Having transformed from “clown” to conqueror in 97 hard-to-watch minutes of football in Bilbao, Ange Postecoglou quoted another divisive figure in Australian history – former Prime Minister Paul Keating – as he reflected on his latest triumph and turned the spotlight to Tottenham’s boss Daniel Levy.
After Postecoglou helmed Spurs to a 1-0 win over Manchester United in the Europa League final, delivering the club a first trophy in 17 years and first European cup in 41, he made it clear he wanted to stay to lead the club into the Champions League next season.
Despite the drought-breaking success for a club used to high profile slip ups, Ange was unable to clarify the next steps, with reports that his time is coming to an end at the club despite the win, having overseen a disastrous Premier League campaign.
Before a decision is made, Postecoglou will stand on an open top bus for a parade through north London on Saturday (AEST).
It’s a celebration he will relish and if he’s going through the exit door, he’s not going quietly.
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Tottenham’s chairman, Levy, is the club’s kingmaker and has been in the role for 24 years. Ultimately it will be his call on Ange’s future and there were a few pointed messages to his boss in the Australian’s post-match comments.
After the pair embraced on the pitch post-game, Postecoglou raised a statement by Levy early in his tenure that clearly stung the Australian.
“I’d be disappointed if we couldn’t continue on this path,” Postecoglou said.
“It’s not a criticism, I understand why it would be difficult for a club like this to buy into one person’s vision. I remember even when I signed, Daniel said, ‘we went after winners, it didn’t work, now we’ve got Ange’.
“Mate, I’m a winner, I’ve been a serial winner my whole career, it’s what I’ve done more than anything else.
“I know people talk about my football, which I’m very proud of, and I know people dismiss my achievements, because they didn’t happen on this side of the world, but for me they’re all hard earned.
“All I’ve done my whole career is win things, but I understand, obviously, the way things have gone in the league, people are rightly to be concerned about. I don’t think there’s a true reflection of where we’re at, but whatever happens, my own belief in what I do doesn’t waver, and I’ll continue to push on to do what I do.”
He added that he set sights on lifting this trophy after the January transfer window, where his injury-hit squad didn’t get the recruits he felt they needed.
“When we got to the end of January, the end of the transfer window, and kind of assessed our situation, I just made a decision there and then that this was the trophy we were going to go for, and it probably was at odds with what other people at the club believed at the time we should do,” Postecoglou said.
“That’s understandable. But I just really believed we could win this, and everything we’ve done since then, everything we’ve done at training, everything we’ve done in terms of the games that the teams have selected, was about making sure when these games came around, the Europa games, that we’re in the best possible condition to tackle them.
Ange Postecoglou with the UEFA Europa League trophy. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
“And that’s come at a cost for sure in the league, and I’ve got to take the responsibility for that. I just felt like the end game of winning something was more important, and it was the only way I was going to do it.”
While the doubters have been many, Postecoglou was more focused on those who have stuck by him.
“To quote my favourite Australian Prime Minister, Paul Keating, after an unlikely victory, he said, ‘this is one for the true believers. This is certainly one for the true believers. That means an unbelievable group of players who never wavered, never lost faith in me and what we were doing,” said Postecoglou.
“Unbelievable football staff led by brilliant coaches. People who work at the club from board down. The training ground [staff] and supporters
“I know people think I’ve got this fractious relationship, but every supporter I ever bumped into was just so kind in reassuring me that they believed in what I was doing.
“I understand the disappointment we’ve put them through this year, particularly in the league, but just seeing them tonight, the impact it has on them, some of them, it’s obviously 17 years since our last trophy, 41 in Europe, some of them have never had a night like this. It’s a reward for them.”
Postecoglou has won titles in Australia, Japan and Scotland but acknowledged his previous achievements had been discarded by many.
“It’s definitely been the toughest thing I’ve ever done, without a shadow of a doubt,” Postecoglou said of his time at Spurs.
“And I knew that going into it. This club’s had some unbelievable world-class coaches, world-class players, and they haven’t had a night like this. So I knew what I was taking on. And it’s fair to say that it’s been really challenging because wherever else I’ve had success by this stage, I’ve kind of had the faith and trust of everybody, and here it’s been different.”
The victory has made him even more determined to carry on next season, using success as a springboard for more.
“Yeah, very, because we’ve got a really young group of players, and you can talk to them about success and what it means, but until they feel it, it doesn’t become real,” Postecoglou said.
“I’ve got no doubt that all those boys tonight, having this feeling, will want this again, and to get it again they’re going to have to make similar sort of sacrifices to climb the mountain now, so they know what it takes to get to where we are.
“It accelerates the opportunities to build a team that can be successful and competitive at the highest level for years to come. There’s a lot of work to be done, I think that’s quite obvious, but not as much work as people may think.
Ange Postecoglou, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur, waves to the Tottenham Hotspur fans after his side’s victory in the UEFA Europa League Final 2025 between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Estadio de San Mames on May 21, 2025 in Bilbao, Spain. (Photo by Alex Pantling – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
“People can bang on about our 20 league defeats and where we are, but they’re missing the point of what we’re trying to build here, or what I’m trying to do anyway, and I really feel that tonight can be a great platform for us to keep on.”
Postecoglou lost his inspirational father, Jim, in 2018. When he took on the Spurs job he said his father’s words to him would have been “Don’t stuff it up, mate.”
On Thursday, Ange, was asked about Jim no longer being with him, and the impact this win would have in Australia.
“He’s still with me mate, his voice is in my head all the time, and as I get older I look in the mirror and see his face sometimes, which is frightening,” said Ange.
“He’s with me all the time. mate. My dear mum’s in Greece with my sister and my nephews, I’m sure they’re over the moon.
“It’s massive in Australia and in Greece. I’ve got family in both countries and friends in both countries, they’ve been along for the journey the whole way.
“It’s hard because I’m big enough and ugly enough to take whatever comes my way, but they get hurt when people come at me and they pay the price, particularly those closest to me, my beautiful family and my friends.
“They want to defend me. I keep telling them it’s a small price to pay when you have nights like this. I’ve been fortunate I’ve had plenty of nights like this.
“I know everyone in Australia would have got up early in the morning, they’ll be buzzing, people in Greece and more importantly the people here with me, it’s another special night we share together.”
Beyond the night is uncertainty – but first a bottle of Scotch.
“[There are] no planned meetings,” he said. “I haven’t had any discussions, no one’s spoken to me about anything, maybe they felt like they don’t need to, or they’re waiting for this game.
“What I do know is that I’m going to go back to my hotel room, get my family and friends together, open up a nice bottle of Scotch, have a couple of quiet ones, get ready for a massive parade on Friday, play Brighton on Sunday, really important, our last home game, we want to finish strong, and then Monday I’m going on holidays with my beautiful family, because I deserve it. Que sera, sera.”
