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Spurs snap trophy drought with Europa League triumph over Man Utd
Ian Chadband, AAP •  May 22nd, 2025 9:00 am
Photo: AP
Ange Postecoglou has delivered the greatest triumph of his career, clutching a potentially job-saving lifeline by steering beleaguered Tottenham Hotspur to Europa League glory in Spain.
The trailblazing boss became the first Australian manager to win a trophy in a major European club competition as Spurs beat fellow Premier League strugglers Manchester United 1-0 in Bilbao on Thursday (NZ time) for their first silverware in 17 years.
A scrappy first-half goal from their top scorer Brennan Johnson was ultimately enough to give Tottenham victory in a poor-quality final during which they had to survive a tsunami of late pressure from Ruben Amorim's otherwise feeble United.
But as a proud Postecoglou and his side celebrated the drought-busting victory at the San Mames Stadium with their ecstatic fans, the only question that remained was whether victory, which guarantees Champions League football for Spurs next season, would be enough to save the 59-year-old from the sack.
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There's been widespread speculation that he is already doomed, regardless of the result. If so, what a glorious way for 'Big Ange' to make a grand exit - with Tottenham's first European trophy for 41 years.
Goalscorer Johnson paid tribute to his beleaguered coach, saying: "He's done his job. He says he wins in his second year and he has - and if there's ever a time for a mike drop, it's now.
"I can't thank him enough for the trust he's had in us because some of our performances haven't been good enough."
It was wretched final of Europe's second-tier continental competition, one that befitted two mediocre EPL sides who've lost 44 games between them in all competitions.
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Not that the Spurs' faithful will care one jot after they prevailed in this survival of the unfittest, eventually prevailing thanks to some defensive heroics from defender Micky van de Ven and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.
Rasmus Hojlund had a header cleared amazingly and acrobatically off the line by van de Ven while Vicario, who'd already made a key second-half save from Alejandro Garnacho, pulled off another superb stop in the 97th minute from Luke Shaw's header to finally seal the deal.
"I'm so happy. This season hasn't been good by an means but not one of us players cares about that," said Johnson.
"Ever since I came here, it was 'Tottenham are a good team but they can never get it done'. We got it done."
