Ange Postecoglou's position as manager at Tottenham could be in jeopardy after accusations of his players "quitting" on him have surfaced.
The 59-year-old, who took the helm at Spurs in June 2023, has had a less than stellar season with his squad currently sitting uncomfortably in 14th place in the Premier League after 13 defeats. Their dreams of making it to the Carabao Cup final were also shattered when Liverpool handed them a 4-0 drubbing on Thursday, despite Spurs going into the second-leg tie with a 1-0 advantage.
Despite the turmoil, Spurs' decision makers are reportedly still rallying behind Postecoglou, with chairman Daniel Levy's willingness to make moves in the January transfer market highlighting this support. However, ex-Watford striker Troy Deeney has suggested that Postecoglou's men simply threw in the towel against Liverpool, sparking fears he may have lost the dressing room.
"Anyone who has played the game will tell you most of those Spurs players quit, gave up," Deeney penned in The Sun. "Not on each other or themselves, but quit on the manager, the fan base, everything."
He also pointed out that he saw just one player step up for media duties post-match, further fuelling his assertion that Spurs' players have downed tools for their beleaguered manager.
Should Spurs decide to part ways with Postecoglou, football.london has taken a look at five potential successors.
Andoni Iraola
The Bournemouth manager has quickly become one of the most coveted managers in the Premier League. The Cherries have been a revelation this season, currently occupying seventh place in the league, with Iraola outperforming Postecoglou, Mikel Arteta, Pep Guardiola, Ruben Amorim, Enzo Maresca and Eddie Howe so far this campaign.
Despite a significant injury crisis that saw him lose both his strikers, Evanilson and Enes Unal, the 42-year-old has managed to keep the team performing at a high level. As per the Express, he is now among the bookies' favourites to take over if Postecoglou's reign comes to an end - although it would likely require a hefty sum to release him from his Bournemouth contract.
Thomas Frank
The Brentford boss has received plaudits for leading his team to the top flight via the Championship play-offs in the 2020/21 season and maintaining their Premier League status since then. Known for his team's attacking prowess, Frank is considered a strong candidate for any potential move due to his expressed willingness to eventually leave the Bees.
In a revealing conversation in December, the Danish coach outlined his thoughts on potential career moves, saying: "I think the club you're going into, can you instantly improve it? Is there low-hanging fruits, or is it difficult to raise the bar?
"And are their finances good? Can you get the players in and out you want to? I think that's the key. I think there's a part of me that thinks that one day, maybe I need to try something different. Is that a bigger club, Champions League, bigger challenge? I don't know."
Mauricio Pochettino
Pochettino, despite more recently being at the helm of Chelsea, still holds a deep connection with his former club. The Argentinian tactician was dismissed by Levy in late 2019 after a spell of poor performances, despite having guided Spurs to a Champions League final earlier that year, where they were bested by Liverpool.
Reflecting on his tenure and future prospects during a November 2022 interview with BT Sport, Pochettino expressed a heartfelt desire for a return: "Deep in my chest, my soul, my heart - I am sure that we will cross [paths] again. My dream is to be back and to try to finish the work that we didn't finish."
However, even with betting odds sitting around 5/1, Pochettino's ambition to steer the United States national team in the 2026 World Cup could pose a significant obstacle to any potential reunion.
Kieran McKenna
McKenna has certainly caught the attention with his managerial magic at Ipswich, guiding them back to the Premier League after a 22-year absence. Despite the fact that Ipswich find themselves in a tricky position, languishing in 19th place with only three wins, McKenna's deep roots at Tottenham - from his seven years at Spurs' academy to his comeback as an Under-18s coach in 2015 - suggest he knows the North London club like few others do.
His impressive stride in the lower leagues and relative youth could make him a compelling candidate for Levy, with odds at about 11/2 for him taking the helm if Postecoglou exits.
Edin Terzic
Meanwhile, Terzic is on the market following his stint at Borussia Dortmund, where he not only took the team to the Champions League final last season but was crucial in securing the DFB-Pokal during the 2020-21 term. Despite whispers of Terzic being in talks with Besiktas, the Turkish outfit's chief Serdal Adali confessed on Tivibu Spor last month that Terzic was eyeing a spot at Tottenham amid speculation over Postecoglou's tenure.
"Edin Terzic was one of our foreign alternatives. In the meeting, he said he was expecting an agreement with Tottenham. That book is closed," Adali revealed.
In an interesting twist, it was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who ultimately clinched the managing role at the Istanbul club.