Charlie Eccleshare has pointed out Tottenham Hotspur could sack Ange Postecoglou on the same day he wins an award. The Australian coach is feeling the heat again following Spurs' shock 1-0 defeat to Eredivisie outfit AZ Alkmaar in the UEFA Europa League.
Postecoglou had ridden out the storm of a difficult start to the year when his side lost five Premier League games on the bounce. A 4-1 win over Ipswich Town lifted the mood around the club, followed by a 1-0 victory over fellow strugglers Manchester United.
The Europa League is Tottenham's only chance of ending their 17-year trophy drought, but Lucas Bergvall's own goal means they'll have to turn things around on home soil next Thursday (March 13). Daniel Levy backed Postecoglou with three signings in January, including Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich, but the pressure is back on the 59-year-old after his side's stumble in the Netherlands.
Postecoglou Could Be Sacked But Win PL Award
The Spurs boss oversaw an impressive February
Postecoglou's Tottenham future may rest on the outcome of their second-leg encounter with AZ, and that could lead to his dismissal if they fail to advance to the Europa League's quarter-finals.
The Athletic's Eccleshare, who covered Spurs for years, highlighted that if Postecoglou were to be sacked the day after that game, this could coincide with him winning the Premier League's Manager of the Month award:
"It’s possible Ange could be sacked next Friday and win the Premier League manager of the month award on the same day."
Postecoglou has been nominated for February's Premier League Manager of the Month award. He joins Liverpool's Arne Slot, Everton's David Moyes, Fulham's Marco Silva and Crystal Palace's Oliver Glasner.
The Lilywhites enjoyed a resurgence last month, with three wins and one defeat in four games. This quietened the noise regarding a potential relegation scrap, with Postecoglou's men now 13th but still encountering issues.
GIVEMESPORT Key Achievement: Ange Postecoglou is the only manager to win the Premier League Manager of the Month award in each of his first three months in the competition
If Levy were to sack Postecoglou and he were to win the Manager of the Month award, it would be a first in English top-flight history. That said, Nuno Espirito Santo endured somewhat of a similar fate in charge of Spurs, winning the award in August 2021 before Levy pulled the plug three months later.