Author: Sami Mokbel

Getty ImagesSami MokbelSenior football correspondent6 hours agoHaving won the Europa League, there is little more manager Ange Postecoglou can do. What happens next is in the hands of Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy.And Levy gave no clarity about the Australian’s future in his end of season message on Sunday morning.”We have now tasted success and we are determined to use this as a springboard for more,” he said, without giving any indication whether that desire for more means retaining Postecoglu as manager.Spurs host Brighton later on Sunday in the final game of a season that’s swung between sublime and abysmal.Defeat would condemn the club to a 17th-placed finish with 38 points, their worst ever Premier League campaign.But given what has unfolded over the past few days, that disappointment, certainly in the eyes of supporters, is irrelevant.For Tottenham are no longer nearly men. They are winners and the euphoria of Wednesday night’s Europa League final success over Manchester United won’t fade for some time yet.So, it seems inconceivable then that the architect of Spurs’ first trophy triumph since 2008 – and first European silverware since 1984 – is facing uncertainty over his future.But that is where we find ourselves regarding Postecoglou at the end of this troubled campaign.Has Europa League success altered the narrative?The club’s abysmal domestic campaign has meant Tottenham have started the process of identifying candidates to succeed the Australian before the 2025-.26 campaign.Indeed, it is widely accepted Postecoglou’s tenure would almost certainly have ended had they lost to United in Bilbao.But they didn’t. And therein may lie a quandary for Levy.Should they lose on Sunday, 22 league defeats would be unacceptable for a club with Tottenham’s squad and resources.In usual circumstances, the manager would take the rap for that and be relieved of his duties.But these aren’t usual circumstances. Postecoglou has succeeded where so many – including Mauricio Pochettino, Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte – have failed.Aside from the glory, victory in Bilbao means Spurs have qualified for the Champions League – and the huge financial and reputational benefits of that achievement are well-documented.Many of those supporters who’d given up on Postecoglou just a few weeks ago were singing his name at the club’s trophy parade on Friday.In the space of a 90-plus minutes on Wednesday night, the 59-year-old has managed to alter the narrative and galvanise a fanbase who had been down on their haunches for so long.So with that in mind, you wonder how much public opinion and the swathes of affection thrown in Postecoglou’s direction over the previous four days will influence Levy.While the case for keeping Postecoglou would have been a hard sell had they lost the final, there is certainly a far stronger argument for it now.Even those who had become so disenchanted by his reign would surely accept there should at least be a conversation over whether he deserves to start a third season at Tottenham.To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be playedMoment to build, not rip up projectAnother pertinent factor here is which manager could Tottenham appoint to excite supporters so much that they would accept the Australian’s departure?There is a danger that replacing Postecoglou, given his new-found affection, with an underwhelming appointment could antagonise a fanbase that already has a difficult relationship with Levy and the club’s ownership.You’d imagine Tottenham fans would accept Postecoglou’s departure for, say, someone like Jurgen Klopp or Carlo Ancelotti – but given the adulation towards the Australian over the last few days, would they accept it for a manager without a proven track record of winning trophies?You’d imagine Levy could score some major brownie points by retaining Postecoglou.The strength of the bond between players and manager may also have him pondering his decision.Senior players have all come out in support of Postecoglou in recent weeks. Winning a trophy will only serve to solidify a connection that looks to have grown towards the end of the season.When Postecoglou meets Levy to decide the next step, you’d imagine the coach will point towards that relationship.He may also point to the risks involved in ripping up a project that has just had a watershed moment and that this is a moment to build, not start again.Will ruthless Levy be swayed by emotion?Whether the aforementioned factors will be enough for Levy to hold his nerve remains to be seen.Levy said he had “shared in that pain and frustration” of the fans this season before the Europa League triumph, and thanked Postecoglou and the players for “making this incredible achievement possible”.He added: “This is one trophy – our clear ambition as a club has always been long-term, sustained success, competing for top honours every year.” Much of what transpires in the next 72 hours will depend on whether the chairman has been swayed by the emotion since Bilbao.History tells us Levy can be ruthless. He sacked Mauricio Pochettino just six months after he led Tottenham to the 2019 Champions League final, where they lost to Liverpool.He also sacked Jose Mourinho just days before the 2021 Carabao Cup final, which they lost to Manchester City.The evidence indicates Levy pays little attention to emotion.That said, you’d have to be a robot not to have been guided by the outpouring of love towards Postecoglou this week.The former Celtic boss intends to go on holiday early this week, so there will be a desire to resolve his future before he jets off.His intriguing address to supporters during the parade reception on Friday night captured the imagination.”I’ll leave you with this: in all the best television series, season three is better than season two,” roared Postecoglou.Perhaps he knows something we don’t. Perhaps he doesn’t.We’re about to find out.Related topicsTottenham HotspurFootball

Getty ImagesSami MokbelSenior football correspondent22 May 20251339 CommentsFor Tottenham, a summer of opportunity beckons. Their historic Europa League triumph in Spain means they can head into the close season with a bounce in their step.Their 17-year trophy drought is over and, pertinently, they are back in the Champions League.With that, certain doors swing open. Finances are stronger; you can attract players – or managers in Spurs’ case – who wouldn’t have necessarily given your club a second glance.The Champions League is where the elite players demand to perform. It’s the platform the best emerging talent dream of reaching.Life’s easier in the Champions League and Daniel Levy can take solace in that before what is gearing up to be a busy summer.Here we look at their to-do list, from the manager’s future, to recruitment plans and the bonuses for European glory.To keep Postecoglou or not?Of course, the biggest development this summer will inevitably be the identity of their head coach.Ange Postecoglou etched his name into Tottenham folklore on Wednesday night, yet his position heading into next season remains uncertain.Whether the euphoria of what unfolded in Spain changes the direction of travel regarding Postecoglou’s future should become clear in the immediate future.Prior to this week’s success, the expectancy was that Postecoglou would leave before next season, with the Australian ultimately paying the price for a dreadful domestic season.BBC Sport understands the club are some way down the line in the process of identifying potential replacements for Postecoglou.So with that in mind, if Spurs have the strength in their initial convictions then Postecoglou may still be on borrowed time.That said, how do you dismiss a manager who has just led you to such glory?However the next few days unfold, what is clear for Tottenham is that they must execute the change in leadership, if there is to be one, smoothly – certainly more professionally than their previous managerial search that saw them lurch from candidate to candidate before finally resting on Postecoglou.Among the contenders are believed to be Thomas Frank – who has a relationship with technical director Johan Lange – Andoni Iraola, Marco Silva and Oliver Glasner.All may have had reservations about joining Tottenham prior to Wednesday night. But with Champions League football to look forward to, Spurs have become a significantly more attractive option.The potential re-appointment of Fabio Paratici must also be considered. Paratici, who left his position as Spurs’ managing director of football after Italy’s highest sports court rejected an appeal against a two-and-a-half-year ban concerning alleged financial irregularities dating back to his spell at Juventus, is in talks over a return when his suspension is lifted in July.How influential could he be in the decision over Postecoglou and his possible replacement?How would Paratici – who also has some interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia – and Lange co-exist in relatively similar roles?If Paratici does complete a return, does that mean current chief of football Scott Munn’s days are numbered, particularly with Vinai Venkatesham already confirmed as the club’s next chief executive?To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be playedBut before all that, the bonusesIn the short term, Levy will sign off a £2m bonus to Postecoglou for lifting the club’s first European trophy since 1984.The players will also split a performance-related package of around £3m for their success, though it is understood that automatic pay increases for Champions League qualification are not universal across all personal contractual agreements.Either way, you’d imagine Levy will have no qualms with paying for his club’s historic success.We shouldn’t, however, expect the Tottenham chairman to continue spending lavishly this summer. History tells us it’s not his style.But building on Wednesday night’s euphoria will come at significant expense.Forming a squad capable of competing in the Champions League is an altogether different proposition from seeking to improve a team that could yet finish 17th in the league.To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be playedExperience the goal for recruitmentBBC Sport understands that the sense within the club’s recruitment team is that their young squad should be supplemented with more experience.For instance, an established central midfielder is believed to be on the club’s radar this summer.If they lose vice-captain Cristian Romero to La Liga, they will look to replace the Argentina international with a ready-made replacement.Spurs tried to sign Crystal Palace and England international Marc Guehi in January and remain interested in the centre-back.They will be at pains to keep the experience already at the club. Rodrigo Bentancur, whose current deal expires next year, has held initial talks over an extension.The club have already exercised an option to extend captain Son Heung-min’s contract until the summer of 2026.That isn’t to say Tottenham will abandon their remit of signing young talent, with Southampton’s teenager Tyler Dibling a target.And whoever is the manager will have a massive say as you’d expect.Not for the first time, it’s gearing up to be an interesting summer at Tottenham.Related topicsPremier LeagueTottenham HotspurFootball