Ange Postecoglou sacked despite Europa League win: Where will the Aussie coach land next?

16 days after a securing a drought breaking trophy, Ange Postecoglou is no longer the manager of Tottenham but the massive payout he is reported to be in line for will soften the fall.

It will take a few months, and will unlikely be at a top English club, but there is no doubt Australian coach Ange Postecoglou will score another coaching gig somewhere in Europe – simply because he wins trophies.

Tottenham Hotspur had already made up its mind about pushing Postecoglou out the door – weeks before he helped the team win the Europa League final against Manchester United to secure the club’s first trophy since 2008.

The decision made official on Saturday morning.

Narrowly avoiding relegation in the English Premier League and finishing the season with 22 losses was always going to be a hard one for the club to deal with.

So much so that the club is reportedly set to give Postecoglou an $8.3 million pay out - as he still had two years left on his contract. That is on top of the $4.2 million bonus Postecoglou earned for winning the Europa League.

Narrowly avoiding relegation was going to make it hard for Ange Postecoglou to retain his job as manager of Spurs. Picture: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

It wasn’t all Postecoglou’s fault they had a huge list of injured stars and the coach’s way of overcoming that was to put all focus on the Europa League and neglect the EPL.

“Everything I’ve done, from training to decisions, was (prioritising) Europe. That’s come at a cost,” Postecoglou said post the Europa League win.

“I just felt the end game was more important.”

Football often comes down to money and with big money up for grabs in the Champions League and little money for finishing the season in 17th – Tottenham bosses have made a decision they think will land them more cash.

There have been recent examples of clubs keeping coaches on who didn’t perform in the domestic league but had cup success – only for it to backfire mid-season.

Like Manchester United’s Erik ten Hag. He took the helm in 2022 – won the EFL Cup and FA cup in back to back seasons but their results in the Premier League were below par. He was let go mid-2024.

It is a risk Tottenham clearly weren’t willing to take.

Daniel Levy, chairman of Spurs, pulled the trigger sacking Postecoglou on Friday. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

“This has been one of the toughest decision we have had to make and is not a decision that we have taken lightly, nor one we have rushed to conclude,” a Tottenham statement read.

While unfair on Postecoglou given his track record, huge list of injured players and the fact he did deliver a trophy exactly as promised – it won’t be the end of his career.

Socceroos great Robbie Slater said he didn’t see Postecoglou securing a new job before the season kicks off in August.

But is confident the talented coach will be snatched up sooner rather than later.

“He put himself in that top echelon by being at a big club and winning a big trophy,” Slater said.

“The way he plays football, I don’t think a lower club in the Premier League will look at him and go we can take that risk.

“And 22 Premier League games lost, I can’t see one of the big ones again, at least not just yet.

“He might get that opportunity in Europe, maybe Spain or France. I don’t know.

“He’s gonna get a job. I can’t see him not. He will be in demand.

Ange is unlikely to get another shot at the Premier League – at least straight away. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

“I think he’s done well enough at Celtic to show league success and by lifting this trophy he will stay in one of the top five leagues which is in Italy, France, Germany, Spain or England.

“He won’t have a job to start next season but as we know in football it won’t take long.”

Mark Bosnich, Stan Football expert and former Manchester United goalkeeper, said top Premier League clubs would be wary of signing Postecoglou because of his inconsistent results.

“They will want to see how he goes again after what’s happened this season,” Bosnich said.

“Your Liverpools, your Arsenals, your Real Madrids, your Inter Milans they will want to take a second look.

“He will be wanted but it will depend on what sort of level he will be wanted by.”

Rumours are already swirling that clubs in Turkey and Greece are keen to snag Postecoglou.

Others have suggested he could take the reins for a national team for the 2026 World Cup.

Wherever he lands, let’s hope the club understands he will need at least two seasons at the helm – because he always wins a trophy in his second season.

Originally published as Ange Postecoglou sacked despite Europa League win: Where will the Aussie coach land next?