Ange Postecoglou believes the demise of Erik ten Hag shows why leading Tottenham to a trophy will not guarantee long-term success.
Ten Hag was sacked by Manchester United on Monday despite winning the Carabao Cup and FA Cup during his two-and-a-half years at Old Trafford.
Poor Premier League form and a lack of clear playing style ultimately contributed to Ten Hag being dismissed, but ahead of Spurs’ fourth-round Carabao Cup tie at home to Manchester City, Postecoglou conceded it was not a huge surprise.
“Nah, not really shocked. Disappointing as it was, it was almost inevitable with the scrutiny he had,” Postecoglou said.
“If you look at Erik, he was there for two and a bit years. He won a trophy in each year, they finished third in his first year. If he was here with that record would he have lost his job? I don’t know.
“Would he be under the same scrutiny? I don’t know, because everyone tells me all I have to do is win a trophy, but I have got a feeling it would be the same because, just the nature of the world today.
“As a manager you have to hit a sweet spot where you get success, you play football everyone likes, you get every signing right. In that moment you seem to get some sort of validation. Anything other than that, it seems to be for some clubs they want trophies not football, others want football. It is a difficult task.
“But what you have seen in the past, I’m sure Erik will bounce back from that because he is a good manager. You have seen it with other managers. I’m sure his career will continue to go on strongly.”
Ten Hag had the sympathy of managers around the Premier League a day after he was sacked, with most saying they could face the same fate any day in the results-driven business.
United have appointed their assistant manager and former striker Ruud van Nistelrooy to take over on an interim basis with the club languishing 14th in the Premier League after nine games and 21st in the Europa League table.
“I feel very sorry for him, it’s one of the best jobs in football,” Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said. “There’s only us, it’s not teachers or architects or something like that.
“I wish him all the best and he will come back stronger. If the results aren’t good enough, you get sacked. No one is different, myself included.”
Slot believes Ten Hag will manage another top club soon
Liverpool manager Arne Slot said that, as a fellow Dutchman, Ten Hag’s dismissal hit harder, but believes the coach will land on his feet.
“Always your first thoughts are with the person,” Slot said. “We are all in this job so we know that it can happen, but if it happens – especially because I know him a little bit and I know how much work he puts into it – to get this news for him is a pity.
“We also know, especially us from Holland how well he did at Ajax [Amsterdam] and he won two trophies over here, so we will see him in the near future again at a big club,” Slot added.