Tottenham Hotspur have shocked the football world by sacking manager Ange Postecoglou just 16 days after he led the club to Europa League glory. The Australian coach, who delivered Spurs’ first major trophy in 17 years with a 1-0 win over Manchester United in Bilbao, leaves the club two years to the day after his appointment. While the European success will be remembered as a historic moment, the club’s dismal Premier League form ultimately sealed his fate.

Spurs finished 17th in the league this season, their worst top-flight campaign in years, losing 22 of their 38 matches. Despite the Europa League triumph, the club’s leadership decided a change was necessary after a full review of performances. In a statement, Tottenham thanked Postecoglou for his contribution, calling the European victory “one of the club’s greatest moments.” However, they emphasized that the decision to part ways was not based on emotions but on the need for improvement after a difficult domestic season.

Postecoglou, who joined Spurs from Celtic in 2023, had promised silverware in his second season and delivered on that pledge. The victory in Bilbao made him only the third manager in the club’s history to win a European trophy. Yet, the joy of that achievement could not mask the struggles elsewhere. In a farewell message, Postecoglou expressed pride in his work, saying, “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.” He added that the Europa League win was the result of two years of hard work and belief in the face of doubt.

The decision to sack him is likely to split opinion among fans. Some will argue that winning a trophy should have earned him more time, while others will point to the alarming league form as justification for the move. Postecoglou’s departure continues a turbulent period for Spurs, who have now gone through four managers since Mauricio Pochettino’s exit in 2019.

Names already being linked to the job include Brentford’s Thomas Frank, Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, Fulham’s Marco Silva, and Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner. There is also speculation about a possible return for Pochettino, who is currently managing the United States national team. Whoever takes over will inherit a squad that has shown it can compete in Europe but has struggled badly in the Premier League.

Postecoglou’s time at Spurs started brightly. Despite losing Harry Kane to Bayern Munich shortly after his arrival, he led the team to an impressive start in the 2023-24 season, winning three consecutive Manager of the Month awards. But a late-season collapse saw them miss out on Champions League qualification, and things only got worse this season. Injuries to key players and a stubborn commitment to his attacking style left Spurs vulnerable, and a series of poor results saw them slide dangerously close to the relegation zone at times.

Since November 2023, Tottenham have picked up just 78 points from 66 league games—the 16th-best record in the division over that period. Their only real bright spot in domestic competition was a run to the Carabao Cup semi-finals, where they were hammered 4-0 by Liverpool after a narrow first-leg lead.

For Postecoglou, the Europa League win was a personal triumph, but it wasn’t enough to save his job. His sacking highlights the brutal reality of modern football, where short-term results often outweigh long-term projects. Spurs will now begin yet another managerial search, hoping to find a coach who can bring consistency to a club that has swung between moments of brilliance and long stretches of frustration.

As for Postecoglou, his reputation remains intact. He leaves as a trophy-winning manager, and his next move will be watched with interest. But for Tottenham, the challenge is clear: find a way to turn European success into sustained domestic improvement. Otherwise, the cycle of hiring and firing may continue.