Could the dismissal of Pohang University of Science and Technology POSTECH become a turning point?
Tottenham announced on the club's website on July 7 (Korea time), "After considerable deliberation, the club can announce that Postecoglou has been dismissed from his position." It stated, "Winning the UEFA Europa League this season was one of the greatest moments, but we cannot make decisions based on emotions. We thank Postecoglou and wish him well in his future endeavors."
This is the decision of Chairman Daniel Levy. Just before the official announcement, the British 'Telegraph' reported, "Postecoglou will be dismissed as Tottenham's coach. The decision to fire him came just weeks after winning the UEFA Europa League." It added, "Tottenham is expected to finalize the terms of Postecoglou's dismissal on Friday afternoon after he returns from vacation. Club officials learned that Chairman Daniel Levy made the final decision, and an official announcement is expected to follow."
Australian coach Postecoglou took over Tottenham in the summer of 2023, succeeding Antonio Conte, who parted ways during the season. There were concerns because Postecoglou had no European career except for his time at Scottish club Celtic, but he sparked a surprise by elevating Tottenham to first place in the Premier League early in the season.
Until that point, it seemed as if Coach Postecoglou's confident 'attacking football' was shining. However, this did not last long. Gradually, issues began to surface due to monotonous attacking tactics and unreasonable game management, leading to injuries from intense training and play, causing the team to collapse in the second half of the season.
Nevertheless, Coach Postecoglou did not lose confidence. He boasted that he always won in his second year, and the Tottenham board invested a record transfer fee to acquire striker Dominic Solanke. However, Tottenham fell into more serious underperformance. Even though the team occasionally managed to win against stronger opponents, they repeatedly faltered against weaker teams and failed to accumulate points.
Naturally, the anger of Tottenham fans exploded. They had been demanding Coach Postecoglou's dismissal for months, but Chairman Levy remained unmoved. As a result, fan jeers and criticism grew louder, and there were instances of clashes with Coach Postecoglou at matches.
Ultimately, Coach Postecoglou kept his promise by lifting a trophy. Tottenham defeated Manchester United 1-0 in the final of the UEFA Europa League (UEL) and claimed the title. Son Heung-min finally achieved his first career victory. However, Tottenham could not escape the worst underperformance in the Premier League.
Especially right after the Europa victory, Tottenham suffered a 1-4 defeat to Brighton in the final match, finishing the season with a record of 11 wins, 5 draws, and 22 losses, totaling 38 points, with a goal difference of -1 (64 goals scored and 65 conceded). The club ranked 17th, the worst finish in Premier League history, surpassing the previous lowest record of 15th place in the 1993-1994 season.
They also set a new record for the most losses in a single season. Tottenham last recorded 20 losses in a 38-match format in the 1912-1913 season, even dating back to before the Premier League was established in 1992, but this time they added two more losses. The 22 losses tied the record for the most losses in a single season in the club's history.
As calls for his dismissal grew, Coach Postecoglou pushed back. He stated, "To be honest, I think it's really strange to talk about my future after accomplishing something unprecedented," adding, "On one hand, I'm also wondering 'why am I receiving such questions.'" However, Chairman Levy remained steadfast in his decision to part ways with Coach Postecoglou.
Tottenham will also need to pay a severance package to Coach Postecoglou. The Telegraph reported, "Postecoglou will receive about £4 million (approximately 7.4 billion won) in severance. He received a bonus of about £2 million (approximately 3.7 billion won) for winning the UEFA Europa League and securing a Champions League berth."
Names mentioned as successors to Tottenham's next coach include Thomas Frank, the Brentford manager, and Marco Silva, the Fulham manager. Initially, coach Andoni Iraola was considered the board's top choice, but he is likely to re-sign with Bournemouth.
The Telegraph noted, "This decision is the harshest during Levy's long tenure. Postecoglou kept his promises regarding success, changes in playing style, and the performances of young players," adding, "Levy is under immense pressure to appoint a successor who can surpass Postecoglou. The victory sparked enthusiastic cheers from Tottenham fans, and many changed their views on Postecoglou. This decision by Levy, which ignored those sentiments, faced strong backlash."
Several rumors have emerged following Coach Postecoglou's dismissal. A local British media outlet reported, "Tottenham's injuries last season were also influenced by Coach Postecoglou, as the medical staff warned against the excessive training and tactical direction, but the coach ignored them and proceeded."
[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited), Tottenham, Football Insider, Squawka social media.
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