Football London

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.

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.