Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has revealed the profound emotional toll of his decision to sack manager Ange Postecoglou, a mere 16 days after the Australian guided the club to a historic 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final in Bilbao.
The triumph, which marked Spurs’ first major trophy in 17 years, was overshadowed by a dismal 17th-place finish in the Premier League, leading to Postecoglou’s dismissal and the appointment of former Brentford manager Thomas Frank.
In a candid interview with the club’s media team, Levy expressed heartfelt regret over the decision. “I don’t regret appointing Ange. I’m very grateful to him,” he said, reflecting on Postecoglou’s achievements, including a fifth-place finish in his debut season and the recent European success. “Emotionally, it was difficult to let him go.
He brought us a trophy, something we’ve longed for, but we felt we needed a change to compete consistently across all competitions.”
Levy, who has led Tottenham for over 25 years, admitted the decision weighed heavily on him. “I’ve got very broad shoulders, but this was one of the harder calls,” he said.
Despite the regret, Levy defended the move, emphasizing the club’s ambition. “Failure is not an option. The desire to succeed drives us, and sometimes tough choices are necessary.”
The appointment of Frank, who signed a contract until 2028, was the result of a rigorous process, according to Spurs chief executive Vinai Venkatesham. “We analyzed over 30 candidates, and Thomas was the standout,” Venkatesham said, praising Frank’s intelligence and ability to develop young players. Levy echoed this, noting Frank’s fresh ideas as a chance to build on Postecoglou’s legacy.
While Levy remains optimistic about Frank’s tenure, his regret over parting ways with Postecoglou underscores the delicate balance between short-term results and long-term vision at Tottenham.