‘Money over glory’: Football world reacts to ‘absolute bonkers’ Ange call as Spurs players pay tribute

There won’t be season three after all.

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Tottenham’s silence was telling in the end as the axe fell on Ange Postecoglou in the early hours of Saturday morning, with Spurs confirming the Australian had been sacked just over 16 days after breaking their 17-year trophy drought.

Of course, Tottenham’s Europa League triumph is only part of the story and the club’s statement said as much, pointing to a poor Premier League record under Postecoglou as the reason the board “unanimously” decided to cut ties with him.

So, what has the Premier League and broader football world made of the news?

Well, there are some pragmatists who saw this coming but the overwhelming majority believe Postecoglou was hard done by and deserved another chance to turn the team’s league form around, having sacrificed it in the pursuit of a trophy.

Read on for the latest reaction to Postecolgou’s sacking from around the world!

‘DEGRADING A TROPHY WIN’: EX-SPURS PLAYER RIPS ‘UNBELIEVABLE’ CALL

Former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega, who played four years with Spurs, called the decision to sack Postecoglou “unbelievable”.

He argued that regardless of how poor Tottenham’s league form was under Postecoglou, the injuries he had to contend with made it “impossible to be successful” and that the Australian did incredibly well to guide the team to Europa League glory.

Now? Well, he believes Spurs are “degrading winning a trophy”, which is ironic given the focus on winning silverware for so long.

'Season 3 is better than season 2!' | 01:20

“We are now in a place where a trophy is not valid at all whatsoever. The principles and the disciplines are not valued in the same way,” Vega told Sky Sports News.

“What kind of inspiration or example can you bring to the future and the young talented players? Do you not want to win trophies anymore?

“In football, results count. And they won a trophy. It’s unbelievable.

“The only excuse that they can come out with, is that the second season saw them have unbelievable injuries where inexperienced young talent - and Ange had to reinvent the squad because there was no backing there. 80 per cent of the men’s squad was out - when you’re top centre-halves are out for 25 per cent of the season, it’s impossible to be successful, with all the competition flying into it.

“And they still won a trophy? The league situation, there’s an excuse.”

Vega then went on to question what kind of situation the next manager will walk into given the support, especially in the locker room, for Postecoglou.

“The question is here: where do Tottenham want to go with their manager? Why are they now sacking someone where they can bring stability into the whole club?” he asked.

“The fans - 250,000 people went to the parade, when is the next time they will do that? They aren’t talking about 17th in the league, they won a trophy!

“We are degrading winning a trophy here. Ange had a big personality clash with the main guys in the board. Both parties were not getting on together.”

Blues take inspiration from Ange's Spurs | 02:19

REALIST REDKNAPP SAYS DECISION ‘DOESN’T SHOCK ME AT ALL’

While plenty of people were surprised by the decision, former Spurs boss Harry Redknapp was not one of them.

He pointed to the silence from Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy as an indication that Postecoglou’s time was up, even before that was confirmed.

“I thought it was a certainty, doesn’t shock me at all,” Redknapp told talkSPORT.

“Daniel has had two weeks after the cup final to come out and stop the speculation, from day one after they won that cup he never came out and said a word.

“I knew then for sure he was finished, so it’s not a shock in any shape or form to me.”

Despite that, Redknapp still conceded it was a “harsh” decision to sack Postecoglou but added Levy may have learned from Manchester United’s experience with Erik ten Hag.

'FAMILY' Ange nails classy team tribute | 01:20

“It’s harsh, it’s a difficult one,” Redknapp said.

“They were atrocious this season, let’s be honest.

“The league form, fourth from bottom, they had a shocker, they won the cup, sometimes you get a bit of luck with the draw.

“But overall I suppose Daniel has looked at it and is thinking, hang on, Man United kept ten Hag last year after winning a cup and they went out and bought some players under his leadership and then suddenly they sack him?

“Were they going to take that chance with Ange? Bringing four or five new players and suddenly things haven’t improved in the league by Christmas, then they have to sack him and are stuck with the players he brought in.

“He looks a good guy and I’d have liked to have seen him given more of a chance but it was never going to happen once Daniel didn’t come out and support him.”

SHORT AND SUCCINCT FROM FORMER ENGLAND CAPTAIN ALAN SHEARER

“What a stupid game football is!!!!” he posted on X.

‘MONEY OVER GLORY’ ACCORDING TO EX-ENGLAND STRIKER SUTTON

Meanwhile, former England Striker Chris Sutton had plenty to say on BBC, describing the decision as “absolute bonkers” and declaring it “sums up modern football”.

“I’m not a Tottenham fan but, from the outside, the reason Ange Postecoglou was employed was because they wanted to win a trophy and, if they couldn’t do that, they wanted to watch an entertaining team - and I think he has ticked both boxes,” Sutton said.

“I am not saying it has been brilliant this season because I understand the Premier League has been a disappointment - but he has won a major European trophy and that is a huge achievement - their first trophy since the 2008 League Cup and their first European trophy since the Uefa Cup in 1984. He has done something no other manager has done there in 41 years, since Keith Burkinshaw.

“To get someone in who wins them silverware, then straightaway get rid of him, that sums up modern football, doesn’t it? It’s absolute bonkers.”

'Don't feel like I've completed the job' | 01:03

Like Vega, Sutton also questioned what sort of message the move sends to a Tottenham fan base that hasn’t had much to celebrate in recent years but flocked to the streets of north London after Postecoglou’s Europa League win.

“Look at the teams who have won trophies this season - Newcastle, Crystal Palace and Spurs, the sides who have won trophies - their supporters have had some of the best times of their whole lives this season,” Sutton added.

“Tottenham are a club which has been ridiculed - they have had the whole ‘Spursy’ thing thrown at them for years, and Postecoglou has gone in and changed all that in many ways, and now they treat him like this.”

In the end, as much as it may hurt Postecoglou to be denied a chance to build on the Europa League success and momentum it created, Sutton said the Australian is “better off out of it”.

“I would love to know the thought process behind the decision to get rid of him,” said Sutton.

“Basically it is saying the finance of the Premier League is the be all and end all, is it? So finishing fourth or fifth in the Premier League and not winning a trophy is what matters - it is like they are morphing into Arsenal under Arsene Wenger at the end, if that’s what is important.

“But money over glory sums up the owner, Daniel Levy, doesn’t it?

“Nothing surprises me in football anymore, so Ange Postecoglou is better off out of it really - and maybe they can go back to being mediocre old Tottenham again now.”

Ange reflects on snapping Spurs drought | 00:46

ENGLAND BOSS AND FORMER CHELSEA MANAGER TUCHEL GIVES HIS TAKE

Former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel was asked about Postecoglou’s exit ahead of England’s game against Andorra and had quite a pragmatic response to it all.

“That is the job,” he simply said, almost with a resignation to the brutal reality of the business.

It is not a surprising response given Tuchel himself was sacked just three months after Chelsea’s new owners completed their takeover of the club.

“I feel for every manager and have huge sympathy for them in these moments. I was in the same spot and it feels horrible,” he added.

“It shows it is not only about titles, you can survive without titles.

“If there is slight disbelief and the trust is not there anymore, then sometimes it is not enough to win a trophy.

“He is a huge character and said he would deliver the trophy. This is part of the job, we are responsible for the results and development of the team.

“Whether we like it or not.”

Ange ends Spurs trophy drought | 07:43

TOTTENHAM PLAYERS PAY TRIBUTE TO DEPARTING POSTECOGLOU

Meanwhile, current Tottenham players have taken to social media to thank Postecoglou.

Tottenham striker Richarlison said: “Mister, massive thanks for helping me out and believing in me during one of the trickiest periods of my career and my life.

“Everyone who loves the Spurs will remember that Big Ange always bags trophies in his second season.

“We’ve made history! Cheers and good luck on your journey! I’ll always be rooting for you.”

Defender Pedro Porro, meanwhile, wrote: “Thank you for everything, boss.

“For mentoring me early on, helping me settle into the club, and trusting me out on the pitch. I’ll always be grateful for the way you led us, defended us, and kept us going through all the highs and lows.

“Above everything, you gave us one of the greatest moments in the club’s history and for that, you’ll always be celebrated.

“Wishing you all the very best, boss.”

Micky van de Ven credited Postecoglou for showing faith in him from day one.

“Gaffer, thankyou for everything!” he wrote.

“Believed in me from the first day I arrived at the club. Many ups and downs in the last two years but you kept believing in us and kept pushing us.

“Big part of the success from the club this year, and forever grateful that u made me part of it. All the best.”

Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario echoed similar sentiments, calling Postecoglou “not only a top manager” but “an incredible person”.

He wrote on Instagram: “Boss, I just want to say a massive thank you for everything you have done for me and for all of us.

“From that very first call, right from the beginning, you always showed so much belief in me.

“Giving me the opportunity to be part of the leadership group… those moments, and many others, will stay with me forever.

“You are not only a top manager, you are an incredible person to work for, a real leader, a mentor, and someone I’ll always look up to.

“What we achieved TOGETHER will stay in the history books.

“Wishing you nothing but success as I know you will go on to achieve more and more.

“Thank you, Boss.

“Forever grateful, Vic.”

Lucas Bergvall wrote: “Thank you for everything you have done for me.

“Thank you for bringing this club a European trophy and memories to last a lifetime for us and every Spurs fan around the world. Wishing you all the best.”

Dominic Solanke wished Postecoglou “all the best in your next adventure” and added he “won’t ever forget” the conversation he had with the Australian before he signed.

“Thank you for bringing me to this wonderful club, thank you for bringing us a wonderful trophy,” he wrote.

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