Robbie Slater: Ange Postecoglou’s future is in his hands, but leaving Spurs might be the best decision

Regardless of whether Tottenham can bully their way to Champions League riches, writes Robbie Slater, and even if the project isn’t finished, Ange Postecoglou’s time at Spurs should be.

A Europa League triumph, which brings with it a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League, might yet be enough for Ange Postecoglou to be retained as Tottenham manager – if he still wants the job.

Despite reports that Postecoglou is going to be sacked at the end of the season regardless of whether Spurs win the Europa League, don’t be surprised if he is spared the axe by securing Tottenham a spot in Europe’s best club competition and winning the club its first piece of silverware since 2008.

Postecoglou would be hailed a hero with such an achievement, despite Spurs’ shocking Premier League form.

Under Postecoglou, Tottenham has this season already lost a staggering 18 Premier League games ­– and there are still five matches to be played.

Tottenham's head coach Ange Postecoglou seems destined for the exit. Picture: AP

Spurs are in 16th place, and only the bottom three ­– Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton – have lost more games.

That’s simply not good enough for a club the size of Spurs.

There are a lot of managers who have been sacked with much better records.

It’s therefore not a surprise that there is speculation that Postecoglou will be sacked, even if guides Spurs to Europa League glory

And that is also understandable when considering the standard of teams in the Europa League this season.

That Spurs and Manchester United, who are only one point better off on the Premier League ladder than Tottenham, are both in the Europa League semi-finals shows the lack of top-class quality in the competition.

Postecoglou has brought through a host of young stars, like Archie Gray (L), but the results haven’t followed. Picture: Getty

And that is further emphasised by a Norwegian club, Bodo/Glimt, also being in the last four.

While no game is easy, Postecoglou and Spurs can’t afford to waste the golden chance to make the final after being drawn to meet Bodo/Glimt in the semi-finals.

However, before that, Tottenham meet heavyweights Liverpool, and it’s hard not to see them slumping to a 19th Premier League loss.

It’s a poor record that has Postecoglou under immense scrutiny, and the question must be asked – does he want such pressure again next season if he manages to retain his job?

The former Socceroos coach will be 60 in August, and probably doesn’t need the stress that will certainly return as soon the 2025-26 Premier League season starts.

Not that Postecoglou is a quitter, and his long-term project at Spurs is far from finished.

Where could Ange go? If he walks away from Spurs, there’ll be no shortage of opportunities. Picture: Getty

However, the thought of leaving Spurs having led them to a Europa League triumph might appeal to him.

He’s not going to have any problems finding another job, even if Spurs fall short in their bid for continental success.

There are plenty of clubs, and nations, around the world in need of a good coach, and there’s no doubting that Postecoglou knows what it takes to win trophies, considering the success he has had in Scotland, Japan and Australia.

WHY EVEN A EUROPE TITLE WON’T SAVE ANGE

By Erin Smith

Ange Postecoglou’s time at Tottenham is almost over – regardless of whether his embattled Spurs can bully their way into the Champions League riches.

But Postecoglou still has a chance to end his time at Tottenham partly on his own terms and with another trophy to add to his impressive resume.

Following his 18th loss with the struggling English Premier League outfit, a report in London’s Telegraph suggested Postecoglou will be outed by the club come the end of the season.

The report said even if Spurs win the Europa League final, Postecoglou’s time at the club would likely end, either through resignation or sacking.

Tottenham sit 16th on the ladder, with just 11 wins from 33 games - a huge slide from the fifth-place finish Postecoglou delivered in his opening stint with the club.

After a bright start, things went south very quickly at Tottenham for Ange Postecoglou. Picture: AP

Most jarring for Spurs fans have been the 18 league defeats, leaving them odds on to set a new club record for failure.

Never before have Tottenham suffered 20 losses in a Premier Leagues season, having twice racked up 19 defeats in a year, but with five games left in the current campaign that mark is well within their sights.

Postecoglou’s tenure isn’t the only one under threat with the club also reportedly looking to axe chief football officer Scott Munn - the Melbourne City’s former CEO.

Earlier this month, Tottenham landed former Arsenal chief executive Vinai Venkatesham as their new chief executive.

But while Tottenham haven’t performed in the Premier League they have survived the Europa League and Postecoglou is still on track to help guide them to their first major trophy in 17 years.

Scott Munn, pictured during his time as an A-League executive. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Winning the Europa League would also give Tottenham a pass to next season’s coveted Champions League.

It is clearly something the club has faith in him to do, otherwise they would have given him his marching orders earlier.

Sacking a coach mid-season is far from rare in the EPL.

Everton, West Ham, Manchester United, Leicester, Southampton and Wolves all let coaches go this season on the back of poor results.

Injuries to key players have certainly hampered his side’s efforts this season but Tottenham are still in the running to win the Europa League.

They are through to the semi finals and will square off with Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt on May 2.

It has been a disastrous Premier League season for Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham. Picture: Getty

But as an Australian, Postecoglou has the never say die attitude ingrained in him.

He has no plans on giving up.

“There’s no burden on me, there’s no anxiety on me. What I’m sitting here doing is thinking we’ve got a great opportunity to get to the final four of a major tournament,” he said ahead of his Europa league quarterfinal.

“Mate, I’m not going to let that slip by without fighting tooth and nail for it irrespective of what may come the day after.”

Premier league results this season aside there is no denying Postecoglou knows how to win trophies, something Tottenham haven’t done for 17 years.

Ange Postecoglou enjoyed significant success with Celtic in Scotland. Picture: Getty

He won two Scottish Premiership titles with Celtic, the J-League title in 2019, two premierships and championships with A-League side Brisbane Roar and took the Socceroos to victory at the 2015 Asian Cup.

Postecoglou’s comments prove he really isn’t phased by public opinion or rumours.

“You either think I’m capable of doing the job now or you don’t. That’s where I sit with these things,” he said ahead of his side’s win over Eintrach Frankfurt in the Europa League quarterfinal.

“If people think that us winning tomorrow all of a sudden makes me a better manager than what I am today or us losing tomorrow somehow makes me a worse manager, I guess that’s their burden, not mine.

“I don’t think that way and I don’t think most people think that way. Or I’d like to think they don’t, in terms of their own sort of self esteem and who they are as people.

“I couldn’t care less. Really. I couldn’t care less.”

All will likely come down to how Tottenham fare in its Europa league semi-final.

Originally published as Robbie Slater: Ange Postecoglou’s future is in his hands, but leaving Spurs might be the best decision