Ange Postecoglou's spell as Tottenham Hotspur manager has come to an end. Despite his miraculous Europa League run, which ended Spurs' 17-year trophy drought, the Australian gaffer will not continue at White Hart Lane next season, as Thomas Frank has already been announced as the new manager.
While I believe giving Ange another chance would not be a terrible idea, once he earned the benefit of the doubt with that trophy, I will maintain my stance on Spurs making the right move by letting him leave as a legend and looking for a better long-term solution for the head coach role.
Indeed, many people might argue it is crazy to fire a manager who has finally delivered a trophy to N17 after almost two decades, something that would only happen at Tottenham.
However, some might forget the context behind Ange's firing. Besides the 17th-place league finish, with a record 22 league losses, the Spurs did not exhibit any signs of tactical evolution or perspective that would enable the team to consistently compete at the highest level. On the contrary, Spurs looked completely different from what was promised by Ange, as fans did not see Ange Ball quite as often, and the feeling of defeat was almost certain every weekend.
Inconsistent and Unsustainable
Earlier this season, I wrote a piece questioning whether Ange had given up his principles, which I thought was not the case at the time. But, in the light of more recent events, I changed my mind as Ange Ball became a rarer phenomenon at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, or anywhere, really. The epitome of Ange Ball's downfall was the last matchday, a 4-1 home loss against Brighton.
Although the match indeed followed the Europa League title celebrations, I don't believe that is a valid excuse. After all, winning at home in the last match of the season with an Olympic trophy run at full-time should be enough motivation for any player. However, what was seen that day was Brighton doing exactly what Ange had praised during his entire time at the helm, and the problem is that it had happened all season.
Even though Ange's "parking the bus" won us the Europa League (and there is nothing wrong with that), the fact that Spurs abdicated their principles for the majority of the season made it impossible to make any diagnosis on the team's tactical development. Therefore, the Spurs almost completely lost their identity throughout the season.
And, even before that, the concept of Ange Ball already showed signs of being unsustainable since the last third of the 2023/2024 campaign.
With the team often being overly exposed in transitions and the press demonstrating shakiness at times, opponents would often find themselves in a position of numerical superiority, scoring goals with ease. As Ange Ball was rightfully questioned by many, as a hardcore Ange believer since the beginning, I admit I eventually lost faith in his model.
When I coldly analyzed the holes in Ange's systems and his lack of adaptability (rarer rather than typical) in playing the high lines, the Spurs were easily the most inconsistent side in the league. The gap between the team's floor and ceiling was larger than that of any other team, as Tottenham would score four goals in one week and lose by six on another.
Ange was a lovely lad, but moving on was the right decision
I admit Ange was right when he said Spurs needed a trophy more than anything, and he will always be remembered as a legend for winning the third continental trophy for Tottenham. Still, I stand by my mantra that a clear project and consistency will pave the way to winning silverware, and, unfortunately, Ange's philosophy has not demonstrated any of these qualities in recent times.
Ange will be in mine and all Spurs fans' hearts forever. He is an admirable person and a unique leader, possessing many attributes of a great manager. However, I couldn't see his vision on the team anymore, as the results and inconsistency throughout this season have made his style unsustainable in the long run for Spurs.
Moreover, even though Ange's decision to abdicate the league to win the Europa League worked out, it was highly irresponsible, in my opinion. It is too easy to say you abdicated the Premier League when you have a trophy in your hands, but if things had gone South, Ange would have never made such a statement to the press, as he would have been fairly criticized for it. And, this is no question on Ange's character, but simply me contesting his approach on the matter.
Therefore, Levy's decision might have been unorthodox, but it was brave and the correct move for Tottenham Hotspur's future. It was best for Ange to leave as a club legend rather than possibly pulling an Erik ten Hag and leaving under criticism, as hopefully Thomas Frank can provide a better perspective for now and beyond.