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World in awe as Ange Postecoglou breaks incredible EPL record

Aussie Ange Postecoglou has done what nobody has ever done before with his Tottenham side blowing the world away.

3 min read
October 24, 2023 - 9:04AM
Ange Postecoglou. Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images.
Ange Postecoglou. Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images.

Tottenham has gone top of the Premier League as Ange Postecoglou set a new record as the hottest manager in English football.

The Aussie’s side wrapped up a silky 2-0 win over Fulham at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday morning — a result that has seen them leapfrog Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City to go two points clear at the top of the table.

The result is significant for so many other reasons.

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The three-points gives Postecoglou an incredible 23 points from his first nine matches in charge — seven wins, two draws and no defeats.

That total is a new record for the total number of points ever won by a new manager after nine matches. The previous record was held by Mike Walker and Guus Hiddink (both 22).

According to Opta Stats, only eight sides in Premier League history have started a campaign with more than 23 points from their first nine games, with four of them going on to win the title, three ending second and one ending third.

Postecoglou has been on an astonishing history-making run in recent weeks.

The 58-year-old earlier this month claimed his second consecutive Manager of the Month gong after Spurs went unbeaten in September.

James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur scores the team's second goal. Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images.
James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur scores the team's second goal. Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images.
Ange Postecoglou, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur. Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images.
Ange Postecoglou, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur. Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images.

The last manager to achieve the double was Liverpool’s manager Jurgen Klopp in 2019-20.

Postecoglou brushed the record off when asked about it after the game.

“No I don’t take stock,” he said.

“There is too much work to do. Pleased with the start we have had, credit to all involved. We are where we are because we deserve to be, but plenty of reminders that there is work to do.”

While it was James Maddison who dazzled on the field on Tuesday morning, scoring Tottenham’s second goal in 54th minute, there was just as much admiration for Postecoglou across English football commentators.

Maddison is playing the best football of his life and showed how important Postecoglou has been in him finding something extra.

“If you look back at the teams he (Postecoglou) managed, they’ve always been front-foot pressing teams,” Maddison said after the full time whistle.

“The first day he came in he said pressing high is almost a non-negotiable at any stage of the game.

“We had a game in pre-season where we went 1-0 or 2-0 up and we kind of stopped pressing and sat in a little bit - and he went ballistic at half-time. It was Shakhtar Donetsk here.

“He said that’s almost how Tottenham have been in the past, trying to protect a lead. He said it’s non-negotiable to keep going and keep pressing, and we go and score three and four.”

Postecoglou has also transformed Son Heung-min into one of the deadliest players in the league this season, with the South Korean star scoring 10 goals in nine games.

It was Son who put Tottenham ahead in the 36th minute.

The north Londoners’ superb start to Postecoglou’s first season in charge have awoken dreams of an unexpected title challenge.

It is the best unbeaten start any Tottenham manager has ever made.

Despite Tuesday’s impressive win, the man himself wasn’t totally happy.

“It was a good result. Fulham are a tough team to break down but we handled it quite well in the first half. I think with the chances we had we probably should have had a second and a third goal,” he said.

“Second half wasn’t great for us, we didn’t play anywhere near the levels we can, it was our worst spell of possession all season, we were really wasteful. Without the ball we were still excellent. We still have plenty of work to do.”

While the world is singing Postecoglou’s praises, former Arsenal star Alan Smith on Tuesday morning poured cold water on the team’s title hopes.

“I think a title challenge will be a big ask for Tottenham, although their exit from the Cup and no European football could be a blessing in disguise for them,” he said.

“They should be aiming for the top four or five, that would guarantee them Champions League football next year.”

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/football/world-in-awe-as-ange-postecoglou-breaks-incredible-epl-record/news-story/bf453cf9e258cca0f747d796ef528669