Tottenham axe Ange Postecoglou days after Europa League triumph, citing domestic disaster.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has admitted sacking manager Ange Postecoglou just 16 days after lifting the Europa League trophy was “emotionally difficult” but ultimately necessary.

The Australian coach, who brought home Spurs’ first major silverware in 17 years with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in Bilbao, was ousted following a disastrous Premier League campaign that saw the club finish 17th—one place above relegation.

Levy, speaking to the club’s media team, defended the decision but acknowledged its emotional weight. “I don’t regret appointing Ange, I’m very grateful to Ange,” he said. “In his first season we finished fifth and in his second we were over the moon to win a trophy. But we need to compete in all competitions, and we felt that we needed a change.”

Postecoglou’s sacking marks the end of a rollercoaster two-year spell. Hailed for his attacking style and man-management, he won hearts and delivered long-awaited glory. But the dramatic drop in league form proved fatal, leading Levy and new chief executive Vinai Venkatesham to take swift action.

Former Brentford manager Thomas Frank has been named as Postecoglou’s replacement. The 51-year-old Dane has signed a contract until 2028 and becomes Tottenham’s 13th permanent manager in Levy’s 25-year reign.

“We ran a really, really thorough process—at speed,” said Venkatesham. “We defined 10 characteristics that we think are important to be a successful manager at Tottenham Hotspur. We analysed in real detail, through our technical staff, more than 30 candidates. We had a lot of time with the shortlist and Thomas was absolutely the number one candidate.”

Frank spent seven years at Brentford, earning widespread respect for his calm leadership, tactical clarity and ability to develop young talent. It’s those qualities that Tottenham believe can help rebuild stability after a turbulent year.

“Personally, one of the things I’m excited about is that he is an outstanding developer of young players,” said Venkatesham. “I really look forward to seeing what he can do with the squad we have here.”

Levy echoed the enthusiasm, describing Frank as “highly intelligent” and “a great communicator,” and hinted at a broader reset for the club. “Whenever you have a new coach, it’s always a fresh start,” he said. “They always have different ideas but we want to build on the success of winning a trophy last season.”

The sudden change has split opinion among fans. While some lament the loss of a manager who finally ended the club’s trophy drought, others point to the near-disastrous league finish as a red flag that couldn’t be ignored.

For Levy, though, the goal remains singular. “I’ve got very broad shoulders,” he said. “Failure is not an option. The desire [is] to succeed. And because it’s so difficult, I want to succeed even more.”

Now, all eyes turn to Thomas Frank as he takes over a team in flux—triumphant in Europe, traumatised at home—and tasked with delivering consistent success in both arenas.