In mid-September 2024, when asked if the Spurs could win a trophy this season, Ange Postecoglou famously said, “I don’t usually win things; I ALWAYS win things in my second year.”At that moment, quite a few of us laughed at the Tottenham Hotspur boss, and as the season was unfolding, it seemed like he probably wouldn’t even survive that second season in the Spurs dugout.Ange Postecoglou told you so 😎Another second-season title 🏆 pic.twitter.com/9D8W6PKBm3— Sacha Pisani (@Sachk0) May 21, 2025 After an entertaining start, embellished with a few thriller games with lots of goals, Spurs descended into eye-hurting chaos of injuries, deplorable defending, and—subsequently—countless defeats. At some point, even the relegation battle looked like a possible scenario for the side that was projected to fight for trophies.Spurs’ only oasis was the Europa League campaign, which was unfolding decently despite the horrible EPL season.Thankfully for Postecoglou’s men, Leicester City, Ipswich Town, and Southampton were desperately stuck for the bottom so that the nightmare of a possible drop to the EFL Championship wasn’t on the table.Still, it was anything but a successful season for the north Londoners, whose fans couldn’t understand why things were looking so awfully bad.2 – In winning the 2024-25 UEFA Europa League, Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou has maintained his record of winning a trophy in his second full season with a club (1997-98 South Melbourne, 2011-12 Brisbane Roar, 2019 Yokohama F. Marinos, 2022-23 Celtic). Always. #UELfinal pic.twitter.com/sedkuw7Nqd— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 21, 2025 Anyhow, the club’s chairman, Daniel Levy, was adamant in trusting his commander-in-chief, Ange, who—little by little—took his vulnerable army quite far in their European adventure. Step by step, Spurs found themselves on the doors of salvation, faced with the squad going through a similar calvary—Manchester United.Dumb and dumber. Cripple fight. The losers final. Such comments and headlines were seen in the days ahead of the Bilbao showdown, as both teams put all their hopes in those 90 minutes, knowing there was only space for the winner on that lifesaving boat.##NAJAVA_MECA_8942779##The brave Australian captain showed his men the road to redemption, as his ‘second season’ quote suddenly became one of the coldest and the most resounding sentences in the modern history of football.Ange gambled big time and won.They might have been absolute bin in the league but it’s so obvious that Spurs’ players love Postecoglou. pic.twitter.com/VyIgbU8qQ4— HLTCO (@HLTCO) May 21, 2025 And that’s all that matters now.”People misinterpreted me,” he added in the post-match news conference last night. “It was not me boasting, just me making a declaration and I believed it. I had this thing inside me more than anything else.”I know our league form has been unacceptable, but coming third was not going to change this football club, winning a trophy would, that was my ambition and I was prepared to wear it if it did not happen.”People kept reminding me of it because we were getting closer but I’m happy with that.”This is what it’s all about ❤️Couldn’t be happier for Ange Postecoglou, the coach and the person.pic.twitter.com/quUDnAXq34— Sacha Pisani (@Sachk0) May 21, 2025 What’s next for the first-ever Australian and non-European to grab a European trophy?”I would be disappointed if we don’t continue on this path. It is difficult to buy into one person’s vision. I have been a serial winner. I know people dismiss what I have won because it didn’t happen here, but they were hard-earned.”There is huge relief. You carry the weight of responsibility and 150 times I have been a spokesman for this club.”There are no planned meetings. I’ll go back to my hotel room with friends and family, open up a nice bottle of scotch, a massive parade on Friday, game on Sunday against Brighton and then holiday. Then que sera, sera.”Goal like final, final like season, season like Man Utd’s worst nightmare! Scrappy own goal for Spurs’ UEL triumphInterestingly, despite having scored 63 goals in the Premier League and conceding 61, Postecoglou’s team played a totally different game in the UEL final. It seems like the Australian tactician decided, rightfully, to adapt and get away from his own philosophy for this particular, larger-than-life fixture.Speaking on TNT Sports, former Spurs star Gareth Bale said: “Ange Postecoglou has worn his heart on his sleeve and he protects his players. The players are behind him and they have given him what he deserves.”As a manager if Ange Postecoglou also matures, and brings that type of defensive side to his teams, of course, he can still have great success here.”He did say he’d win in his second season. Congratulations!— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) May 21, 2025 Ange’s big triumph resulted in numerous reactions from other football players, stars and pundits. Among others, even Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah took to social media to show his respect for Tottenham’s boss.”He did say he’d win in his second season. Congratulations!” wrote Salah on X.##NAJAVA_MECA_8943017##
