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Tottenham will feel vindicated after Ange Postecoglou’s departure over the summer.

Postecoglou won the UEFA Europa League for Tottenham in his final season in North London.

But his poor Premier League results meant that Thomas Frank took over as Spurs head coach.

Frank’s start to the league was one that the Australian most likely desired. However, doubts have arisen about whether Nottingham Forest is the right next step for Postecoglou.

Despite this, there still seems to be a handful of individuals who are firmly in the former Spurs manager’s corner.

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This article includes exclusive comments from Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham.

Ange Postecoglou rewarded with Nottingham Forest job

The former Tottenham manager departed Hotspur Way with a host of new suitors knocking on his door.

Postecoglou answered Nottingham Forest’s call, becoming head coach following the departure of Nuno Espirito Santo. However, his first game at Forest ended in a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Arsenal.

But given his success at Spurs, Tottenham expert and Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – believes Postecoglou deserves to take this next step in his career.

“Really pleased for him and I’m sure he’ll do an outstanding job as he did at Tottenham,” Wenham said.

“I’ve seen some people deride what he achieved, but he won the biggest trophy for the club in 41 years. In his first season, he finished fifth as well. So in my opinion, two hugely successful seasons and he’s been quite rightly rewarded with a job that’s popped up straight away.”

What was Ange Postecoglou’s record at Tottenham?

Lifting the Europa League with Tottenham was no doubt the highlight of Postecoglou’s time in North London.

But his stint at Spurs was characterised by extreme highs and the lowest of lows. The Lilywhites’ incredible start to the season unravelled during a 4-1 defeat to Chelsea in November 2023 when they went down to nine men over the course of the game.

In his second season, Tottenham finished 17th on the table with 22 defeats – the most any team had accumulated without being relegated.

All in all, what Postecoglou achieved with Spurs cannot be taken from him. But legend or not, his poor league performances indicate that a change was needed.

Lucas Bergvall has gone from strength to strength as a player since he arrived at Tottenham.

The midfielder only joined the ranks in N17 last summer, but was one of the main beneficiaries of the unprecedented injury crisis that the Lilywhites suffered last term.

Bergvall has quickly established himself in the Tottenham first-team, despite being a relative unknown when he first came into the club.

He caught the eye with a goal and an assist in the recent win over West Ham, and Thomas Frank will be desperate to keep him involved regularly.

Lucas Bergvall agreed to join Barcelona before Tottenham deal

Bergvall agreed to join Tottenham on his 18th birthday in February 2024, despite having seemingly been destined to sign for Barcelona in the days prior.

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The Djurgarden starlet was already a regular feature for his side in the Swedish Allsvenskan, and they pocketed a total fee of around £8.5million as part of the deal with the North Londoners.

However, it has now emerged that things could have been very different, had it not been for Dejan Kulusevski.

The Sweden international is understood to have played a key role in convincing his countryman to choose Spurs over Barcelona, according to Spanish outlet AS.

The Blaugrana were on the verge of signing him for a package of around £13m, and even had an agreement in place for personal terms with Bergvall and his entourage.

However, Kulusevski and Spurs were able to tempt the youngster to the Premier League instead, for a package which AS have now suggested rose as high as £17m.

Spurs have long-term midfield star in Lucas Bergvall

It’s already become clear that Spurs have an exceptional talent in Bergvall, and it would be no surprise to see him become a key part of their midfield for many years to come.

The 19-year-old played more football than anyone was expecting last term, as he notched 45 appearances in all competitions in his first campaign outside of his homeland.

Frank will have loved what he has seen from him so far, and performances like his one against West Ham should be the catalyst for more and more minutes to be thrown his way as the season progresses.

Kulusevski has also been exceptional for the Lilywhites in the last few years, but one of his best actions may well have come away from the pitch, in convincing Bergvall to change his mind.

Champions League expert makes exciting Tottenham prediction that fans will love

Tottenham fans have a lot to look forward to during their return to the Champions League.

Thomas Frank will commence his first Champions League campaign when Tottenham take on Villarreal at home on Tuesday evening.

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is usually jam-packed on match days. But it has since been revealed that Tottenham and Frank will be greeted by empty seats on 16 September.

The dip in the home crowd could be a difficult barrier to overcome, but the Dane will be determined to end his debut in the competition on a high note.

Andy Brassell predicts top eight for Tottenham

A supercomputer recently predicted that Tottenham have a minimal chance of making the Champions League final.

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However, European football expert Andy Brassell told talkSPORT on Tuesday that Spurs have a “great chance” of making the top eight.

“If we talk about pacing ourselves and Jeff Stelling was talking about the physical load on players and squads, I think Spurs are in a really interesting position,” he said.

“If you look at the fixtures they’ve drawn, it’s not the worst run of fixtures anyone’s got.

“But I just wonder, obviously, people look at Liverpool and Arsenal, Spurs are going to be able to ease into this. I think they’ve got a great chance of making the top eight, and then you get that rest in February when everyone else is playing a double header.”

With the Joe Lewis family prioritising Spurs’ sporting success over other ventures, a top-eight finish would be a welcome feat.

What is Tottenham and Villarreal’s recent form?

This will be the first meeting between Tottenham and Villarreal in a European competition, and it is a highly anticipated confrontation.

The last time the two sides met was during a friendly in 2010, where the Spanish team bagged a 4-1 victory over the North London side.

Heading into the game, Spurs have won three in their last five games while Villarreal have won two.

A win against Villarreal could be crucial for boosting morale for the remaining Champions League games.

Tottenham recently put three past West Ham to secure another Premier League victory at the London Stadium. But with all eyes now on the challenge ahead, Spurs’ recent form in the league may have little influence on the outcome of their upcoming game.

Martin Ho reveals how he will ‘make a difference’ with Tottenham Women

Tottenham Women look to have entered a new era under Martin Ho.

Tottenham sacked Robert Vilahamn after an 11th-place finish in the Women’s Super League last season.

Ho was subsequently appointed by Tottenham to transform the team into a more competitive side.

Tottenham Women’s opening clash against West Ham ended in a victory, while another win over Everton followed. Despite the small sample size, things seem to be looking up.

Martin Ho reveals his desire to raise Tottenham Women’s ‘ceiling’

Back-to-back victories in the WSL for Tottenham Women have definitely made it easier for fans to back Ho.

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The new coach was handed several reinforcements over the summer. Japan international Toko Koga arrived at Tottenham Women, while Molly Bartrip and Luana Buhler both extended their contracts with Spurs.

But given his limited experience coaching in the WSL in a permanent managerial position, there were some reservations about Ho’s appointment.

Nevertheless, he seems determined to take the North London club to the next level, telling The Standard on Tuesday, 16 September that he intended to “make a difference.”

He said: “The thing that gets me out of bed is I know I’ve got to come in and make this player better, I’ve got to come in and do this to make a difference.

“Me having that in my head, that little bit of added pressure, makes me give myself that extra 10 or 15 per cent. But I know I back myself as a coach to bring more out of a player. Every player has a ceiling, but I believe that within this group, we haven’t got anywhere near anyone’s ceiling yet.

“When you get these world-class talents in, you should still be able to develop them, no matter age, where they’ve come from, where they’ve played. I know that we can make anyone better, and I’ll make sure this environment continues to do that.”

How have Tottenham Women performed in the WSL so far?

Tottenham Women have had a promising start to their 2025/26 WSL campaign following a disappointing end last season.

As well as back-to-back victories, Spurs are yet to concede a goal, keeping two clean sheets in two games.

Ho has created a team that attacks and defends as a unit. One able to keep possession and create chances, but also defend when the opposition is on the attack.

While it is still early days, this compactness was something Vilahamn lacked during his final stretch in North London.

There will no doubt be an eagerness for Ho to keep things up. But given the results the Lilywhites are already producing, it seems the decision to sack Vilahamn is well on its way to being vindicated.

Tottenham fans will be loving the positivity surrounding their Women’s side.

Tottenham Hotspur are back in Champions League action on Tuesday.

Thomas Frank’s side come into the game against Villarreal off the back of an impressive 3-0 win at West Ham on Saturday.

Tottenham are back in the Champions League for the first time since the 22/23 season, where they were knocked out by AC Milan.

Spurs welcome Villarreal to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as they look to start their European adventure with a win.

The Europa League holders will be targeting a deep run in the Champions League with a squad capable of competing with the best sides in the competition.

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Former Arsenal midfielder in line to feature for Villarreal

Spurs will face Villarreal for the first time in a competitive fixture in the opening round of Champions League fixtures.

Thomas Partey was one of the summer signings for the La Liga outfit, joining on a free transfer from Arsenal.

The midfielder returns to North London for the first time since leaving the Gunners, and there has been an update on his legal issues ahead of the game.

Partey, who is facing trial for rape, is due in Southwark Crown Court just hours after Villarreal’s Champions League fixture at Spurs.

The former Arsenal player will appear in court on Wednesday morning, 17 September, to answer the charges against him.

The 32-year-old is accused of five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. The allegations relate to three women, who reported incidents which took place between 2021 and 2022.

The Ghanaian denies all charges that have been brought against him.

Partey has featured in all four La Liga games for his new side, both starting and coming off the bench.

Tottenham have players to cause problems in Europe

Spurs have enjoyed a good start to the season domestically and will look to bring it into Europe.

Frank has some decisions to make in the starting XI as he looks to balance his squad across the season.

Randal Kolo Muani could make his Tottenham debut, while fellow new signing Xavi Simons may get his second successive start.

João Palhinha and Lucas Bergvall have been excellent in midfield and will be looking to continue their good form.

Mohammed Kudus and Richarlison are also options up front, with Frank looking to utilise his squad depth for a deep Champions League run.

Ex-Tottenham boss odds slashed on him being new Rangers manager amid Ibrox crisis

Tottenham could see another former manager back in action over the coming days.

Ange Postecoglou is the most recent Spurs manager to take up a new position. Postecoglou was sacked by Tottenham over the summer after a series of poor Premier League performances.

The Lilywhites finished 17th during the 2024/25 season and suffered 22 defeats – the most without facing relegation.

Postecoglou replaced former Spurs manager Nuno Espirito Santo at Nottingham Forest earlier this month. However, a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal has many questioning whether Forest is the right fit for the previous Tottenham coach.

But Postecoglou is not the only former Lilywhites coach who could settle into a new position this month, with Rangers nearly in crisis at Ibrox.

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Jose Mourinho has 5/1 chance to become Rangers boss

Tottenham loaned Mikey Moore to Rangers over the summer to continue his development plan.

However, the Spurs loanee’s start at his temporary club has come with its trials and tribulations. Rangers currently sit 10th in the Scottish Premiership after failing to win a single one of their five games.

As a result, Russell Martin is in danger of getting the sack less than four months after taking over.

Former Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has emerged as a candidate to replace the current Rangers manager if he does go.

According to Sky Bet on Tuesday, 16 September, Mourinho has a 5/1 chance of taking over at Ibrox, with his odds already slashed.

It was suggested that Mourinho wanted to sign Spurs midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur at Fenerbahce. However, the ‘Special One’ was recently dismissed from his position in Turkey after just over a year at the helm.

What was Jose Mourinho’s record at Tottenham?

Mourinho spent 516 days in charge at the North London club, which was full of ups and downs.

In 86 games played, the Portuguese coach won 45 games, was defeated on 24 occasions and saw 17 matches end in a draw.

Despite this, he was sacked by Tottenham after a poor run of Premier League form. His final game was a 2-2 draw with Everton after winning just one of his last five league games.

After an inconsistent couple of seasons, Mourinho will be hoping that his next job will mark a positive turn – could that be at Rangers?

Tottenham have undergone several dramatic changes over the past couple of months.

Change has been the biggest motivation in North London since June.

Ange Postecoglou was replaced by Thomas Frank, while Vinai Venkatesham officially got to work as Spurs CEO.

Daniel Levy stepping down as Tottenham chairman came as a shock to most involved at Spurs. Levy had held the position for almost 25 years and, in several respects, had become the face of the club.

But the Joe Lewis family seem determined to transform Tottenham, even if it means making a few unpopular decisions along the way.

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This article includes exclusive comments from Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham.

Adam Gardiner appointment sparks concern

Tottenham appointed Adam Gardiner as their new Chief Marketing Officer shortly after Levy vacated his position.

The Lilywhites pinched him from Arsenal, similar to Venkatesham, whose work at Tottenham has already been praised.

However, Tottenham expert and Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – has highlighted some poor habits at Arsenal, sparking legitimate concern.

“Apparently, he’s very good, from people who have worked with him or tweets I’ve seen,” Wenham said.

“My only concern is that Arsenal over the last five to seven years have been run more as a fashion house than a football team, with constant launches of new kits to hide from defeats or disappointing performances.

“So as long as the focus is certainly on football and pushing Tottenham on at that level. I’m far more interested in that than a new eighth kit for the season.”

Tottenham are entering a new era

The Lewis family have made Spurs’ sporting success their chief priority moving forward. As such, they have already taken several steps to meet their objective.

Venkatesham has begun transforming the Lilywhites’ communications department, incorporating an element of openness into the club’s structure. Fans have been at the heart of the project, with feedback taken on board by Spurs’ senior figures.

The Lilywhites’ recent transfer window has been seen as another step in this new direction. Spurs signing of Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig is hoped to be the start of several elite transfers. Meanwhile, Randal Kolo Muani, arriving on loan from PSG, came as a shock on deadline day.

Therefore, Spurs are entering a new era where sporting results have become the cornerstone of their project and business ventures have taken a backseat.

Thomas Frank has revitalised Tottenham’s Premier League form following a horrible 17th-place finish under Ange Postecoglou last season.

Frank’s side once again looked excellent on Saturday as Tottenham comfortably beat West Ham, with that win seeing Spurs move up to third in the table.

The Dane was named Spurs boss in June following seven years in charge at Brentford. With how Spurs have started the season, that appointment looks to have paid off and then some.

Spurs kick off their Champions League campaign against Villarreal on Tuesday. This is their first time in Europe’s premier club competition since the 2022/23 season under Antonio Conte.

Tottenham had training on Monday in preparation for a busy week, with a clash against Brighton following hot on the heels of the clash against Villarreal on Tuesday.

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Cristian Romero seen doing push-ups as punishment

Cristian Romero was appointed Tottenham captain in August and has led by example on the pitch. He has helped keep three clean sheets in only four league games so far.

According to Football.London, during Monday’s training session, the Argentinian defender was made to do push-ups after being in the middle too often during a rondo.

While far from a serious punishment, the discipline being instilled by Frank into this squad demonstrates the expectations placed upon them. It shows that not even the captain is exempt from being punished.

After Romero’s push-ups, the two were seen hugging and laughing together. A good relationship between the manager and skipper will prove vital in maintaining a positive atmosphere in the dressing room as the season wears on.

Fans have had plenty to feel good about on the pitch, and were ecstatic when it was recently announced that Daniel Levy stepped down as chairman.

Thomas Frank’s tactics are what Tottenham needed

Spurs’ frailties last season were often blamed on Ange Postecoglou’s tactics. While Tottenham’s results have been impressive, what is really noticeable is how Spurs have evolved in their style.

Frank has organised his team and given them a clear, much more pragmatic approach than they had last year. They are playing with much less risk on the defensive side, and that has helped them massively.

Tottenham did not struggle in finding the back of the net last year, but now they have a system that is working to get the best out of already world-class defenders.

With both sides of the ball looking reliable, why can’t Spurs kick on and compete across all four fronts? Signs of promise are already clearly there that something special is in the works in North London.

Where are they now? Tottenham’s last Champions League starting XI ahead of Villarreal tie

Tottenham begin their Champions League campaign against Villarreal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday.

Spurs have never won the Champions League, but did reach the final in 2019.

Thomas Frank’s enjoyed a promising start to life at Tottenham, with the club sitting third in the Premier League.

Tottenham won the Europa League last season, meaning that they will play in Europe’s elite competition for the first time since 2022/23, when Antonio Conte was in charge.

Three Tottenham starters remain from 0-0 draw vs AC Milan

Spurs crashed out of the round of 16 in 2023, losing 1-0 on aggregate to AC Milan.

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The second leg finished 0-0, and only three of the starters on that day currently remain at the club.

Brahim Diaz’s first-leg strike at the San Siro was enough to see off Tottenham, with the loss signalling the beginning of the end of Conte’s reign at the club.

Of the players that remain at the club today, Dejan Kulusevski, Cristian Romero and Ben Davies all started that day, whilst Pape Matar Sarr, Richarlison and Brandon Austin were on the bench.

Romero was sent off in the second leg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as Spurs managed just two shots on target in the whole match.

The starting lineup was:

Club legends Kane and Son have left the club for Germany and North America, respectively, whilst Forster was released this summer.

Perisic enjoyed Dutch glory with PSV last season, whilst Lenglet and Hojbjerg will also feature in the Champions League for Atletico Madrid and Marseille.

Since that match, 923 days have passed, and Spurs are back amongst Europe’s elite, where they wish to put down a marker against a resilient Villarreal side.

Tottenham must be wary of tricky Villarreal test

Tottenham will need to perform well if they’re to pick up three points against Villarreal, with the Spanish side currently fifth in La Liga.

During pre-season, they went to the Emirates and beat Arsenal, and only suffered their first loss of the season against Atletico Madrid.

Former Arsenal star Nicolas Pepe is in red-hot form, whilst former Spurs full-back Juan Foyth is set for a reunion with the club he spent three years at.

Tuesday’s match is not their easiest nor their hardest league phase match, but Spurs will need to be alert to Villarreal’s counter-attacking style.

Xavi Simons was superb against West Ham and will look to star in the Champions League for Spurs, whilst Lucas Bergvall will hope to retain his place in the team following his man-of-the-match performance at the London Stadium.

Tottenham are unlikely to win the Champions League, but a strong performance against The Yellow Submarine could send a message of intent out to their rivals.

Tottenham could face a disadvantage heading into the game against Villarreal on Tuesday.

Tottenham welcome Villarreal to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in their opening UEFA Champions League game on 16 September.

The match comes after Spurs obtained all three points against West Ham in a 3-0 victory at the London Stadium. Now third in the Premier League table, the Lilywhites will feel confident heading into the confrontation.

However, Thomas Frank is set to encounter a small issue as the hours tick down before facing the Spanish side.

Tottenham tickets to face Villarreal remain on sale

Randal Kolo Muani’s Tottenham debut could come against Villarreal, as well as three other changes to the team who travelled to the London Stadium.

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However, the Paris Saint-Germain loanee could debut in front of thousands of empty seats at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

According to The Mail on 15 September, the opening fixture has not grabbed the “public imagination”, with a crowd of 54,000 expected, but tickets remained on sale at the time of writing.

Two reasons have emerged for the low uptake, including blame over ticket prices ranging from £27 to £96 and the “limited appeal” of the opposition.

As a result, Frank could have more than Dominic Solanke’s injury to worry about heading into the confrontation.

Tottenham and Villarreal’s record heading into the game

Tottenham and Villarreal have met once before in a 4-1 friendly won by the La Liga side in 2010.

Fast forward, and Spurs’ recent form slightly edges their opposition. Indeed, the Lilywhites have won three in their last five, losing against Bournemouth and drawing against PSG in the UEFA Super Cup final before missing out on penalties.

Meanwhile, Villarreal have won two in their last five, losing two and drawing against Celta Vigo in La Liga.

With their mighty form and a home advantage, Tottenham are expected to bag a win on the night.

However, with Frank’s only experience of managing in a European competition coming during the UEFA Europa League qualifiers, it could be an uphill battle for the Lilywhites.