Tottenham Hotspur's manager Ange Postecoglou could be facing a precarious future at the club following allegations that his players have "quitting" on him.
The 59 year old, who assumed managerial duties at Spurs in June 2023, has had a less than stellar season with the team currently sitting uncomfortably in 14th place in the Premier League after suffering 13 defeats.
Their aspirations of making it to the Carabao Cup final were also shattered when Liverpool handed them a crushing 4-0 defeat on Thursday, overturning Spurs' 1-0 lead from the first leg.
Despite these setbacks, it is believed that the decision makers at Spurs, including chairman Daniel Levy, are still rallying behind their embattled boss, as evidenced by their willingness to make moves in the January transfer window.
However, former Watford striker Troy Deeney has voiced concerns that Postecoglou may have lost the dressing room, claiming that the players simply gave up against Liverpool. "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 further pointed out that only one player faced the media post-match, reinforcing his assertion that the Spurs squad have downed tools for their beleaguered manager.
Should Spurs decide to part ways with Postecoglou, Express Sport has identified five potential successors, starting with Andoni Iraola.
Bournemouth's Spanish manager has become one of the most coveted coaches 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 term.
Despite a significant injury crisis that saw him lose both his strikers, Evanilson and Enes Unal, the 42 year old has managed admirably.
He is among the bookies' top picks to succeed should Postecoglou's reign end - though it would likely require a substantial sum to buy him out of his Bournemouth contract.
Thomas Frank, the Brentford manager, has received plaudits for leading his team to the Premier League via Championship play-off promotion in the 2020/21 season and maintaining their top-flight status since then. Known for his side's attacking prowess, Frank is considered a prime candidate for any move due to his expressed willingness to eventually leave the Bees.
In a revealing conversation from December 2024, the Danish coach outlined his considerations for potentially leaving a club: "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 is their finances good? Can you get the players in and out you want to? I think that's the key," he explained.
He also pondered over his career ambitions, adding: "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, despite having managed Chelsea more recently, still holds a deep connection with his former club Tottenham Hotspur. Dismissed by chairman Daniel Levy towards the end of 2019 after a spell of poor performances, Pochettino had previously steered Spurs to a Champions League final, only to be bested by Liverpool.
Speaking to BT Sport in November 2022, Pochettino expressed a heartfelt desire to 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 around 5/1, his ambition to guide the United States national team in the 2026 World Cup might pose a significant obstacle.
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Kieran McKenna's managerial flair has been shining brightly at Ipswich, as he guided the team to Premier League promotion after a long 22-year gap. Despite currently struggling in 19th place with just three wins, McKenna's deep connection to Spurs, having served seven years with their academy and later joining as an Under-18s coach in 2015, marks him as an intimate connoisseur of the club.
His impressive lower league record coupled with his youthfulness presents him as an intriguing prospect for Daniel Levy, with bookmakers placing odds of around 11/2 for him to take the reins should Ange Postecoglou exit.
Edin Terzic, on the other hand, is presently unattached post his Borussia Dortmund farewells last summer. He masterminded a journey to the Champions League final during the 2023/24 season, only to concede to Real Madrid despite dominating.
His accolades include lifting the DFB-Pokal trophy back in the 2020-21 season. In a twist of fate, despite being touted for Besiktas' managerial spot, it appears Tottenham might be his next destination amid speculations around Postecoglou's tenure.
According to Football London, Serdal Adali, President of Besiktas, told Tivibu Spor in a previous month about Terzic: "Edin Terzic was one of our foreign alternatives. In the meeting, he said he was expecting an agreement with Tottenham. That book is closed."
Yet, it was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who ultimately assumed command of the Turkish squad.
This article was originally published via the Mirror.
