Tottenham are likely to sack Ange Postecoglou even if he guides the club to Europa League glory, according to reports.
It has been a chastening second season in charge for the Australian, with Spurs suffering their 18th Premier League defeat on Monday against Nottingham Forest.
The north London club struggled badly with injuries to key players throughout large parts of the season.
However, even with several players now back and starting, Tottenham have still won just one of their last seven league games following a 4-1 win over Ipswich Town at the end of February.
Tottenham’s only hope of saving their season lies in the Europa League, where they face Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in the semi-final first leg next week.
But, according to the Telegraph, Spurs are now likely to part ways with Postecoglou at the end of the season, even if they secure a return to the Champions League by winning the Europa League.
Postecoglou was confident earlier in the season that he would bring silverware to Tottenham this season for the first time since 2008.
But even if he does so, the 59-year-old may ultimately pay the price for his side’s miserable form in the league, which has them on course for their lowest finish in the Premier League era.
Speaking prior to their second-leg Europa League win over Eintracht Frankfurt, Postecoglou admitted he was unsure what his future held beyond the end of the season.
‘I’ve no idea, I’ve not thought about those things,’ said the Spurs boss. ‘What I do know is that I’ve an opportunity to get to the final four of a major tournament and that’s where my focus is.
‘You either think I’m capable of doing the job now or you don’t. And if people think us winning makes me a better manager than I am today or us losing makes me a worse manager, that’s their burden not mine.
‘There’s no burden on me. There’s no anxiety.
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‘I’m thinking we’ve a great opportunity to get to the final four of a major tournament and I’m not letting that slip by without a fighting tooth and nail for it, irrespective of what may come the day after.’
Should Tottenham indeed decide to part ways with Postecoglou, reports suggest that Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola and Fulham boss Marco Silva are among the favourites to replace him.
Iraola has impressed greatly on the south coast and has the Cherries fighting for a spot in Europe next season after just two seasons in charge.
Silva, meanwhile, has Fulham a spot below Bournemouth in ninth and has led the west London club to the Carabao Cup semi-finals and FA Cup quarter-finals in the last two seasons.
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