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Ange Postecoglou joked that the main character is often ‘killed off’ in season three as the Tottenham boss waits to hear whether he will survive another year. It comes after the Europa League-winning boss told jubilant fans that season three of a television series is often better than season two.

Postecoglou had promised supporters a trophy and duly delivered. A 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Europa League showdown continued the 59-year-old's habit of winning silverware in his second campaign at a club. However, he now admits that he should have thought about the analogy a little harder, realising that characters are sometimes written out of shows in season three. Despite the European success, Postecoglou has overseen a disastrous Premier League campaign that could see Spurs finish 17th, a place outside of the relegation zone.

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He said: “I should have thought about it a bit more. Sometimes they kill off the main character [in season three]. I could be in strife there. I said before the game that we’re building something, and a significant win accelerates that.

“I really believe that’s the case and I’m not going to put a limit on what we can achieve. It’s exciting, the possibilities of next year, knowing I’ve got a group of players, staff, and a club that knows what it takes to win and wants more of it.”

Postecoglou is yet to speak with chairman Daniel Levy over his future. Some speculation before the Europa League final in Bilbao suggested that the former Celtic boss could be dismissed even if he won the tournament.

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The Spurs boss expects discussions to take place when the celebrations have died down. He said: “I haven’t had any discussions, like I said before the game. I haven’t had any discussions with the club. Maybe they’re just waiting for some clear air to give me some guidance. I haven’t heard from the club.”

Postecoglou urged his players to make the most of the party that ensued after Spurs ended a 17-year trophy drought. He conceded that a more inexperienced version of himself would have preferred for players to put a lid on the celebrations.

"Like all parties, there's always one family member who embarrasses you who you want to keep control of,” Postecoglou joked “Fair to say we had a couple of those, but it doesn't make them bad people and they are the first ones you reinvite to the next party."

Arne Slot has opened up on being offered the Tottenham job before his appointment at Liverpool. The then-Feyenoord boss had seriously pondered an offer from Spurs, which was later filled by Ange Postecoglou, with family influences ultimately persuading him not to make the move.

The Dutch coach also let slip that another unnamed but high-profile Premier League side, speculated to be Chelsea by the media in the Netherlands, engaged him in secretive talks about their managerial position. During an interview with reporters in his homeland, Slot said: "Not going to Spurs was 99 per cent a family decision.

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"I even told my kids they could easily visit me in London during the school holidays. My daughter said that during the school holidays she wanted to spend time with her friends. I thought moving directly from Feyenoord to Spurs was a huge deal - because who goes from Feyenoord straight to Tottenham?

"At Spurs and another club - I won't mention the name myself - I had to give a presentation, explain my tactical approach, and compete against other coaches."

Despite the tempting offers, Slot remained loyal to Feyenoord, opting to continue his tenure with the Rotterdam-based giants.

Slot couldn't resist the call to take over from Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, however, and his decision paid off handsomely as he led the team to a Premier League triumph in his debut season in England.

Slot sought clarification before accepting the role, telling the Reds he wanted confirmation that he was their sole target for the job.

Speaking on the move, he stated: "When Liverpool came along last season, everything was completely different. Nothing surpasses Liverpool.

"I did tell my agent, Rafaella Pimenta, that I wanted to know whether I was the only candidate. If that hadn't been the case, I don't know if I would have gone through with it. Liverpool acted completely differently. Sporting director Richard Hughes came to visit me and I was surprised by how much he already knew about me.

"Liverpool acted completely differently. Sporting director Richard Hughes came to visit me and I was surprised by how much he already knew about me.

"A few months earlier, (technical director) Julian Ward had called me. I knew him from the time when he was responsible for Liverpool's loaned players.

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"He told me he was doing a tour around Europe, visiting clubs. He asked if he could come and watch me. Later, I realised that his visit served a different purpose. It shows how meticulous Liverpool is in their approach."

Now, with the season drawing to a close, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk is set to hoist the Premier League trophy following the final match against Crystal Palace on Sunday, celebrating a campaign that saw them dominate the title race.

Despite a recent dip in form, the leaders sit comfortably at 11 points ahead of Arsenal, having secured only one point from their last three matches since their emphatic 5-1 victory over Spurs sealed the title.

Speaking candidly about the club's ambitions, Slot confessed that the pursuit of the league crown hadn't been their objective for the season. He disclosed: "It was never about the league title. I had to secure qualification for the Champions League - but that was already the case under Jurgen Klopp."

Sir Alex Ferguson once used the now-infamous words "Lads, it's Tottenham" to motivate his Manchester United players against their often inferior opponents. On Wednesday, he watched his since-fallen club suffer a historically bad fourth defeat of the season to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final.

The consequences? United will go down in the history books as the club that handed Spurs their first major trophy since 2008, in a European final, no less. On top of that humiliation, there will be no European football whatsoever at Old Trafford next season after missing out on a back-door entry into the Champions League.

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Sir Alex was in attendance at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, perched in the directors' box alongside United owners Avram Glazer and Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

After the final whistle, someone in the stands filmed him pulling a face that perfectly illustrated how millions of United supporters felt while accepting the reality of the 1-0 defeat.

The legendary Scotsman looked as if he was about to projectile vomit over the red stands of Athletic Club's home while the teams collected their medals.

Sir Alex lost his fair share of finals as United manager, but none of those defeats left the club with as little as the bottle job in Bilbao.

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The Red Devils' sixth attempt to replace Sir Alex couldn't have gotten off to a worse start, but Ruben Amorim reportedly retains the club's backing ahead of a crucial summer.

Amorim could do with Sir Alex's advice when it comes to losing finals if he is to achieve even a sliver of the 83-year-old's success.

During a Q&A session with United youth players earlier this year, Sir Alex said: "I lost nine finals at Aberdeen and Manchester United. Nine finals.

"And you know what it does? The next morning, I was a better manager. You have to handle defeat in the correct way.

"To be a winner, you have to accept that defeat is part of your life, but you can correct that the very next day.

"So all the young players, handle defeat the right way and make sure you're a winner the next day. I did that, and I won 32 finals."

Amorim is expected to oversee a ruthless overhaul of the squad he inherited from Erik ten Hag this summer.

He will know a repeat of his first season at the helm won't be acceptable after the Europa League final defeat set United back further.

Four Tottenham players have been named in the Europa League's 2024/25 Team of the Season.

Cristian Romero is included at centre-back, and the Argentine has also picked up the competition's overall Player of the Season award.

Pedro Porro joins him in the back-line, with Guglielmo Vicario named between the sticks.

Up front, Dominic Solanke has got the nod after racking up five goals and laying on four assists in 13 games.

Tottenham defender Kevin Danso shunned the chance to send a message to Arsenal fans after Wednesday's Europa League win.

The Gunners missed the opportunity to win a European trophy this season when they crashed out of the Champions League with a semi-final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

When offered the chance to rub salt into the wounds of Spurs' north London rivals, Danso said: "To be honest, I couldn’t care less what they [Arsenal] do. I’m at Tottenham Hotspur and we just won the Europa League. I’m over the moon about that."

Tottenham's open-top bus parade will begin at Edmonton Green at approximately 5.30pm (BST) later today (Friday).

Fans in attendance can expect it to last between 60 and 90 minutes, according to the club's website.

Afterwards, players and coaches will take to a specially constructed staging area above the High Road outside the stadium, where the trophy will be presented to supporters.

The route and the staging area are expected to be extremely busy, with fans encouraged to get there early.

Tottenham fans will be reading into every word Daniel Levy says as he weighs up the future of manager Ange Postecoglou.

The chairman delivered a speech at Spurs' post-win party in Bilbao, and part of his statement was used to deliver a sincere thanks to Postecoglou and his coaching staff.

Whether it's a fresh endorsement or the start of an amicable split will become clear once Levy's decision is made.

He said: "I want to thank Ange and all of the coaching staff, all of the players. You guys have gone down in history. Thank you very much."

Ange Postecoglou has admitted he will be out of the country by Monday amid speculation over his Tottenham future.

The Spurs boss was presumed to be on his way out until his stock took a huge boost with Wednesday's win over Manchester United.

Chairman Daniel Levy has a big decision to make over the coming days.

But Postecoglou won't be in the country while it's made, as he explained after the victory in Bilbao: "I’ll go back to my hotel room, get my family and friends together, open up a nice bottle of scotch, have a couple of quiet ones, get ready for a massive parade on Friday, play Brighton on Sunday.

"And then Monday I’ll go on holiday with my beautiful family because I deserve it. And que sera sera."

There are few positives Manchester United can take following Wednesday night’s crushing Europa League final defeat against Tottenham Hotspur. It’s a result that ends United’s season, given Ruben Amorim’s side can no longer qualify for European competition of any kind.

A spot in the Champions League wouldn’t have absolved all of United’s issues, with the Red Devils in need of surgery on their squad during the off-season. But without the added finances, a spot at Europe’s top table will bring, any potential work on the squad is now going to be much more difficult.

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There is at least one reason for United to be thankful they didn’t triumph in Bilbao, and that’s because of a recent UEFA rule change. This season saw a revamp for UEFA competitions, with all three tournaments switching from a group stage format to a league phase.

The decision to stop teams from the Champions League dropping into the Europa League was also taken, but it’s a change to the seeding system that will have United fans breathing a sigh of relief, with Tottenham supporters left fearing the worst. In the old format, the winner of the Europa League would be placed in Pot One for the Champions League draw - something that has since changed.

Read more... Ruben Amorim told star he was leaving the club and left him in tears [LATEST]

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Instead, the Europa League winners are ranked on their coefficient, just like the majority of the other 35 teams in the competition. It spells bad news for Tottenham, as it means they’ll be in for much tougher tests in the Champions League, compared to if they’d have qualified as the Europa League winners just a couple of seasons earlier.

It’s no saving grace for United though, who despite the threat of hefty beatings against Europe’s elite, would’ve much rather been in the competition than sat at home. But Amorim has vowed to make it work in their favour, insisting the extra time on the training ground could prove handy.

Speaking after United suffered the 1-0 loss in northern Spain, the Portuguese tactician said: "We have two plans even for the market and we need to understand that is tough for a club like us not to be in the Champions League. But we have to use the other side. So if we have more time, we have more time to think during the week and be better in the Premier League, that will be our focus."

United’s season will officially come to an end when they host Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon. The 20-time English champions are guaranteed to finish inside the bottom half.

Tottenham Hotspur players do not expect Ange Postecoglou to be their head coach next season despite achieving a historic Europa League triumph, according to reports. Postecoglou has etched his name into Spurs folklore by beating Manchester United in Bilbao to lift the club's first major trophy since 2008.

Brennan Johnson's scrappy 42nd-minute winner preceded a heroic defensive display to earn a 1-0 victory at the San Mames Stadium. Tottenham will host their first trophy parade since their FA Cup win in 1991 on Friday, where Postecoglou should be showered with further love from supporters and his squad. However, the Aussie isn't expected to have done enough to force Spurs chairman Daniel Levy into a U-turn when he decides on his future.

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According to the Daily Mail, Postecoglou's players are preparing to work under a new head coach next season.

It's claimed that Levy has already started assessing replacement options, with Fulham boss Marco Silva among those in the frame.

Spurs' first piece of silverware in 17 years, and their first European crown in 41, is unlikely to reward Postecoglou with a third year at the helm.

The Lilywhites are slumped in 17th in the Premier League ahead of Sunday's curtain-closer against Brighton and Hove Albion.

They were desperate for European glory to overshadow a disastrous, injury-hit league campaign, which has featured 21 defeats.

Postecoglou has made it clear that he wants to build on the historic achievement, which also earned Spurs qualification for next season's Champions League.

If he does stay put, the pressure will be on to spark improvement from the first games of the season, which will now involve a UEFA Super Cup meeting with Inter Milan or Paris Saint-Germain.

Should Levy stick to his guns, Postecoglou will walk away from North London having maintained his record of lifting silverware in his second season at multiple clubs.

The former Celtic boss could represent an attractive option for top clubs, and it's currently under wraps whether he would eye a break if he does depart.

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It's probable that there are mixed opinions on whether Postecoglou should remain Spurs head coach inside the dressing room.

However, amid the Europa League celebrations in Bilbao, captain Son Heung-min suggested he deserved to continue his project.

"He won the trophy. Nobody did it, so… Look, it's not up to me or the players," Son explained.

"But we just have to look at the fact we haven't won anything in 17 years, and today is the day we have finally won it. It's the manager who wins the trophy. So we see what's going to happen."

Tottenham's squad have rallied behind beleaguered manager Ange Postecoglou despite the club's dismal Premier League performance this season. Despite guiding Spurs to their first trophy in 17 years with a historic Europa League final victory over Manchester United, Postecoglou is still expected to face the axe.

The north London side's woeful domestic campaign has seen them suffer 21 losses, leaving them teetering just above the relegation zone. Captain Son Heung-min has voiced his support for the under-fire boss but accepted that the decision ultimately lies with the club's hierarchy including chairman Daniel Levy.

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"He won the trophy," Son declared. "Nobody else did it, so - look, it's not up to me or the players, but we just have to look at the facts. At the fact that we hadn't won in 17 years, but this is the day we finally won it.

"It's the manager who wins the trophy. So we'll see what's going to happen." Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario joined Son in backing Postecoglou, stating: "Yeah, of course. He's my gaffer. He's the person who decided to bring me to this club.

"I just have to be very thankful to him for how much he believed since day one, since he wanted me to sign for the club. I'm very happy for him, for what we achieved altogether. It's a brilliant night, he deserves this a lot.

"He drove us brilliantly this season. It's a big credit to him. He said to us many times that this group is going to change something, it's going to change the history of this club and we did it, so credit to him."

"He was the first to start to believe in something special and we did it, it's unbelievable."

Spurs are set to celebrate their Europa League victory with an open-top bus parade in London on Friday, ahead of what could be Postecoglou's final match at the helm against Brighton on Sunday.

It was a night to forget for several reasons on Wednesday as far as Manchester United were concerned. Even though they have one game of the Premier League campaign left to play, defeat against Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao all but ended the Red Devils’ campaign, given Ruben Amorim’s side no longer have any available route into European competition.

It was a dire end to a dismal season for United, who were just six points off the top five when Erik ten Hag was sacked by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the INEOS executives last year. Fast forward seven months, United trail fifth-placed Chelsea by 27 points and are yet to hit the 40-point mark themselves.

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Despite boasting the overwhelming majority of possession against Spurs, United did little with the ball and made it easy for the north Londoners to defend against. At times, United gave off the impression of a side pulling in different directions, which unseen footage from Wednesday’s clash seems to suggest they might’ve been.

A social media clip recorded during the match in northern Spain shows United duo Andre Onana and Casemiro confronting each other shortly after the ball went out of play for a Spurs corner. Onana could be seen giving his team-mate an earful, with the Brazilian not taking well to the goalkeeper’s criticism.

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It’s impossible to know exactly what the pair are mouthing off about, but given Tottenham are gearing up to take a corner, it’s possible Onana is asking the midfielder to switch on. Whatever the reason was, Casemiro certainly didn’t like being told what to do by the shot-stopper, who has now lost all three European finals he’s played in.

It comes ahead of an uncertain summer at Old Trafford, with plenty of change expected within the ranks. That could involve moving on one, or even both, of Onana and Casemiro, as United look to rebuild their squad without the added bonus of Champions League riches.

Having last competed in the competition two years ago, United’s now two-season (at least) hiatus from the Champions League will mark their longest absence from Europe’s top table since the competition rebranded in 1992. However, United defender Luke Shaw has insisted Amorim is the man to lead them forward, regardless of their shortcomings this term.

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Read more... Man Utd staff boo Sir Jim Ratcliffe as Europa League loss puts more jobs at risk [LATEST]

Speaking to the BBC after the Spurs loss, he explained: “We're rock bottom now and we have to find the way to drag ourselves back. I can say 100 per cent right now that [Ruben Amorim] is the right man. I know results have not been good at all.

"I've been here for a long time now and I've been through different managers but Ruben, for me, I talk on my behalf and I'm sure I can talk on behalf of all the players, Ruben is 100 per cent the right manager to take us back where this club should be."

Tottenham Hotspur's opening match of the 2025/26 campaign has now been set following their Europa League triumph over Manchester United. In a tightly contested clash with minimal opportunities, Spurs secured the title courtesy of a Brennan Johnson strike just before the interval. Despite United pushing hard after the break, Tottenham remained composed and rarely looked threatened, sealing a narrow 1-0 victory.

Lifting the Europa League puts an end to Spurs' 17-year trophy drought. Prior to Wednesday's final, their most recent piece of silverware was the League Cup back in 2008. The win also means they'll be playing Champions League football next season, despite ending their Premier League campaign just above the relegation zone. But before their return to Europe's premier club competition begins, they'll take part in the UEFA Super Cup.

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Each August, the Europa League champions go head-to-head with the Champions League winners for the first piece of continental silverware of the season. The upcoming match will be held at the Stadio Friuli in Udine, home ground of Italian side Udinese.

Tottenham are now confirmed participants and will meet either PSG or Inter Milan in that final showdown. Those two will battle for the Champions League crown on Saturday, May 31 in Munich.

The UEFA Super Cup - a competition Spurs have never won before - has been scheduled for Wednesday, August 13 - just days ahead of the opening weekend of the Premier League season. Tottenham will learn their domestic schedule on Wednesday, June 18, and the Champions League group stage draw will follow on Thursday, August 28.

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Manchester City were the last English team to win the Super Cup, doing so in 2023 following their Champions League triumph. Chelsea won it in 2021, months after beating City in an all-English Champions League final, while Liverpool clinched the title in 2019 following their win over Spurs in the European showpiece.

In the last 11 years, the Europa League winners have lifted the Super Cup just once. Atletico Madrid managed the feat in 2018, beating Champions League winners and arch rivals Real Madrid.

Tottenham have never competed in the Super Cup, despite previously winning the UEFA Cup (now Europa League) in 1972 and 1984. This is because the Super Cup, which was first launched in 1973, was initially contested between the winners of the European Cup (now Champions League) and the Cup Winners' Cup. The format changed in 2000, pitting the winners of Europe's top two club competitions against each other in the season curtain-raiser.

Ange Postecoglou proved he is no clown by leading Tottenham to their first trophy for 17 years over the circus that is Manchester United. On the eve of the game the Spurs boss took umbrage at the depiction of him as a figure of ridicule, but had the last laugh by masterminding this win.

Big Ange invited ridicule early in the campaign by stating he always wins a trophy in his second season, but that proud boast was vindicated on a historic night in Bilbao.

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Despite leading Spurs to a memorable triumph and a coveted place in the Champions League worth up to £100million Postecoglou is set to depart at the end of the season

But if he does leave, it will be with his head held high, the Aussie manager's bruised reputation restored by this triumph, despite a shocking Premier League campaign.

For United, who failed to show up in the San Mames Stadium, there will be non European football next season for only the second time in three decades.

Ruben Amorim's side arrived in Bilbao as the only unbeaten side in major European competition this season, but that proud run came to an inglorious end.

For a European final to be contested by two such poor sides did little for the prestige of the competition. And fittingly, for two sides grubbing around near the foot of the Premier League, this showpiece event was desperately short on quality.

Spurs conjured the first chance after 10 minutes, Brennan Johnson seizing on a mix-up between Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw, Andre Onana making a smart save to keep out the winger's angled shot.

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United fans thought they had taken the lead in the 15th minute, when Amad unleashed a fierce strike, beating Guigliemo Vicario, but the ball flew inches wide of the far post.

With so much at stake for both teams and predictably, for an encounter between sides in 16th and 17th position in the Premier League, there was little flow or fluency to the game throughout.

The breakthrough goal, when it came in the 42nd minute, was scrappy and ugly, United's defence failing to deal with Pape Sarr's cross, with Shaw the main culprit.

The United defender allowed Brennan Johnson to get in front of him, the ball spinning off him and beyond Andre Onana, who flapped at it to no avail.

Tottenham's fans erupted in euphoria as Johnson wheeled away in celebration, United's players left to rue another game in which they had conceded first, the 31st time they have suffered that fate this season.

With Spurs content to sit back and protect their lead, the onus was on United to play with greater urgency and purpose, to plunder the goal they needed to get back into the game.

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But Amorim's side continued to labour, the United boss cutting an increasingly frustrated figure on the touchline, as his players failed to do themselves justice.

When Spurs did break out from their policy of containment, they were found wanting, never more so than in the 61st minute when Dominic Solanke had sight of the United goal but his first touch let him down.

United looked to have levelled in the 68th minute when Hojlund sent a looping header towards the goal with Vicario stranded, but Micky van de Ven produced an acrobatic clearance to stop the ball going over the line.

Amorim had to make changes and brought on Garnacho and Joshua Zirkzee, the former making an instant impact by forcing a save from Vicario in the 74th minute, who also saved from Shaw late in added time.

But it was ultimately too little, too late, as Spurs and Postecoglou held out to secure a memorable triumph.