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'It was the most difficult decision I have made in my career': Son Heung-min announces Tottenham departure

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'It was the most difficult decision I have made in my career': Son Heung-min announces Tottenham departure - lbc.co.uk
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Tottenham captain Son Heung-min has revealed he will leave the club this summer in pursuit of a "new environment to push myself".

He has spent the last decade at Spurs and helped the Premier League team to Europa League success with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in May, ending a 17-year trophy drought for the club.

Speaking during a press conference in his home country of South Korea ahead of Tottenham’s pre-season friendly with Newcastle on Sunday, he said he hopes football fans "respect" his decision.

After Spurs arrived in Seoul on Friday, Son – following 454 appearances and 173 goals for the north London club – confirmed his desire to depart this summer, with MLS outfit Los Angeles FC leading the race for his signature, the PA news agency understands.

"Before we start, I wanted to say I have decided to leave the club this summer," he told a press conference.

"Respectfully, the club is helping me with this decision.

"It was the most difficult decision I have made in my career, such amazing memories.

"It was so hard to make this decision.

"I need a new environment to push myself. I need a little bit of change – 10 years is a long time.

"I came to north London as a kid, 23-years-old, such a young age. I leave the club as a grown man, a very proud man.

"I want to say thanks to all the Spurs fans for giving me so much love. I hope the goodbye is also good timing and this is the right time to make that decision. I hope everyone can accept and respect that."

New Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank confirmed Son would start and be captain in Sunday’s friendly with Newcastle at Seoul’s World Cup Stadium - a match which could mark the footballer's final appearance for Spurs.

"It’s very clear that Sonny will start and lead the team out as captain. If that is the last game for Sonny, what a place to do it here in front of his home fans. It could be a beautiful ending," Frank said.

Son joined Tottenham in 2015 from Bayer Leverkusen.

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Thomas Frank set to join Spurs – and he’s bringing key Brentford backroom staff with him

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Thomas Frank set to join Spurs – and he’s bringing key Brentford backroom staff with him - lbc.co.uk
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Thomas Frank's appointment as Tottenham Hotspur head coach is all but done, after an agreement was struck to bring his assistant coach Justin Cochrane with him.

The current Brentford manager has been in talks to take over the reins at Spurs after Ange Postecoglou was sacked following the Europa League final victory.

Chairman Daniel Levy quickly identified the Dane as an ideal replacement and made an official approach to bring him to the club on Monday.

According to David Ornstein, Frank's appointment is set to be announced by this weekend, after a deal was agreed between the two clubs, which will see key figures of the 51-year-old's backroom staff join him in north London.

Alongside his trusted number two Cochrane, Chris Haslam and Joe Newton will also join the club as part of the coaching team.

Frank's contract at the Bees is set to run until the summer of 2027 and contains a release clause in the region of £10million.

He will take over a side that won European silverware last season but also finished just one place above the Premier League relegation zone.

It was this poor league performance that would lead to Postecoglou losing his job, despite ending the club's 17-year trophy drought.

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Spurs stars pay tribute to sacked Ange Postecoglou as favourite for Tottenham job revealed

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Spurs stars pay tribute to sacked Ange Postecoglou as favourite for Tottenham job revealed - lbc.co.uk
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Spurs players have taken to social media to pay tribute to manager Ange Postecoglou after he was sacked just 16 days after winning the Europa League.

Postecoglou was relieved of his duties as Tottenham head coach on Friday, despite winning the club’s first trophy in 17 years just two weeks ago.

Spurs’ season, despite ending in glory, was marred by terrible league form, with the club finishing 17th in the Premier League, with 22 losses.

Captain Son was one of several Spurs players to pay tribute to Postecoglou, writing on Instagram: “Gaffer. You’ve changed the trajectory of this club.

“You believed in yourself, and us, since day one and never wavered for a second. Even when others did.

“You knew what we were capable of all along. You did it your way. And your way brought this club the best night it’s had in decades. We will have those memories for life.

“You trusted me with the captaincy. One of the highest honours of my career. It’s been an incredible privilege to learn from your leadership up close, I am a better player and a better person because of you.

“Ange Postecoglou, you are a Tottenham Hotspur legend forever. Thank you, mate.”

Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario was Postecoglou’s first signing and said: “You are not only a top manager, you are an incredible person to work for, a real leader, a mentor, and someone I’ll always look up to.

“What we achieved together will stay in the history books. Wishing you nothing but success as I know you will go on to achieve more and more. Thank you, Boss.”

Dutch defender Micky van de Ven added: “Gaffer, thank you for everything! Believed in me from the first day I arrived at the club.

“Many ups and downs in the last two years but you kept believing in us and kept pushing us. Big part of the success from the club this year, and forever grateful that u made me part of it. All the best.”

Striker Dominic Solanke signed for Spurs last summer in a £65million deal.

He said: “Thank you for bringing me to this wonderful club, thank you for bringing us a wonderful trophy.

“(I) won’t ever forget the convo we had before I signed and we achieved a dream! All the best in your next adventure.”

Right-back Pedro Porro insisted the 59-year-old would “always be celebrated”, writing: “Thank you for everything, boss.

“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.”

Forward Richarlison added: “Everyone who loves the Spurs will remember that Big Ange always bags trophies in his second season.”

The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust thanked Postecoglou for an “amazing night” in Bilbao but acknowledged league results were a “long way short” of expectation.

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

“We can only hope that the right decision has been made and that the new manager is fully supported by the board and everyone at the club to build on the cup success that Ange has lain.

“He will need the finances to build a strong squad that can challenge simultaneously on many fronts. We wish whoever is appointed well. Spurs fans have had a taste of glory and we don’t want to wait another 17 years for more.”

Brentford boss Thomas Frank is reported to be the leading contender to take over, with Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner, Fulham manager Marco Silva, Burnley head coach Scott Parker and Andoni Iraola of Bournemouth also linked with the post.

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Ange Postecoglou has been sacked by Tottenham Hotspur despite winning Europa League

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Ange Postecoglou has been sacked by Tottenham Hotspur despite winning Europa League - lbc.co.uk
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Tottenham Hotspur has sacked head coach Ange Postecoglou - a decision made by chairman Daniel Levy.

Postecoglou's departure is despite him winning the Europa League, which meant Spurs qualified for the Champions League.

Spurs had their worst season in Premier League history losing 22 of their 38 matches.

Brentford manager Thomas Frank is understood to be the favourite to take over.

The news was first reported by sources, including prominent sports journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Postecoglou delivered on his promise of “always” winning in his second season thanks to the 1-0 victory over Manchester United in Bilbao on May 21.

It etched head coach Postecoglou’s name into the history books as only the third Spurs boss to taste European success and the first in 17 years to lift silverware – provoking an outpouring of affection from a previously split fanbase.

While Postecoglou divided opinion across two years in England and attracted criticism during a torrid 17th-placed Premier League campaign, his San Mames triumph appeared enough to earn him year three.

Postecoglou even delivered a mic-drop moment during a euphoric open-top bus parade in front of an estimated 220,000 people when he declared “season three is better than season two”, but chairman Daniel Levy had other ideas and has dismissed the man to deliver him a much-craved trophy.

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

“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.”

Brentford boss Thomas Frank has been installed as the bookmakers’ favourite to replace Postecoglou, who departs only 24 months into a long-term deal following a rollercoaster ride in his first Premier League role.

A run of eight wins from his first 10 league fixtures – despite the high-profile departure of Harry Kane – propelled Spurs to the summit but a sign of things to come was a thrilling loss to Chelsea in November, 2023 where several injuries occurred.

Fifth place in Postecoglou’s debut campaign still represented an impressive finish but cracks started to emerge during a 2-0 loss at home to Manchester City where some Tottenham fans were conflicted given a positive result would have put rivals Arsenal in the driving seat for the title.

Postecoglou later acknowledged that he misjudged the mood, but further run-ins would follow.

A slow start to the 2024-25 campaign was followed by Postecoglou’s second season trophy claim and a strong run of form as Spurs emphatically defeated Manchester United, Aston Villa and Manchester City.

Guglielmo Vicario’s fractured ankle in a 4-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium was quickly followed by serious setbacks for Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven in a 4-3 home loss to Chelsea on December 8.

Further injuries meant Postecoglou was regularly without 10 players throughout a jam-packed December and January where Tottenham lost eight of their 11 league fixtures.

The Carabao Cup provided solace until a 4-0 loss at Liverpool in the last-four, which meant it was Europa League or bust for Postecoglou.

A last-16 tie with AZ Alkmaar was navigated and, while Postecoglou aimed a cupped ear celebration at his own fans away to Chelsea in April, he managed to get a sinking ship back on track to knock out Eintracht Frankfurt before Bodo/Glimt were thrashed in the semi-finals after supporters’ responded positively to the Australian’s call-to-arms.

It was then all eyes on San Mames, where Postecoglou’s bold second season declaration came to fruition.

Brennan Johnson’s first-half goal proved the difference as Spurs clinched a narrative-busting 1-0 win but euphoric celebrations in Spain, at an open-top bus parade and during a carnival final-day atmosphere were played out against a backdrop of uncertainty over the future of Postecoglou.

Even though Postecoglou expressed his desire to take Tottenham to the “next level” and received public backing from various players, chairman Levy has focused on a worst ever Premier League finish of 17th instead of a first trophy since 2008 and dismissed the Greek-born coach.

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Thousands descend on north London as Tottenham celebrate Europa League win with open-top bus parade

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Thousands of people have descended on north London to celebrate Tottenham Hotspur's Europa League victory against Manchester United.

Manchester United were beaten in Bilbao as Spurs won their first European trophy in 41 years.

Brennan Johnson, who celebrates his birthday today, scored the only goal before a rearguard display saw Spurs hold their nerve and spark wild scenes in Spain and back in N17.

Thousands of people could be seen lining the streets as the Spurs squad and coaching staff began their victory parade in Edmonton Green, before making their way to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Fans could be seen on rooftops, climbing bus stops and clambering on scaffolding to get a glimpse of the team after their first trophy win in 17 years.

A white double-decker bus with “Europa League winners” written across the front was stationary for a lengthy period of time before it started to move down the High Road at 5.30pm to chants of “glory, glory Tottenham Hotspur” from supporters young and old.

Estimates put the number of fans in north London today at as many 150,000.

Speaking from atop the victory bus, defender Mickey Van Der Ven, who made a crucial clearance in the final, said: “Unbelievable man. Yeah I slept a little bit (in the last 48 hours).

“Emotional, so emotional. The season we’ve had, it was so difficult, but we got the trophy and we’re so happy. I’m so proud of the boys.

“If you experience this, you want to do it over and over again. We’re going to try to do the same beautiful things next season.”

This is Spurs’ first trophy parade since a 1991 FA Cup win and club greats were on hand to reflect on the achievements of the class of ’25 before the team bus started to slowly move down the High Road.

Graham Roberts scored a crucial goal the last time Tottenham claimed European success in the 1984 UEFA Cup and backed Ange Postecoglou’s side to chase more silverware now.

Roberts said: “This will give them belief now. All that pressure that was there, that’s gone.

“We have to strengthen our squad, but I think we have a great bunch of boys.

“They love Ange, they went round him, they cuddled him, they wanted him in the photos. The team spirit is there.

“We’ll get more now, the rest will come. Wednesday was one of the greatest nights. I had tears in my eyes.

“We were in the fan park, me and Ledley (King). The fans were magnificent. They deserve it. I just hope we get a team on the pitch on Sunday.”

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Tottenham victory parade: Route and times revealed

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Tottenham victory parade details: Route and times revealed

Tottenham will celebrate Europa League success with an open-top bus parade around the streets of north London on Friday night.

Manchester United were beaten in Bilbao as Spurs won their first European trophy in 41 years. Brennan Johnson scored the only goal before a rearguard display saw Spurs hold their nerve and spark wild scenes in Spain and back in N17.

Ange Postecoglou declared earlier this season that he always wins a trophy in his second year at a club and he has delivered on that, leading Spurs to a first piece of silverware since 2008.

Read More: Manchester United ‘keep faith’ with Ruben Amorim despite final loss to Tottenham

Read More: Tottenham win Europa League final after beating Manchester United 1-0 in Bilbao

The victory parade, will begin around 5.30pm on Friday at Fore Street in the Edmonton Green region, travel down High Road past Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before it concludes in the stadium’s service yard on Northumberland Park.

The open-top bus parade will last approximately “between 60-90 minutes”, with a staging area to be erected outside the stadium on Paxton Terrace to host the players and coaching staff for a presentation of the trophy to fans.

Tottenham declined the opportunity to hold an open-top bus parade after Carling Cup glory in 2008 and instead presented the trophy to supporters before a UEFA Cup fixture with PSV Eindhoven.

The 1991 FA Cup final victory over Nottingham Forest at Wembley was marked with a parade around the club’s old White Hart Lane stadium.

Johnson’s scrappy first-half finish proved the difference at San Memes and helped Tottenham end a 17-year wait for silverware.“

It means everything, honestly. Ever since I joined the club, I just thought this club is way too good to have not won a trophy in so long,” Johnson said.

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Fans accused of ‘losing control’ on streets of Bilbao as Spurs and Man Utd supporters descend on city

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Manchester United and Tottenham fans have been accused of ‘losing control’ ahead of the Europa League final in Bilbao.

Up to 70,000 fans have travelled to the city and there have been reports of clashes ahead of the match.

Both sets of clubs were allocated 15,000 tickets for the final - with thousands of ticketless fans turning up to watch.

Spanish news outlet EFE reported some fans were ‘losing control’ on the city’s streets.

Elsewhere in nearby San Sebastián, footage emerged of a fight breaking out between two sets of supporters.

Two large groups were seen throwing tables, chairs and wheelie bins at each other at around 9.20pm last night.

Spanish authorities have fortified Athletic Bilbao's San Mames Stadium, located in the city centre, with a three-metre high fence and stringent security measures.

More than 3,000 police officers will be deployed in the city and will oversee three security rings around the stadium, restricting access only to ticket holders and local residents starting on Wednesday morning.

Fan zones with giant screens, amusements, and more than 60,000 litres of beer have been set up outside the city centre to attract fans without match tickets away from the centre.

Bilbao mayor Juan Mari Aburto said: "We are very excited and proud to host this game. We want (English fans) to see what we are like, the passion we feel, the good values of football and our culture.”

A police spokesperson confirmed this morning that no arrests have been made in either Bilbao or San Sebastian thus far.

“In relation to the incidents arising out of the celebration of the Europa League final we have no information on any serious occurrences,' the spokesperson said.

“No one has been seriously injured and there have been no arrests so far.

“It's true there was a fight in San Sebastian's Old Town which started for reasons that are still being investigated and which involved the throwing of missiles by two rival groups.

“But that incident didn't lead to any arrests.”

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Man Utd and Spurs fans face eye-watering costs for Europa League Final - flights and hotels soar past £3,000

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Man Utd and Spurs fans face eye-watering costs for Europa League Final - flights and hotels soar past £3,000 - lbc.co.uk
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Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur supporters are being charged thousands of pounds to book last-minute trips to the Europa League final.

Thousands of fans from both clubs are heading to Bilbao for Wednesday's all English showdown, which kicks off at 9pm local time (8pm BST).

Supporters have already started to trickle into the city on the north Spanish coast, but some are still looking to arrange travel and accommodation for the crunch fixture.

Direct return flights from the UK to Bilbao currently cost more than £1,000, hotel rooms are at least £1,200, while match tickets are available on resale websites from about £500.

EasyJet is charging £1,823 to fly from Gatwick to Bilbao on Wednesday morning and return on Thursday morning.

A return trip from Heathrow with British Airways – out on Wednesday morning, back on Thursday afternoon – costs £1,288.

Spanish airline Vueling is offering flights from Gatwick on Tuesday night, returning on Thursday night, for £1,179.

A return trip on the same route a week later is available from just £116.

Those travelling without tickets will also have to shell out a further £500 to be able to be inside the San Mames Stadium for the final.

Some Man Utd and Spurs supporters were able to buy tickets through official channels from just £34, but they are currently only available on marketplace Ticombo from about £500.

The cheapest hotel rooms in central Bilbao on the night of the match are being sold on Booking.com for about £1,200.

That is compared with £78 on Thursday night.

Airline pricing is generally driven by demand, with fares rising for a flight as more seats are filled.

Booking.com, which does not control the pricing of accommodation listed on its website, previously urged providers to “act fairly”.

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Liverpool win Premier League after thrashing Tottenham 5-1 to equal Manchester United's record

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Liverpool have been crowned Premier League champions after beating Tottenham Hotspur.

A 5-1 victory over Tottenham at Anfield saw the Reds crowned English champions for the 20th time, equalling Manchester United's record.

Gary Neville heaped praise on Arne Slot after Liverpool won the Premier League title in the Dutchman's first season in charge.

"This one, with Arne Slot coming in in his first season, is an incredible achievement and a brilliant coaching performance," former Manchester United defender Neville said in commentary on Sky Sports.

"He deserves huge credit for the way he's handled everything. People might say 'OK (Manchester) City and Arsenal have dropped off' and they have, but that's not Liverpool's problem.

"They've been consistent, reliable and they have performed at a really high standard all season. They've been adaptable in games and fully deserve it."

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk hailed his side as the "truly deserved" champions of England after they secured the Premier League title with four games to spare.

A 5-1 victory over Tottenham at Anfield saw the Reds crowned English champions for the 20th time, equalling Manchester United's record.

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"It's special and it's something that we don't take for granted. It's amazing," Van Dijk told Sky Sports as he and his team-mates celebrated on the pitch.

"A lot of emotions before the game, during the whole week, but we got the job done and we (are) truly deserved champions of England.

"(Liverpool is) the most beautiful club in the world and I think we deserve all of this. Let's enjoy the next couple of weeks and let it sink in."

Liverpool's title triumph is their second in five years and came in Arne Slot's first season since succeeding Jurgen Klopp in charge.

Slot insisted he had not been concerned when Dominic Solanke gave Spurs an early lead, with Luis Diaz equalising shortly afterwards before Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah and an own goal from Destiny Udogie sealed a comfortable win.

"It wasn't ideal but it didn't take me a long time to trust these players, they always come back, they always find a way to win," Slot told Sky Sports.

Asked how he had made winning the title appear so easy, Slot added: "That's not only my job, it's the job of the players and the staff members standing over there and the work Jurgen (Klopp) and Pepijn (Lijnders) left behind over here.

"The culture of the team, the work rate, the quality was outstanding. We all knew that. We started off really well and it maybe helped a bit that (Manchester City) had a difficult spell, which they hadn't had in five years.

"When the season started everyone would have been happy if we were in the top four for Champions League again but I don't think that was fair to our players because they are much better than that and that's what they have showed this season."

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Southampton suffer earliest relegation in Premier League history after Tottenham defeat

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Southampton have suffered the earliest relegation in Premier League history after a 3-1 defeat against Tottenham.

The Saints are the first team ever to be relegated from the league with seven games of a season remaining and are still a point short of equalling Derby's record low 11-point haul from 2007-08.

Brennan Johnson's first-half brace and Mathys Tel's stoppage-time penalty, following Mateus Fernandes' 90th-minute goal, condemned Southampton to relegation with seven games remaining – breaking the previous record of six matches – ensuring an immediate return to the Championship.

However, the south coast club's dreadful season could worsen, as Ivan Juric's team, currently on 10 points, is just one point away from matching the lowest-ever tally in a Premier League season, held by Derby County, who finished with 11 points in 2007/08.

A beleaguered Southampton offered the ideal opposition for Spurs to gain some confidence and momentum ahead of Thursday's Europa League quarter-final first-leg against Eintracht Frankfurt at the Hotspur Stadium.

The victory was also a much-needed boost for under-fire Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou, as Spurs ended their four-game winless league streak, climbing to 13th in the table.

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