Ange Postecoglou is a man facing huge pressure ahead of the biggest games in Tottenham’s largely wretched season.
Spurs were thrashed 5-1 by Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, a result that confirmed the Reds as Premier League champions and left the Londoners in 16th place in the standings.
Postecoglou has increasingly seemed irritable as questions over his methods and his future at the club have persisted, yet he does have the chance to salvage something from this otherwise awful season. They face Bodo/Glimt in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League semifinals this week, meaning the Australian still has a chance of delivering on his promise to win a trophy in his second season at the club.
Postecoglou has lost more Premier League games this season than Pochettino did across three campaigns at Spurs 😳 pic.twitter.com/wT8h6xrqDp
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) April 21, 2025
However, there have been reports that not even winning the Europa League will be enough to keep Postecoglou in the hotseat for next season.
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Will Tottenham sack Ange Postecoglou?
On April 22, the Telegraph’s Matt Law reported that Postecoglou would be leaving Spurs regardless of whether they win the Europa League.
Postecoglou himself has remained defiant amid the speculation over his future, often clashing with members of the media and suggesting that coverage of Spurs has been unfairly negative.
Speaking before the 5-1 loss at Liverpool, he also made it clear that he is working with a long-term plan in mind.
“That was the brief, that was why I came: to change the way the club played its football, to regenerate a squad because it was coming to the end of a cycle, and to win trophies,” he told Sky Sports.
“I still feel like that’s the motivation and they were the objectives for me coming here and that’s what I’m determined to see out. I haven’t tried to change the initial mission, which was to play football that excites the fans, to bring some exciting young talent to the club, and hopefully succeed.
“Provided you stay true to yourself, your head hits the pillow at night and you’re fine. In those moments, if you change what you believe in, or your values, or who you are as a person, that’s where you do have those sleepless nights. That’s happened at times in my career but as you get older you realise that it’s like every other storm, they all pass.”
Postecoglou will almost certainly be in charge for the Europa League semifinal matches against Bodo/Glimt and the league game at West Ham on May 4, but his future beyond those is difficult to determine. A departure is certainly possible, and perhaps even likely.
The question is, who could replace him?
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Next Tottenham manager candidates
While it remains highly speculative, a few names have emerged as potentially strong candidates to succeed Postecoglou at Spurs.
Mauricio Pochettino
Speculation has emerged in recent weeks suggesting former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino could make a sensational return to the club. On April 28, he was the favourite to replace Postecoglou among several UK bookmakers.
Pochettino was appointed USMNT coach last September, but defeats to Panama and Canada in the CONCACAF Nations League in March prompted heavy criticism. It feels unlikely Pochettino would walk away before the chance to lead USA at a home World Cup in 2026, but it’s not out of the question.
Andoni Iraola
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is producing impressive results with the Cherries, so it is not surprising to see him linked with Spurs. It would likely cost a sizeable fee in terms of compensation to get him away from one of the surprise packages in this Premier League season, but Iraola would probably be tempted at least to speak with the club.
Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso is a more optimistic option given the success he is enjoying with Bayer Leverkusen and the fact that he has been linked with a possible move to Real Madrid to succeed Carlo Ancelotti, but Spurs would likely at least ask the question of whether he might be interested in moving to north London.
Kieran McKenna
Ipswich Town got their first league win of the season at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and Kieran McKenna has won plenty of admirers for his work at the club despite them being mired in a relegation battle all season. Linked with the Chelsea job before Enzo Maresca was appointed, McKenna would more likely consider a move to Spurs now that Ipswich’s relegation to the Championship is confirmed.
Xavi Hernandez
Out of work since leaving Barcelona last year, Xavi is another unlikely candidate who nonetheless appears quite high in the list of favourites. The former midfield star has delivered trophies as a coach in both Spain and Qatar, and after taking a year out, he could be tempted to try his hand in the Premier League.
