Football London

Ben Davies does not believe there is anything to update about his future amid uncertainty over whether he will remain a Tottenham player next season. The Welshman's contract at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium expires at the end of this month, meaning he will be able to leave for nothing come July 1 if his situation does not change.

Last Saturday, Tottenham confirmed their released list as they get their plans in place for the 2025/26 campaign. The club announced that Fraser Forster, Sergio Reguilon and Alfie Whiteman will all depart following the conclusion of their contracts, with Timo Werner returning to parent club RB Leipzig after his loan spell in N17.

There was no mention of Davies given his current contract status, thus raising question marks about what comes next for the long-serving defender. Tottenham do have the option in the player's contract to extend it by a further 12 months if they so wish.

football.london reported in November that Spurs had decided to take up that one-year contract extension option, keeping him at the club for next campaign. However, Spurs have never officially confirmed a contract extension for the 32-year-old and that in turn has raised doubts about whether he will still be at the club come the start of July.

Championship newcomers Wrexham have been linked with the player and the same goes for Leeds United following their promotion to the Premier League. Amid the current speculation regarding his future, Davies is fully focused on representing Wales in their World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Belgium.

"I don’t think there is anything to update to be honest," said the Wales captain in a press conference (via Wales Online). "I don’t think I am going to be the person who is making any of those decisions, so as far as I’m concerned, it’s full focus here this week."

Davies was also quizzed on his Tottenham teammate Brennan Johnson and duly heaped praise on the club's top goalscorer. Amid criticism that came the winger's way at the start of the campaign, the ex-Nottingham Forest man finished the term by scoring the winning goal in the Europa League final against Manchester United.

“Brennan has shown this year that he is a top player and has proven a lot of people wrong," said Davies. “We’ve got full confidence in this Wales squad that he can replicate his form from the club here, he works hard, trains hard, we love having him around the place and I feel we have the best Brennan we can at the moment.”

Tottenham supporters had to wait 17 long years for their trophy drought to finally come to an end. Triumphant head coach Ange Postecoglou would unfortunately not even be given 17 days to bask in what he had achieved.

In the period that followed that remarkable evening at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, talk regarding the Australian's future as Tottenham head coach continued to dominate the headlines. That in turn left Postecoglou, who headed off on a family holiday the day after their final game of the season against Brighton & Hove Albion, not knowing about whether he would still be the man in charge by the time he returned.

As many probably expected, Postecoglou will not be Tottenham head coach next season after his dismissal on Friday evening. The news and clarity everyone required finally arrived just after 5pm.

In a statement released by the club, Spurs confirmed that they are of the belief that a change of approach will give them the strongest chance to compete on multiple fronts for the coming season and beyond. At a time when they could have built on their Europa League triumph and looked to kick on after all the previous failures, Daniel Levy and the club now go back to the drawing board and start all over again with a new head coach at the helm.

There is going to be no season three for Postecoglou, who proudly claimed at Tottenham's incredible victory parade a fortnight ago that "season three is better than season two". Unfortunately for the ex-Celtic boss, he has been killed off before the new season has even begun.

There is now always going to be one huge unanswered question when it comes to Postecoglou's Tottenham tenure. What if Postecoglou remained at the club and was given his season three? We will never find out that answer.

Postecoglou's successor will now be the man tasked with answering the questions when it comes to Tottenham. The Australian's Tottenham story may not have ended the way he would have liked but he will be forever be remembered after etching his naming into the history books with that Europa League win.

Tottenham fans will always have that night in Bilbao thanks to Postecoglou. Everything came together for the Australian and his team that evening after a season like no other with a mountain of injuries and the loss of pivotal members of his backline for large parts of the season.

Had he not guided Tottenham to silverware in the Basque Country then his future would have been decided fairly quickly after a torrid league campaign. At a time when the club wrote a new chapter in their history books with their Europa League win, there was another couple of entries for all the wrong reasons after recording their lowest ever Premier League points tally and also their most defeats in a Premier League season.

The 22 defeats and points tally of 38 was unacceptable for a club the size of Tottenham and it meant that Postecoglou's name was always in the headlines. The Europa League triumph looked to give Postecoglou a stay of execution but it was not to be as the axe fell on him on Friday.

Amid the uncertainty over whether he would stay or be dismissed by Levy, Postecoglou at the very least deserved to start the season as Tottenham head coach given what he achieved in Europe. Just because Tottenham struggled in the Premier League in 2024/25 does not necessarily mean that would be the case the following campaign.

Their Europa League triumph could have been used as a springboard to attack the new term and challenge for major honours on a regular basis as the chairman wants. It is now down to the new head coach to do just that, with Spurs mentioning in Friday's statement that "Ange has given us a great platform to build upon".

What will not be forgotten is that Postecoglou gave many Spurs fans their greatest night as a supporter of the football club with that famous 1-0 win in Bilbao. The celebrations that evening and the joyous feeling that followed in the days after was truly special and something fans want to taste again and again.

His successor now has to try and deliver that feeling and ensure it is not a one-off. Postecoglou's Tottenham reign has been a remarkable ride with so many ups and downs and the ultimate high of winning that much-coveted trophy.

In the end, there was to be no season three for Postecoglou but there will always be that huge "what if" hanging over this decision.

Pedro Porro has paid an emotional tribute to Ange Postecoglou following his dismissal as Tottenham head coach. Amid much speculation about the Australian's future despite guiding Spurs to the Europa League trophy, he was sacked by the club on Friday evening.

The decision is ultimately one that has split the fanbase after an incredibly mixed season in north London. Following the news that emerged just after 5pm, right-back Porro has taken to his Instagram account to have his say over the decision.

"Thank you for everything, boss. For mentoring me early on, helping me settle into the club, and trusting me out on the pitch," he penned. "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."

Earlier in the week, Porro had given his verdict on Postecoglou's future given all the noise surrounding him.

"I’m not thinking about club football right now because I am here with Spain and we have two important games this week, but him continuing would be good for the dressing room," said the 25-year-old in an interview with the Guardian.

"He has built a very good group and coaches also need time. In the league things didn’t go well but he makes you win a trophy. That’s important too. The people in the dressing room with weight have to understand that, but as I say I’m thinking about the national team now; there will be time for that."

Porro was then asked whether he meant some players don't understand that and he quickly clarified that he meant that those inside the dressing room know exactly what Postecoglou has been doing and dealing with.

"No, it’s simply just that..we’re inside and we know more or less how things are, no? I’m not going to lie, it did impact me to see [people say] they were going to sack him to be honest," said the Spaniard.

"I’m very close to him. He’s been an important coach for me and it’s thanks to him that I have brought out my [best] football these two years. It’s complicated because in football in general things don’t always depend on you but, honestly, in the team – I think, in my opinion – we’re happy with him."

Alan Shearer has sent a strongly worded six-word statement in reply to Tottenham Hotspur's decision to sack Ange Postecoglou.

Spurs confirmed on Friday afternoon that they are in search of a new head coach following the dismissal of former Celtic manager, Postecoglou. The 59-year-old's departure comes after a disappointing domestic campaign in 2024/25, which saw Spurs finish 17th in the Premier League table.

Despite the poor league performance, Postecoglou guided Tottenham to their first major trophy in 17 years, clinching the Europa League with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United last month. The win in Bilbao not only secured a spot in next season's Champions League but also provided a much-needed £100 million financial injection.

And BBC pundit and former Newcastle United striker Shearer has appeared to criticise the decision to sack Postecoglou.

"What a stupid game football is!!!!" he said on X in reply to Spurs' post which announced Postecoglou's departure.

Postecoglou released a statement moments after the news broke, via his agency CAA Base, speaking of his pride at the job he did in N17.

He 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 are on the hunt for a new manager after the club confirmed on Friday afternoon that they have parted ways with Ange Postecoglou.

The 59-year-old’s future had been the subject of speculation throughout what proved to be a disappointing season for the north London side, as they finished 17th in the Premier League and just outside the relegation zone. While there was some belief that Spurs’ Europa League triumph, coupled with the significant injury crisis Postecoglou had to manage might have earned him more time the club has ultimately decided to move on.

In a statement, Spurs confirmed that following a thorough performance review and period of reflection, Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties. The club cited the need to compete more consistently across multiple fronts and believes that a change in leadership gives them the best chance of doing so.

So, who could be the one to lead Spurs forward? Football.london takes a look at five of the leading candidates currently linked with the role...

Thomas Frank

Front and centre of the speculation is Brentford boss Thomas Frank. The Dane has been in charge of the west London club since 2018 and has enjoyed notable success, not only guiding them to Premier League promotion in 2021, but also establishing them as a stable top-flight side.

According to several reports, including The Guardian, Spurs have already explored the possibility of bringing Frank to north London. While this suggests he is among the leading candidates, it has also been noted that appointing him could come at a significant financial cost.

Marco Silva

Another Premier League manager attracting interest is Fulham’s Marco Silva. The Portuguese coach brings a wealth of experience in the English top flight, having previously managed Watford and Everton before taking charge at Craven Cottage.

Last season, he guided Fulham to an 11th-place finish in the league, although the team were considered strong contenders for European qualification at various points during the campaign. It’s also worth noting that Spurs are not the only club keeping tabs on Silva - he was reportedly on Juventus’ radar, had they decided to part ways with Igor Tudor.

Mauricio Pochettino

The romantic appointment would be former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentine has previously admitted he could see himself returning to the club one day, but such a move appears highly complicated and, so far, there have been no concrete reports suggesting he is currently under consideration.

Pochettino is currently in charge of the United States men’s national team, and a significant compensation fee would reportedly be required to prise him away from the US Soccer Federation. With the World Cup set to take place on home soil next summer, it would also be difficult to lure him away at such a crucial stage in his side’s preparations.

Andoni Iraola

Heads turned in June 2023 when Bournemouth sacked Gary O'Neil in favour of bringing Andoni Iraola to the Vitality Stadium. It was a controversial move at the time given O'Neil had been performing well, but it's a decision that has evidently paid off as Bournemouth have been one of the most exciting teams in the Premier League this year under Iraola.

The Cherries narrowly missed out on European competition in ninth, but it is not yet known what the future holds for the Spaniard. Bournemouth will need to undergo somewhat of a re-build this summer with a number of top clubs poaching their big stars, as Dean Huijsen joined Real Madrid and Liverpool are pushing to sign left back Milos Kerkez.

Edin Terzic

Edin Terzic spent his early coaching career working under Jurgen Klopp at Borussia Dortmund, primarily within the club’s academy. He later took on roles as interim manager and then as permanent head coach between 2022 and 2024, guiding the Bundesliga outfit to a Champions League final during that period.

He stepped down from his role by mutual agreement at the end of the 2023/24 season and has yet to return to management. His availability could make him an attractive prospect, and he has been linked with a handful of roles over the past 12 months, including a potential move to Roma.

After winning the Europa League in the penultimate match of the season, Ange Postecoglou's expected departure from Tottenham Hotspur was thrown into doubt.

His promise of bringing a trophy to the club in his second season was kept and there was a feeling in the dressing room that the Australian should be leading them into the Champions League next year. Yet despite all of this, it was simply not enough.

On Friday evening, Tottenham confirmed they had parted ways with the 59-year-old. The statement that followed was one we have come to expect when a football club moves in a different direction with their manager.

There was a thank you for his efforts, an explanation that the club needs to 'compete on multiple fronts' and the failure to do so resulted in his departure. All expected apart from the obligatory comment from the man at the head of the boardroom - Daniel Levy.

As our reporter Alasdair Gold pointed out on social media, it is not a case that Levy has simply stopped commenting on personnel's departures. Ryan Mason and Donna-Maria Cullen both received a published quote from the chairman in their exit statements.

As did Mauricio Pochettino when he was sacked. And yet, the manager who delivers a major trophy to the club does not receive one.

Of course, the reasoning behind this is unclear but as Gold points out, Levy has missed a clear opportunity to own his decision, which is a critical one.

Either way, this is not a good look from the Spurs owner and now he must ensure he is confident that Postecoglou's replacement can do better than him. Otherwise, fan resentment is only going to grow further.

Thomas Frank is the favourite to succeed Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham Hotspur after the Australian's dismissal.

Spurs announced on Friday afternoon that they will be looking for a new head coach after sacking former Celtic boss Postecoglou. The 59-year-old leaves after Tottenham endured a dismal domestic campaign in 2024/25, with the club finishing 17th in the Premier League table.

Postecoglou led Spurs to their first major trophy in 17 years after the Lilywhites beat Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League final. Victory in Bilbao also secured a place in next season's Champions League and a welcome £100 million cash boost.

But Tottenham's domestic struggles have cost Postecoglou, and Brentford boss Frank is the bookmakers' favourite to succeed him in north London. When asked about his future at the Gtech Community Stadium last month, the Dane confirmed he is as focused as ever with Brentford after their 3-2 defeat to Fulham.

"Right now, of course, I am committed," he said. "I just lost to Fulham, our local rivals, so [I am] fuming in every aspect.

“So yes, I am committed like I have always been.”

Now the 24/25 domestic campaign is over, it remains to be seen whether Frank will stay at the Bees, who finished tenth - seven places above Spurs.

Fulham boss Marco Silva has also been linked with the Spurs hotseat in recent months as well as Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola.

Announcing Postecoglou's dismissal, a statement on the club's website 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.

"We have a talented, young squad and Ange has given us a great platform to build upon. We should like to express our gratitude to him. We wish him well for the future - he will always be welcome back at our home.

"News on the appointment of a new Head Coach will be announced in due course."

The saga is over and so is Ange Postecoglou's reign as Tottenham Hotspur head coach.

A ruthless decision has been taken by chairman Daniel Levy and the board to sack the former Celtic boss, despite him delivering a first piece of silverware in 17 years.

Although, as it has been made crystal clear on the club's official website, this was not just Levy's decision.

"The board has unanimously concluded that it is in the best interests of the club for a change to take place," the statement read.

I find it hard to believe that such a decision would be unanimous, at least in the first instance. There may well have been some cajoling, some prodding, some 'you should really see it this way'.

This club of ours is not used to winning anything. In my 41 years on the planet I had only witnessed us win three major trophies prior to this season (I'm not counting the UEFA Cup in 1984 by virtue of having been four months old when it happened).

Of course, I agree that when making a decision of this nature you need to take emotion out of it, you need to think about the bigger picture, but that sure is hard after what happened just two weeks ago.

It felt like we had finally eradicated that awful Spursy tag. It felt like finally we had got that monkey off our back and we could stride forwards, heads held high and be what we have always wanted to be - winners.

Now, it is easy to feel like losers again.

Ange Postecoglou was not perfect, he will attest to that himself. He got things wrong, sometimes very wrong, but in exactly two years he delivered something higher profile names have failed to do in N17.

The players loved him. And he loved them and stood by them. He was always in their corner, always championing them, giving them the tools and the encouragement they needed to succeed. Many are probably hurting right now and it will be interesting to see who comes out and makes statements on their social media platforms and who, now he has gone, thinks about following him out of the door.

The football, at times, was thrill a minute. Just what Spurs fans needed after the set-up from previous managers. A ten-game unbeaten run to start his tenure was exciting and invigorating. That extraordinary 4-1 defeat with nine men against Chelsea was as entertaining as any victory I've enjoyed in my years supporting Tottenham.

He had a philosophy, a vision, a will to win and nothing was going to stand in his way. I enjoyed the stubbornness at times. It felt like he put two fingers up to the established football society in this country and said 'get stuffed'.

But there is an element of that lasting only so long. The Premier League is ever changing, you can't stand still, you have to adapt and change and roll with the punches and there were occasions when it felt like Ange was unwilling to do that.

There were extenuating circumstances, of that there can be no doubt. The horrific injury situation put us on the backfoot early on in the Premier League campaign this season and he was not helped by a transfer policy that focused on young talent for the future rather than the here and now.

He got on with it though. He played the hand he was dealt and when he knew any hope in the Premier League was gone, he focused on the Europa League. And boy did it pay off.

He changed his philosophy in Europe. Spurs became hard to beat away from home against Eintracht Frankfurt and Bodo/Glimt. It was all set up for a tilt at winning a trophy, something we have desperately craved for so long.

The final in Bilbao was one of the worst finals in living memory, but do any Spurs fans care? Not a jot.

We won. We lifted a trophy. We dared to dream.

The outpouring of emotion at the final whistle in Bilbao, in homes up and down the country and then on the open-top bus parade was incredible.

Yes the Premier League campaign was atrocious and some of the football we served up was shocking, but the focus was solely on the Europa League, you could see that. And you could see he was willing to adapt.

We needed to see him adapt in the Premier League and in my opinion I felt he had bought himself more time. At least a few months into the new season, with another transfer window behind him to bring in the players he needed for the here and now, to see what he could do. He deserved more time.

Alas, it is not to be and I'm sure he will go on and, as promised, win trophies elsewhere.

Thank you, Ange, for one of the greatest nights of my life. You will forever be a Tottenham Hotspur legend.

Tottenham have confirmed that the dismissal of Ange Postecoglou as head coach is to give the football club the "strongest chance" of competing on multiples fronts for the coming season and beyond. Friday evening saw confirmation of Postecoglou's exit from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium following plenty of speculation about his position at the club.

In what was a difficult season for Postecoglou and his Spurs players as they finished 17th in the Premier League table, the Australian did lead the football club to Europa League glory as their 17-year wait for a trophy finally came to an end. Just over two weeks on from that triumph in Spain, Postecoglou has exited the club on his second anniversary of taking on the hotseat following a decision by chairman Daniel Levy and the club's board.

In a statement released by the club, Spurs outlined the reasons for the 59-year-old's dismissal.

"Following a review of performances and after significant reflection, the club can announce that Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties," read the club statement.

"Ange joined us from Celtic in the summer of 2023 and oversaw a period of change on the pitch, returning us to the attacking brand of football that has traditionally been associated with the club, while writing a new chapter in our history by leading us to UEFA Europa League glory in Bilbao last month - an achievement that will live with us all forever.

"We are extremely grateful to Ange for his commitment and contribution during his two years at the club. Ange will always be remembered as only the third manager in our history to deliver a European trophy, alongside legendary figures Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw.

"However, the Board has unanimously concluded that it is in the best interests of the club for a change to take place. 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.

"We have a talented, young squad and Ange has given us a great platform to build upon. We should like to express our gratitude to him. We wish him well for the future - he will always be welcome back at our home.

"News on the appointment of a new head coach will be announced in due course."

Ange Postecoglou has issued a statement following news on Friday that he had been sacked by Tottenham.

Despite leading the club to a first piece of silverware in 17 years with a historic night in Bilbao when Spurs lifted the Europa League trophy after a 1-0 win over Manchester United, the Australian has been sacked.

Spurs finished the Premier League season in 17th place and that has led to chairman Daniel Levy wielding the axe.

Postecoglou has released a statement moments after the news broke, via his agency CAA Base, speaking of his pride at the job he did in N17.

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."