good look at him before making their final decision.

Harry Redknapp believes the writing was on the wall for Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham as soon as Daniel Levy refused to back him publicly after the Europa League final last month. On Friday, Spurs confirmed that the Australian had been sacked.

Despite winning the club's first trophy in 17 years, Postecoglou was dismissed following a 17th-place Premier League finish. In a statement, Tottenham explained that "the board has unanimously concluded that it is in the best interests of the club for a change to take place."

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

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

"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. 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."

They are now searching for yet another new head coach after appointing Postecoglou during a roller coaster summer in 2023 when Arne Slot was initially targeted. For Redknapp, there was only one decision coming.

"I thought it was a certainty," he told talkSPORT. "[It] doesn't shock me at all because Daniel has had two weeks since the cup final to have come out and say, 'look, he's our manager. Why all this speculation? He's here for next season.' From day one, after that cup, he never came out, Daniel, and said a word, Daniel Levy. I knew then, for sure, he was finished. It was a certainty. It is not a shock in any shape or form to me."

The reaction to the sacking has been split. On one hand, Postecoglou ended Tottenham's wait for major silverware and delivered a night of immense joy that cannot be rivalled in recent times.

He had grown to be an unpopular figure throughout the season, though, with increasingly abject domestic performances culminating in 22 defeats from 38 league games. It was Levy who felt the brunt of the protests from supporters due to his running of the club.

For Redknapp, the Europa League was not enough. "It's harsh," he started, before adding, "Well, it's a difficult one. They were atrocious this year, Tottenham, let's be honest. The league form, fourth from bottom, they've had a shocker. And great, they won the cup, you can win a cup.

"I read Graeme Souness' article the other day, I won a cup. Sometimes you get the luck of the draw and you can do this or do that. They beat Man United. It could have gone either way in the final. But great, they won the cup.

"Look, overall, I suppose Daniel is looking at it and thinking, hang on, [Erik] Ten Hag last year, Man United kept him and they went out and bought some players under his leadership and then suddenly they sack him.

"Now, are they going to take a chance with Ange? Bringing three or four or five new players and then suddenly things haven't improved in the league by Christmas. Then he's got to go and you're stuck with players that he may have brought in.

"Daniel will be looking at all those things. It's harsh. I like him. He looks a good guy. I'd have liked to see him given more chance this year but it was never going to happen once Daniel didn't come out and support him."

What does Redknapp think Levy is after, ultimately? "He's going to want to be up there in that top four, challenging." For many, Tottenham may well be back to square one.

Thomas Frank looks set to be the man to replace Ange Postecoglou as Tottenham head coach.

Postecoglou was relieved of his duties in N17 on Friday evening after a crazy season in north London. Tottenham lifted their first piece of silverware in 17 years when they won the UEFA Europa League by beating Manchester United in Bilbao.

But Spurs finished the Premier League season just one place above the relegation zone after a record-worst 22 defeats. Postecoglou had made the decision, midway through the season, with no threat of relegation and no hope of finishing in the European places, to focus on the Europa League, and it paid off.

There was consternation among many behind the scenes at the club with that decision to prioritise Europe and that was one of the overlying reasons why he was sacked.

Frank will now be tasked with taking the reins - if he is the one to get the nod as he is the overwhelming favourite with the bookmakers to arrive in N17.

Tottenham officials have reportedly held talks with the Dane, who has spent the last seven years with Brentford, turning the Bees into an established Premier League outfit.

In a statement on Postecoglou's sacking, the Spurs board sent a clear 12-word message to the new manager before he has even started.

In a nod to that Postecoglou decision to prioritise the Europa League campaign, the statement read: "It is crucial that we are able to compete on multiple fronts."

The statement went on that the club "believe a change of approach will give us the strongest chance for the coming season and beyond".

It is clear that, with Spurs in the UEFA Champions League next season, as a result of that Europa League success, challenging for one trophy - and even winning it - is not enough. Expectations are much higher.

Tottenham's players are "angry" about how the situation surrounding Ange Postecoglou's eventual sacking was handled by the club's board, it has been claimed.

Spurs confirmed in a statement on Friday afternoon that Postecoglou had been relieved of his duties "following a review of performances and after significant reflection".

They added: "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."

Postecoglou's dismissal comes just 16 days after he led Tottenham to their first piece of major silverware in 17 years. Spurs beat Manchester United to win the Europa League in Bilbao.

However, Tottenham's form in the Premier League was dismal. In fact, Spurs finished 17th in the top flight, their lowest finish since the 1976/77 season, having lost 22 of their 38 fixtures.

Despite this, The Telegraph has reported that Postecoglou's departure has angered a number of Tottenham players, with some now wanting to leave. It's added that his replacement will face a huge task to repair a broken dressing room. Thomas Frank has emerged as the frontrunner to succeed Postecoglou.

A source told the newspaper: "The players are so angry about what has happened and how it has been handled. The next manager is going to inherit a difficult situation."

As well as Postecoglou, chief football officer Scott Munn has been sacked by Daniel Levy, the club chairman. Former managing director of football Fabio Paratici, who could return to Tottenham in a full-time role and has remained a consultant to Levy, is anticipated to have a significant impact in Postecoglou's replacement.

Postecoglou, who had been left in the dark for two weeks before he was informed of the decision, issued a heartfelt statement to the Tottenham fans after he was sacked.

Postecoglou said: "When I reflect on my time as manager of Tottenham Hotspur my overriding emotion is one of pride. 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 the foundation 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 need 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. Audere est Facere. Ange."

Tottenham fans won't have to wait too much longer to start planning their travel arrangements for the new Premier League campaign. It may only be two weeks ago that the 2024/25 Premier League campaign drew to a close but next season's fixtures will be released very soon indeed.

Tottenham will have a new man in the dugout on the opening day following the decision to part with Ange Postecoglou on Friday evening. Thomas Frank of Brentford is the early favourite to replace the Australian.

Wednesday, June 18 is the big day all supporters across the country are waiting for, with fixtures for all 20 clubs released at 9am sharp. The new season will then commence on the weekend of Saturday, August 16.

Leeds United, Burnley and Sunderland are back in the top flight after gaining promotion, replacing Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Southampton who all returned to the Championship at the first time of asking. So, ahead of fixture release day, what are the best and worst case scenarios for Tottenham on the opening weekend of the new season? football.london take a look below.

Best case

Promoted club at home

Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland are back at England's top table after successful 2024/25 seasons in the Championship. All eyes will be on who the trio get on the opening day.

A home game against either would suit Tottenham but away fixtures perhaps wouldn't be the ideal start. The trio, who will still be riding the promotion high, would be looking to get off to the best possible start and would be backed by raucous home crowds on the opening weekend.

Sunderland or Burnley would probably be the pick for many from the promoted clubs.

Bottom-half rival at home

The 2024/25 Premier League season was one to forget for Tottenham as they finished 17th. Spurs could have finished as high as 14th on the final day of the campaign but they lost against Brighton & Hove Albion and other results went against them.

As it was fairly close in the standings between themselves Wolves, Manchester United and West Ham, an opening day fixture against one of the aforementioned sides may suit them, especially if it is at home. Everyone hopes for a home game on the opening weekend and Spurs will be keeping their fingers crossed that is the case come fixture release day.

Chelsea or Manchester City at home?

You may question why Chelsea and Manchester City are in this category but there is a reason. Both sides are taking part in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup this summer and they could be playing matches into the middle of July if they are to reach the latter stages of the competition.

As a number of players may have gone straight into international action after the Premier League season had ended before then heading to the Club World Cup, it remains to be seen what their fitness levels will be like come the opening day of the Premier League season. Both do have decent size squads, though, and will be able to rotate if required.

It may in fact be a good time to play one of Chelsea or Manchester City rather than wait until later in the season when they are up to full speed.

Worst case

North London Derby

You don't tend to see rival teams pitted against each other in a huge derby on the opening weekend of the season. A match against Arsenal is the last thing Spurs would want given their disastrous record against them recently.

The Gunners look set to make some big moves in the transfer market and they will be keen to get off to the best possible start after once again missing out on a trophy. It would be some fixture if Tottenham and Arsenal were to open the season against each other.

Liverpool home/away

Liverpool are another team Tottenham will want to avoid at all costs in their first Premier League fixture of 2025/26. The Reds cruised to only their second ever Premier League title and they hit Tottenham for five at Anfield on the day they were officially crowned champions.

Spurs do not fare well at all at Anfield and they will be keen to avoid meeting them first up.

Tough away day

The last thing Tottenham will want in their first game of 2025/26 is a tough away day. Tottenham were wretched on the road across the 2024/25 season and only managed to win five of their 19 away fixtures in the league.

Given the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Arsenal and Newcastle United were so strong at home, Tottenham will not want to be travelling to one of those six teams.

The club-trained and foreign player issues that have plagued Tottenham in recent seasons will continue to be a major issue during the 2025/26 season. Tottenham may have finished the campaign 17th in the Premier League table but they will be playing in Europe once again as a result of their Europa League triumph.

Spurs' final victory over Manchester United means they will be involved in the Champions League for the first time since the 2022/23 season. Come the start of September following the closure of the summer transfer window, the north London club will have to submit 25-man squads for both the Premier League and Champions League.

The regulations do differ between both competitions, though, and this has proved troublesome in the past. In the Premier League, there is a limit of 17 non-homegrown players and the rest of the squad, up to a total of 25 players, must be homegrown.

Clubs also name a separate list of Under-21 players, which in turns help out when it comes to the main 25-man squad. For the 2025/26 Premier League season, Under-21 players will have been born on or after January, 1 2004.

In the Champions League, clubs again need to submit a 25-man playing squad but the rules differ slightly and it has caused Tottenham a real headache in years gone by. As is the case with the Premier League, the maximum number of non-homegrown players in a 25-man squad is 17.

The rules then say that "as a minimum, eight of those 25 places are reserved exclusively for 'locally trained players' and no club may have more than four 'association-trained players' listed among those eight places. If a club have fewer than eight locally trained players in their squad, then the maximum number of players on List A is reduced accordingly".

The issue for Tottenham at present is they have a large number of non-homegrown and association-trained players and barely any club-trained players. Some players who are young enough to be included on the B-List, such as Lucas Bergvall and Wilson Odobert, cannot be named on there as they haven't been with the club for the required amount of time (A full breakdown of the club's non-homegrown and homegrown numbers for the Champions League can be found here).

As things stand right now, Brandon Austin will be the only club-trained player on Tottenham's books after it was confirmed that Alfie Whiteman will depart following the conclusion of his contract on June 30. The departures of Harry Winks, Oliver Skipp and Harry Kane over the past two seasons has seen the amount of club-trained players fall dramatically.

Tottenham will then have one less association-trained player to consider for their squad as Fraser Forster is also leaving at the end of his contract this month. The experienced shot-stopper should have plenty of options ahead of next season, with former club Newcastle United linked with a move for the 37-year-old.

Newcastle are so well stocked in goal right now but there looks set to be some movement in the goalkeeping depart with Nick Pope, Odysseas Vlachodimos, Martin Dubravka, John Ruddy and Mark Gillespie all on the books. Ruddy had looked poised to depart but Newcastle confirmed in a statement on Friday that they have opened discussions with the goalkeeper about his future and a new contract could still be agreed.

Some may question the talk of Forster returning to Newcastle given the amount of goalkeepers at the club but it's something that makes complete sense as they also have homegrown player issues for next season's edition of the Champions League. As reported by ChronicleLive, the Magpies, just like Tottenham, only have one club-trained player on the books right now with the recent exits of Elliot Anderson and Paul Dummett leaving Sean Longstaff as the only one who ticks the boxes in regards to that category.

The addition of Forster, though, would help Newcastle and ensure that Eddie Howe has at least two club-trained players as part of his 25-man squad for the Champions League. Born in Hexham and joining the Magpies when he was 15, Forster spent a number of years with the club before departing for Celtic on a permanent basis in 2012 after five separate loan spells away.

He never got to make a senior appearance for his boyhood club but the chance could potentially arise if he signs on at St James' Park upon the expiration of his Tottenham contract. At a time when Tottenham are struggling with their own homegrown player issues in the Champions League, Forster may be about to help Newcastle out with theirs.

England head coach Thomas Tuchel has admitted he feels "huge sympathy" for Ange Postecoglou after Tottenham sacked the Aussie on Friday.

Spurs confirmed in a statement on Friday afternoon that Postecoglou had been relieved of his duties "following a review of performances and after significant reflection".

They added: "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."

Postecoglou's dismissal comes just 16 days after he guided Spurs to their first major piece of silverware in 17 years. Tottenham beat Manchester United to win the Europa League in Bilbao.

However, Tottenham's Premier League form has been alarming for some time. Indeed, Spurs finished 17th in the top flight, their lowest finish since the 1976/77 season, after losing 22 of their 38 fixtures.

But after it was announced that Tottenham had sacked Postecoglou, Tuchel offered some compassion for the 59-year-old and said that every manager will relate to the "horrible" feeling of losing their job.

Speaking in a press conference ahead of England's World Cup qualifier against Andorra in Barcelona, Tuchel said: "That is the job, basically. I feel for every manager and have huge sympathy for every manager as I have been in the same spot and it feels horrible.

"It is not only about titles, you can survive seasons without titles if your connection with the support and it is strong between the club and the manager.

"If there is slight disbelief, if the trust is not there, it is sometimes not enough to win a trophy after so many years. He said he would deliver a trophy in the second year and he did, but this is part of the job - we are responsible for the result and the development of the team."

Following his dismissal, Postecoglou issued a heartfelt statement and thanked the Tottenham fans for their support during his two years in north London.

Postecoglou said: "When I reflect on my time as manager of Tottenham Hotspur my overriding emotion is one of pride. 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 the foundation 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 need 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. Audere est Facere. Ange."

Tottenham have made the decision to sack Ange Postecoglou, despite him leading the north London club to Europa League glory last month. Spurs won Europe's second-tier competition after beating Manchester United 1-0 in Bilbao, with Brennan Johnson's first-half strike the difference.

However, that couldn't keep Postecoglou at Tottenham, as a 17th-place finish in the Premier League - the club's lowest since 1976/77 - was the biggest contributing factor to his dismissal. Spurs lost 22 of their 38 top-flight fixtures last season, the joint-most in their 143-year history.

Spurs confirmed in a statement on Friday afternoon that Postecoglou had been relieved of his duties "following a review of performances and after significant reflection".

They added: "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."

Thomas Frank has emerged as the leading contender to replace Postecoglou, while Mauricio Pochettino has been linked with a shock return, with Kieran McKenna and Marco Silva among the others in the frame.

Here, football.london take a look at whether sacking Postecoglou was the right decision and who Tottenham should pick to replace him...

Kieran King

Daniel Levy has received a lot of backlash from Tottenham fans for sacking Postecoglou, but I think he has made the correct decision. Yes, you can't ignore the Europa League success and winning their first major piece of silverware for 17 years, but overall, it was a disappointing season.

Finishing 17th in the Premier League with a staggering 22 losses is unacceptable for a club the size of Tottenham, and their drab top-flight form stretched back to the second half of last season. Even if Postecoglou was unfortunate with injuries, he still had a squad to win more matches.

Losses at home to Leicester and Ipswich stick out like a sore thumb and that should not have happened. Tottenham must be better in the league next season and I don't think Postecoglou is the man to take them forward, meaning appointing a new manager is the right thing to do.

Looking at who could replace the Aussie, I think that Andoni Iraola should be Tottenham's first choice candidate. His attacking, high-press style of football would suit the Spurs squad and could appeal to the fanbase, plus his record at Bournemouth is outstanding and I believe he could take that to north London.

Jack Flintham

I have always said with this decision that Spurs may need to take a leaf out of Manchester United's book and showed they have learnt the lessons of Ineos. Sir Jim Ratcliffe panicked and gave Erik ten Hag a contract extension after he masterminded victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

That decision is one of his worst to date. They gave him another transfer window and set the club back even further in their return to the top. Postecoglou may have delivered the club a trophy but he was Spurs' Ten Hag.

Tottenham could not stick with him after the Premier League campaign they had. Seventeenth was a truly atrocious finish and the sacrificing of the Premier League could have backfired badly if they had not been victorious in Bilbao.

In the end, it proved to be a fitting swansong for Postecoglou, who leaves with his reputation intact. Ultimately, I believe this decision will prove to be the right one for all parties as time goes on.

Isaac Seelochan

Spurs were poor all season, bar the Europa League final. Ange Postecoglou got off to the perfect start when he arrived in 2023/24, but teams generally worked them out in his second campaign.

Injuries haven't helped, but one of the most damning facts for Postecoglou is that a Bournemouth team under a manager who has been there for the same period of time finished above his side in the table. The Cherries played them off the park when the two sides met in December, despite spending a fraction of the money Spurs have paid for some of their stars.

Postecoglou has often come across as quite arrogant and thin-skinned in some of his responses to journalists, despite the fact he has received a lot of goodwill in the media since he arrived in the United Kingdom. As time went on and with results continuing to deteriorate, his position felt increasingly untenable so it was the right decision to dismiss him.

Sam Truelove

What a mad club Tottenham Hotspur is. Ange Postecoglou deserved more time, in my opinion. Two weeks ago exactly the Australian declared "season three is better than season two" as he addressed thousands of Spurs fans at the Europa League trophy parade. It turns out, though, that there will be no season three after all.

The decision to relieve Postecoglou of his duties is a brutal decision by Daniel Levy. Postecoglou may have won the club's first trophy in 17 years but he was rewarded by being sacked. Simply wow.

Who knows whether it will be the right call. The names mooted to replace the former Celtic man don't exactly excite me, either. That's no slight on Thomas Frank by the way but I'm just not sure if the Brentford boss will be able to take this Spurs side on.

Postecoglou was loved by the players. Loved by the fans. But, it turns out, not by Levy.

Hannah Pinnock

The head says he had to go based on league form; the heart says he deserved more time. Sacking Postecoglou was always going to be a divisive decision, but ultimately, it was one that had to be made.

The club needed to assess the season as a whole and, make no mistake, it was abysmal in the league. That said, there’s something fitting about Postecoglou ending his tenure by ending the club’s long trophy drought. He leaves north London with a positive legacy.

Ideally, Spurs should now be looking at Premier League-proven managers, given the magnitude of the task ahead. Thomas Frank is the leading candidate, and it’s no surprise. He’s one of the most promising coaches in the English top flight right now.

What he’s achieved at Brentford is remarkable, especially considering they’re a club punching well above their weight. While Spurs may boast far greater resources than Brentford, they don’t operate at the financial level of some of their top-six rivals. That’s why they need someone capable of doing more with less - and Frank fits that profile perfectly.