Interest in the next destination of Ange Postecoglou, the manager who left Tottenham, is gradually heating up. With attention being paid to his new start across Europe and the Middle East, Saudi Arabia is emerging as a strong candidate for his next stage.
The Telegraph reported on the 14th (KST) that "Postecoglou has gained recognition as the manager who brought a trophy to Tottenham after 17 years, and multiple clubs have shown interest in him. In particular, Saudi Arabian clubs are among those mentioned as potential destinations."
Postecoglou ultimately faced dismissal from Tottenham. Despite a promising start with an upward trend in the Premier League, showing strong performance over 10 matches, he later fell into a rapid slump. Finishing his first season in 5th place, he failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League and dropped to 17th place in the league in the 2024-2025 season.
Nevertheless, he gifted Tottenham fans with the trophy they had longed for. By defeating Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League final, he took the team to the top, ending a 17-year trophy drought since the league cup in the 2007-2008 season.
However, despite the trophy win, the calls for dismissal did not subside. While there was trust within the squad, the judgment of Tottenham's management was different.
Ultimately, Tottenham announced the split with Postecoglou, emphasizing rational judgment. Tottenham stated, "While winning the Europa League is undoubtedly a special moment in the club's history, important decisions must be made with a cold perspective rather than emotions." Following this, Tottenham appointed Thomas Frank, manager of Brentford, as their new head coach in hopes of a fresh start.
Even though he was dismissed, interest in Postecoglou is actually expanding further. In particular, it is reported that Al Ahli, the Asian Champions League Elite (ACLE) championship team, is showing proactive movement in seeking him out. Al Ahli is currently looking for a new leader as the likelihood of Matthias Jaissle's return to Europe increases.
There are clear reasons why Al Ahli is interested in Postecoglou. He has already built rich experience on the Asian stage. After leading Yokohama F. Marinos to the top of the J-League, he also has the experience of defeating Korea to lift the championship trophy at the 2015 Asian Cup while coaching the Australian national team. Additionally, his recent success in winning the Europa League with Tottenham has drawn the attention of Saudi clubs due to the championship DNA he has proven.
Al Ahli highly values such championship experience and is carefully considering Postecoglou as a candidate for their next coach. Known for his extensive experience in the Middle East and Asia, he is evaluated as a leader who can deliver immediate results in Saudi Arabia.
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