The Mirror

Tottenham are searching for their fifth permanent manager in six years after sacking Ange Postecoglou, with chairman Daniel Levy looking to the Premier League for a replacement

Thomas Frank leads a five-man shortlist Tottenham chiefs have drawn up as they search for a replacement for Ange Postecoglou. Spurs sacked the Australian on Friday, despite him leading them to winning the Europa League.

That was the club's first major trophy for 17 years and their first piece of European silverware since 1984. But Postecoglou paid the price for an awful Premier League campaign.

Spurs won just 11 top-flight games and ended up 17th in the table, their lowest finish since being relegated in 1977. While the Europa League win ensured the season was not a failure, chairman Daniel Levy opted to make a change.

It means that Spurs will be looking for their fifth permanent manager of the last six years. In that time, Ryan Mason has also had two periods as caretaker boss, while Cristian Stellini also had a spell in interim charge.

While the first summer transfer window remains open for the next three days, Levy's attention will turn to who he could bring in to replace Postecoglou. It appears that this time, Spurs will look for an appointment from inside the Premier League.

According to BBC Sport, Brentford boss Frank is at the top of the shortlist. Frank has emerged as one of the top-flight's best coaches during his time in charge of the Bees, since taking over in 2018.

He led them to promotion to the Premier League in 2021 and has since transformed them into a solid top-flight outfit. They finished 10th in the table this season and reached the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

Also in contention is Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola, who built his reputation with La Liga's Rayo Vallecano. The Spaniard led the Cherries to a record Premier League points haul this season as they finished ninth.

The third man on the list is Marco Silva, who has solidified Fulham's place in the Premier League. Silva had the reputation for being somewhat of a mercenary during his first years in English football.

He took charge of Hull, Watford and Everton in the space on two years. But since taking over the Cottagers in 2021 he has restored himself, leading them to the Championship title in 2022.

Having won the FA Cup with Crystal Palace, Oliver Glasner is also in contention. The Austrian has only been at Selhurst Park for 18 months and suffered a difficult start to this season, but came through it to lead Palace to their first-ever major trophy.

Finally, a familiar name to crop up whenever the Spurs job becomes available is once again on the list. Mauricio Pochettino turned Spurs into title-challengers during his five years at the club from 2014 and is now in charge of the United States national team.

It is unknown how serious Tottenham's interest in Pochettino is, and given he spent a year with Chelsea it may be an unpopular move. The Argentine may even be likely to turn down an approach as he focuses on leading the USA in a home World Cup next summer.

Thomas Frank is among the frontrunners to become the next Tottenham manager after they sacked Ange Postecoglou - and the Brentford boss has made his feelings clear about moving on

Brentford boss Thomas Frank has previously claimed he has "one of the best jobs in football" with Tottenham considering an approach to make the Dane their new manager.

The north London side sacked Ange Postecoglou on Friday despite the Australian ending their 17-year wait for a trophy. Europa League success though wasn't enough to see him keep his job and Daniel Levy showed him the door after a poor Premier League season.

Attention has turned to his successor - which could well be Frank with Tottenham bosses keen. He has two years left on his contract however as well as a big buy-out clause written into the deal which he signed back in December 2022.

Since Frank was appointed at the Bees he's led them to promotion from the Championship and been able to establish them as a top flight side. All that despite him losing his top talent as Brentford continue to cash in on their leading lights for major profits.

Despite that the Brentford boss believes he's blessed to be in charge at the Gtech Community Stadium, hailing the environment he'd worked in.

He previously told Sky Sports : "I may be in one of the best football jobs in the world. I mean that because the work environment is so good, the owner is so good, it's such a good environment. Everything is top. Do you want to try something different in the future? That's the thing. Maybe, but it's not like I need to try something bigger or better. Because what is better? I'm definitely very ambitious and I think I can achieve everything I want to with Brentford."

Frank has enjoyed huge continuity and loyalty from the Bees. Even during periods where results have gone against them the club's bosses has kept faith with their man in the dugout.

Tottenham and Levy have proved to be a much more ruthless environment. The club are eyeing another new manager with Postecoglou, Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte shown the door in recent years. Both Nuno and Conte have gone on to enjoy success since.

Jose Mourinho was famously sacked before a cup final and Tottenham have shown that even trophies will not supersede league form by sacking the former Celtic boss - a move which has proved hugely divisive.

Tottenham made the bombshell decision to sack Ange Postecoglou on Friday after two years in charge and it appears that call has not gone down well with some members of the squad

Tottenham stars have been left ‘angry’ by the decision to sack Ange Postecoglou, with some even planning to quit the club. Spurs announced on Friday that the Australian’s two-year spell had been brought to an end.

It follows a dire Premier League campaign in which the North London side finished 17th, albeit they still managed to end their long trophy drought by winning the Europa League and thus securing a spot back in the Champions League.

But chairman Daniel Levy has still decided to make a change. And that call has not gone down particularly well with some members of the Spurs squad.

According to The Telegraph, a number of players have been left ‘angered’, with it also being suggested that some now want to leave in the wake of Postecoglou’s own departure. Some stars believe that his eventual successor has a huge task of repairing the dressing room damage currently on show at the club.

A number of Spurs stars have already spoken out on Postecoglou’s departure on social media. Pedro Porro was the first to respond as he wrote: "Thank you for everything, boss. For mentoring me early on, helping me settle into the club, and trusting me out on the pitch.

"I’ll always be grateful for the way you led us, defended us, and kept us going through all the highs and lows. Above everything, you gave us one of the greatest moments in the club’s history and for that, you’ll always be celebrated. Wishing you all the very best, boss."

Teammate Richarlison also had a heart-warming message for his outgoing boss. He said: "Mister, massive thanks for helping me out and believing in me during one of the trickiest periods of my carreer and my life.

“Everyone who loves the Spurs will remember that Big Ange always bags trophies in his second season. We've made history! Cheers and good luck on your journey! I'll always be rooting for you."

Fellow forward Dominic Solanke added: "Thank you for bringing me to this wonderful club, thank you for bringing us a wonderful trophy, Won't ever forget the convo we had before I signed and we achieved a dream! All the best in your next adventure."

Who should Spurs appoint next? Share your thoughts in the comments below

Lucas Bergvall said: “Thank you for everything you have done for me. Thank you for bringing this club a European trophy and memories to last a lifetime for us and every Spurs fan around the world. Wishing you all the best

“Gaffer, Thankyou for everything! Believed in me from the first day I arrived at the club,” defender Micky van de Ven added. “Many ups and downs in the last two years but you kept believing in us and kept pushing us.

“Big part of the success from the club this year, and forever grateful that u made me part of it. All the best.”

Tottenham announced the end of Ange Postecoglou’s time at the club on Friday after an awful season and Daniel Levy’s feelings on the Australian appear to be very clear

Ange Postecoglou rounded off his Tottenham tenure with a heartwarming gesture to a fan but was met with silence by Daniel Levy. The Australian departed the club on Friday after two years.

His exit comes just a fortnight after ending the club’s 17-year trophy drought by winning the Europa League. Spurs have explained that the decision to sack him came due to their awful Premier League campaign.

And while his time in North London is over, one fan in particular will have lasting memories of Postecoglou. According to The Athletic, Spurs supporter Jeremy Conrad met the former Celtic boss and his family while on holiday in Greece following the European success.

He reportedly thanked him for all he had done for the club. Conrad then followed that up by sending a lovely letter and a bottle of wine to Postecoglou’s villa.

Postecoglou was determined to reply in kind. He thanked the supporter at breakfast the next day, while he also handed him a signed shirt with a message reading: “To Jez. Ange. COYS!”

And while that heart-warming gesture will no doubt go down very well with Spurs supporters, chairman Levy has made his feelings on Postecoglou very clear. In the club’s announcement, there were no quotes from Levy despite him having spoken out on the two major departures from the club this summer: coach Ryan Mason and executive director Donna-Maria Cullen.

One the former, he said: "Ryan has been an integral part of Tottenham Hotspur for a number of years, both as a player and a coach. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Ryan for all his dedication and hard work over the years, and we wish him every success for the future."

Meanwhile, Levy penned a lengthy message for Cullen. He wrote: “Donna has made an immense contribution to the Club, over an extensive period. Her diverse responsibilities grew significantly and replacing her roles with a single individual will be impossible.

“While many may associate her primarily with marketing and communications, Donna's impact extends far beyond those areas. Notably, her leadership and political acumen at planning committees, was instrumental in the Club being able to build one of the finest stadiums and training centres in the world.

Did Postecoglou deserve to be sacked? Share your thoughts in the comments below

“She deserves recognition for the contribution she played in the formation of the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, which has positively impacted countless individuals in our communities, and in establishing the London Academy of Excellence, providing children with exceptional educational opportunities.

“Donna has pushed the conscience of the Club to be at the forefront of environmental and diversity initiatives. She also played a crucial role in supporting the amateur part-time Spurs Ladies, enabling the development of our professional women’s team.

“Her daily input will be greatly missed, however she fully deserves to take time for herself, and I know that we shall be able to call upon her advice when needed. We wish her well for the future.”

Spurs have already launched their search for a new manager, with Brentford’s Thomas Frank at the top of the list. Postecoglou in the meantime will have the summer off following his exit.

The writing was on the wall long before Bilbao. In fact, Ange Postecoglou knew in his heart of hearts that he was going to be sacked no matter the outcome of the Europa League final.

And anyone who suggests differently is not in tune with the soap opera which has been Tottenham’s bizarre season. Postecoglou was a likeable fella, his sound bites were nearly as entertaining as his football but ultimately the Tottenham hierarchy had no alternative but to pull the trigger.

Tottenham feared they would just be repeating the mistake that Manchester United made with Erik ten Hag by getting sucked in by the emotion of winning a cup final.

United were ready to sack ten Hag, the Dutchman won the FA Cup and they stuck with him - only to then get rid of him a few months later.

They wasted time and money by allowing loyalty and sentiment to creep into what had to be a cold hearted decision on the manager.

That was a brutal lesson for Spurs who won their first trophy in 17 years under Big Ange and are back in the Champions League. But what is the point of being there if they end up losing every game?

It is obvious what did for Ange. The 22 defeats in the Premier League and finishing just a place above the drop zone is just unacceptable for Tottenham. The fans loved their European glory and that wonderful night in Bilbao after beating Manchester United. But you days later, they got thumped 4-1 by Brighton. They went from the sublime to the ridiculous. And it had been happening all season.

Make no mistake. Postecoglou never lost the dressing room. He kept motivating them. His tactics were bewildering and naive at times. The players, by the end, were not convinced he could turn it round for next season.

The fans loved Postecoglou in the first half of that first season. They topped the table, were great to watch and yet fell away so badly, ended up in fifth and missed out on a Champions League spot. However, Postecoglou’s reign was more memorable than Antonio Conte, Jose Mourinho and Nuno Espirito Santo all put together. It was fun. And the Spurs fans were still torn up until last Christmas.

There were injuries - and didn’t Ange let us know - and, despite a lot of spending, the club did not back him with very good signings.

The Europa League run was the salvation. They could lose at home to Leicester and Ipswich - yet still get past Eintracht Frankfurt. It made no sense.

Postecoglou was also a piece of work. In more than 30 years of covering Spurs games and press conferences, no manager has read every word of every piece like Big Ange. How on earth did he find the time? And do we really matter that much? Yes, according to him.

Postecoglou pulled me up when I wrote on April 7 that he would - and indeed should - be sacked even if Tottenham won the Europa League. It was opinion and also backed up by the “growing feeling” within the club that he would go.

Most managers would go mad. Not Big Ange. He actually went back and said he had no problem with the piece as it reflected the “general sentiment” of how people perceived his situation.

You could not help but like Postecoglou. I did think even a suggestion that he could be a “clown” as one colleague wrote, was so harsh. Postecoglou deserved more respect. But even one diehard season ticket holder, so jubilant after the Europa League final, rang in a fury after the Brighton game.

The party and celebrations did not last long. And that is the risk that Tottenham could not take.

They have to appoint a manager with a stature, determination and gravitas to lead them into the Champions League. Even though Postecoglou won a trophy, it was not enough to save him.

The club, in its statement, said it was a “tough decision.” But the reality was different. The statement said: “Ange will always be remembered as only the third manager in our history to deliver a European trophy, alongside legendary figures Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw.

“However, the Board has unanimously concluded that it is in the best interests of the Club for a change to take place. Following a positive start in the 2023/24 Premier League (PL) season, we recorded 78 points from the last 66 PL games.

“This culminated in our worst-ever PL finish last season. At times there were extenuating circumstances - injuries and then a decision to prioritise our European campaign.

“Whilst winning the Europa League this season ranks as one of the Club’s greatest moments, we cannot base our decision on emotions aligned to this triumph.

“It is crucial that we are able to compete on multiple fronts and believe a change of approach will give us the strongest chance for the coming season and beyond.

“This has been one of the toughest decisions we have had to make and is not a decision that we have taken lightly, nor one we have rushed to conclude. We have made what we believe is the right decision to give us the best chance of success going forward, not the easy decision.”

Ange Postecoglou has been removed from his post as Tottenham head coach just weeks after winning the Europa League and one player has shared a tribute on social media

Pedro Porro has taken to Instagram to thank Ange Postecoglou for giving Tottenham 'one of the greatest moments' in the club's history after he was sacked by Daniel Levy on Friday.

Spurs confirmed that Postecoglou, 59, had been relieved of his duties in a club statement, bringing to an end weeks of speculation over the Australian's future. His axing comes just two weeks after he ended the club's 17-year trophy drought by winning the Europa League in a final showdown with Manchester United in Bilbao.

The decision to sack Postecoglou has divided opinion, with Tottenham's appalling Premier League campaign - where they finished 17th after losing 22 games - cited as the primary reason behind Levy's decision.

But news of Postecoglou's departure has left fans furious - and Porro paid tribute to his former manager with a touching social media post amid the uproar.

The right-back wrote: "Thank you for everything, boss. For mentoring me early on, helping me settle into the club, and trusting me out on the pitch.

"I’ll always be grateful for the way you led us, defended us, and kept us going through all the highs and lows. Above everything, you gave us one of the greatest moments in the club’s history and for that, you’ll always be celebrated. Wishing you all the very best, boss."

Postecoglou issued a classy statement of his own shortly after news of his departure was made public. The former Celtic chief, who had made no secret of his desire to stay on at the club, tipped his players to go on to even better things - even without him at the helm.

He wrote: “When I reflect on my time as Manager of Tottenham Hotspur my overriding emotion is one of pride.

“The opportunity to lead one of England's historic football clubs and bring back the glory it deserves will live with me for a lifetime. Sharing that experience with all those who truly love this club and seeing the impact it had on them is something I will never forget. That night in Bilbao was the culmination of two years of hard work, dedication and unwavering belief in a dream.

“There were many challenges to overcome and plenty of noise that comes with trying to accomplish what many said was not possible. We have also laid foundations that mean this club should not have to wait 7 more years for their next success.

“I have enormous faith in this group of players and know there is much more potential and growth in them.

“I sincerely want to thank those who are the lifeblood of the club, the supporters. I know there were some difficult times but I always felt that they wanted me to succeed and that gave me all the motivation I needed to push on.

“It's important to acknowledge the hard working people at Spurs who gave me encouragement on a daily basis.

“And finally, I want to thank those who were with me every day for the last two years. A fantastic group of young men who are now legends of this football club and the brilliant coaches who never once doubted we could do something special.

“We are forever connected. Audere est Facere.”

Spurs confirmed the bombshell decision to sack Ange Postecoglou on Friday with infamous Arsenal fan Piers Morgan having reacted to the announcement with a short message on social media

Piers Morgan has joked that Ange Postecoglou’s sacking was ‘inevitable’ once he won the Europa League. The Australian was brutally dismissed by Spurs on Friday just over two weeks after ending the North London side’s trophy drought.

Postecoglou’s side narrowly beat Premier League rivals Manchester United 1-0 in Bilbao - securing them their first trophy in 17 years. Despite that, chairman Daniel Levy has opted for a change due to their rotten Premier League form.

Arsenal fan Morgan has reacted, jokingly suggesting that the success Postecoglou brought to the club has led to his departure. Writing on Twitter, he said: “Inevitable… can’t have a Spurs manager who actually wins European trophies.”

Despite that claim, Spurs have explained exactly why they decided to show Postecoglou the door - their disappointing Premier League campaign being a major factor. A statement on Friday read: “The Board has unanimously concluded that it is in the best interests of the Club for a change to take place.

“Following a positive start in the 2023/24 Premier League (PL) season, we recorded 78 points from the last 66 PL games. This culminated in our worst-ever PL finish last season.

“At times there were extenuating circumstances - injuries and then a decision to prioritise our European campaign. Whilst winning the Europa League this season ranks as one of the Club’s greatest moments, we cannot base our decision on emotions aligned to this triumph.

“It is crucial that we are able to compete on multiple fronts and believe a change of approach will give us the strongest chance for the coming season and beyond. This has been one of the toughest decisions we have had to make and is not a decision that we have taken lightly, nor one we have rushed to conclude. We have made what we believe is the right decision to give us the best chance of success going forward, not the easy decision.”

Who should Spurs appoint as their next manager? Share your thoughts in the comments below

Tottenham are now on the hunt for Postecoglou’s eventual replacement, with Thomas Frank having been earmarked as one of the favourites for the job. But a deal for the Brentford tactician looks tricky.

He has a £10m release clause written into his deal with the Bees and it remains to be seen whether Spurs would be willing to activate that having already paid out £5m in a severance package to end Postecoglou’s time at the helm.

Tottenham Hotspur and Ange Postecoglou have finally parted ways, despite the club's Europa League success, as the club's dire Premier League performance ultimately proves costly

In the end, Tottenham Hotspur emperor Daniel Levy and the Spurs hierarchy decided it wasn’t enough. Ange Postecoglou, despite winning the Europa League and earning Champions League football, had to go.

Confirmation came on Friday afternoon, after months of speculation, that the ex-Celtic manager had been sacked. Ironically, the man who broke the club’s 17-year wait for a trophy was binned on the two-year anniversary of his appointment.

A club statement declared: "We are extremely grateful to Ange for his commitment and contribution during his two years at the club. Ange will always be remembered as only the third manager in our history to deliver a European trophy, alongside legendary figures Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw.

"However, the board has unanimously concluded that it is in the best interests of the club for a change to take place. Following a positive start in the 2023/24 Premier League (PL) season, we recorded 78 points from the last 66 PL games.

"This culminated in our worst-ever PL finish last season. At times there were extenuating circumstances - injuries and then a decision to prioritise our European campaign. Whilst winning the Europa League this season ranks as one of the club’s greatest moments, we cannot base our decision on emotions aligned to this triumph.

"It is crucial that we are able to compete on multiple fronts and believe a change of approach will give us the strongest chance for the coming season and beyond. This has been one of the toughest decisions we have had to make and is not a decision that we have taken lightly, nor one we have rushed to conclude.

"We have made what we believe is the right decision to give us the best chance of success going forward, not the easy decision."

In a week where both coach Ryan Mason and executive director Donna-Maria Cullen left the club and Levy was quoted when both exits were announced, it was startling that there were no words from the chairman.

The decision to part ways with Postecoglou will cost the club £4million in compensation. That is on top of the £2m bonus he has earned for winning the Europa League.

A replacement may also be expensive, particularly if they pursue Brentford chief Thomas Frank, who is high in their thinking.

All in, it was a decision Spurs decided they had to make. It is also a costly one.

Next Tottenham manager: Spurs' No.1 pick to replace Ange Postecoglou - and how much he'll cost

Tottenham are now on the hunt for their next manager after making the decision to dismiss Ange Postecoglou but already face a huge hurdle in their pursuit of their preferred option

Tottenham already have Brentford boss Thomas Frank right at the top of their managerial shortlist - but there’s a major £10m problem to overcome first. The North London side have their eyes on the Dane in the aftermath of sacking Ange Postecoglou.

The Australian was brutally axed after two years in the job following a dismal Premier League campaign. Chairman Daniel Levy made the decision to change manager just a few weeks after the ex-Celtic boss ended the club’s long trophy drought by winning the Europa League.

A number of names have been mentioned as potential replacements for Postecoglou but one option has emerged above the rest: Frank. He has a number of admirers for his work with the Bees having established them as a stable Premier League outfit.

And while he is the outstanding candidate for the role, the finances behind it could potentially prove problematic. Spurs face an eye-watering bill of over £10m should they want to make a move for Frank.

He currently has two years left on his contract with Brentford, with a huge buy-out clause written into that deal. There is also a belief that Frank has a gentleman’s agreement with his current side to remain for a further campaign, albeit that resolve could be tested should Spurs activate his release clause.

Away from Frank’s release clause, Spurs have also had to fork out after deciding to sack Postecoglou. A severance package of around £5m has been agreed with him and his staff, while the North London side also paid around £2m in a bonus for their Europa League success.

Postecoglou’s potential replacement Frank has already spoken out on his future. But he denied that he was planning on leaving Brentford any time soon.

He said: “Right now, of course, I am committed. I just lost to Fulham, our local rivals, so [I am] fuming in every aspect. So yes, I am committed like I have always been.”

Spurs’ statement confirming Postecoglou’s departure on Friday read: “We are extremely grateful to Ange for his commitment and contribution during his two years at the Club. Ange will always be remembered as only the third manager in our history to deliver a European trophy, alongside legendary figures Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw.

Who should Spurs appoint as their next manager? Share your thoughts in the comments below

“However, the Board has unanimously concluded that it is in the best interests of the Club for a change to take place. Following a positive start in the 2023/24 Premier League (PL) season, we recorded 78 points from the last 66 PL games. This culminated in our worst-ever PL finish last season.

“At times there were extenuating circumstances - injuries and then a decision to prioritise our European campaign. Whilst winning the Europa League this season ranks as one of the Club’s greatest moments, we cannot base our decision on emotions aligned to this triumph.

“It is crucial that we are able to compete on multiple fronts and believe a change of approach will give us the strongest chance for the coming season and beyond. This has been one of the toughest decisions we have had to make and is not a decision that we have taken lightly, nor one we have rushed to conclude. We have made what we believe is the right decision to give us the best chance of success going forward, not the easy decision.”

Tottenham board explain why they had to sack Ange Postecoglou on two-year anniversary

Ange Postecoglou was sacked on Friday evening despite winning the Europa League last month, ending the club's 17-year wait for a major trophy

Tottenham Hotspur's board insists they had to sack Ange Postecoglou due to the club's dismal Premier League record under the Australian.

Postecoglou was sacked on Friday evening despite winning the Europa League last month, ending the club's 17-year wait for a major trophy. His dismissal comes two years to the day that he was appointed.

Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League after one of the worst league seasons in their history, with Postecoglou ultimately paying the price for that failure.

Spurs said in a statement: "We are extremely grateful to Ange for his commitment and contribution during his two years at the club.

"Ange will always be remembered as only the third manager in our history to deliver a European trophy, alongside legendary figures Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw.

"However, the board has unanimously concluded that it is in the best interests of the club for a change to take place. Following a positive start in the 2023/24 Premier League (PL) season, we recorded 78 points from the last 66 PL games.

"This culminated in our worst-ever PL finish last season. At times there were extenuating circumstances - injuries and then a decision to prioritise our European campaign.

"Whilst winning the Europa League this season ranks as one of the club’s greatest moments, we cannot base our decision on emotions aligned to this triumph.

"It is crucial that we are able to compete on multiple fronts and believe a change of approach will give us the strongest chance for the coming season and beyond. This has been one of the toughest decisions we have had to make and is not a decision that we have taken lightly, nor one we have rushed to conclude.

"We have made what we believe is the right decision to give us the best chance of success going forward, not the easy decision."

Postecoglou said in a statement: "When I reflect on my time as manager of Tottenham Hotspur my overriding emotion is one of pride.

"The opportunity to lead one of England's historic football clubs and bring back the glory it deserves will live with me for a lifetime. Sharing that experience with all those who truly love this club and seeing the impact it had on them is something I will never forget.

"That night in Bilbao was the culmination of two years of hard work, dedication and unwavering belief in a dream.

"There were many challenges to overcome and plenty of noise that comes with trying to accomplish what many said was not possible. We have also laid foundations that mean this club should not have to wait 17 more years for their next success. "I have enormous faith in this group of players and know there is much more potential and growth in them."