Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has defended his decision to sack manager Ange Postecoglou, despite the Australian guiding the club to their first trophy in 17 years—the UEFA Europa League.
The dismissal came after a turbulent season in which Spurs, despite lifting the Europa League, narrowly avoided relegation by finishing 17th in the Premier League. While disappointed with the team’s domestic form, Levy still recognised Postecoglou’s earlier achievements.
However, he acknowledged the need for greater consistency and competitiveness across all competitions, which ultimately led to the change in management.
“You saw the outpouring of emotion with the parade. It was just incredible. We’ve won a European trophy. But it’s not enough. It’s what we haven’t done that is more important. We need to win the league. We want to win the Premier League. We want to win the Champions League. We want to win,” Levy told the club’s media.
“We need to compete on all fronts, and we felt a change was necessary,” he said. “Emotionally, it was difficult, but we believe it’s the right decision for the club.”
He added, “I’m very grateful to Ange. I don’t regret appointing Ange. In his first season we finished fifth and in our second season we were over the moon to win the trophy But we need to compete in all competitions and we felt that we needed a change. I’ve got an excellent relationship with him. I’ve told him he’s always going to be part of our history.”
“Himself and his family are always welcome back. It was a collective decision. It wasn’t my decision. We do everything together. Emotionally it was difficult but we believe we’ve made the right decision for the club,” explained Levy.
Tottenham have since announced the appointment of Thomas Frank as Postecoglou’s replacement. The Dane arrives from Brentford, where he spent seven years and played a key role in the club’s promotion to the top flight. Under his guidance, Brentford remained a Premier League side since 2021, with Frank becoming the second-longest-serving manager in the division before his departure.
Levy was full of praise for Frank, particularly highlighting his ability to develop young talent and his all-round managerial qualities.
“One of the things that stood out to me about Thomas is that he’s highly intelligent. A great communicator. A top human being. And, of course, he brings all the technical qualities that matter.”
Looking ahead, Levy was clear about the club’s ambitions moving forward.
“Whenever you bring in a new coach, it’s a fresh start. You get new ideas. But our aim is to build on last season’s success and push for more.”
With Frank now in charge and Levy providing direction behind the scenes, Tottenham will be hoping to turn the page on a disappointing league campaign and lay the foundations for sustained success.