“I was prepared to wear it,” Ange Postecoglou | OneFootball

Former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou admits that despite leading Tottenham Hotspur to Europa League glory on Wednesday evening, his fate now lies beyond his control…

Ange Postecoglou, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur, lifts the UEFA Europa League Trophy after his sides victory in the UEFA Europa League Final 2025 between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Estadio de San Mames on May 21, 2025 in Bilbao, Spain. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

The North London side secured a 1-0 victory over Premier League rivals Manchester United, courtesy of a decisive first-half goal from Welsh international Brennan Johnson.

Following the match, Postecoglou recalled his earlier remarks from the season, where he claimed he “always” achieves success in his second year with clubs.

“I think people misinterpreted it,” he said speaking to TNT Sports. “It wasn’t me boasting, it was me making a declaration. I believed it. I just had this thing inside me.”

“When I said that, that was my intent. I believed it inside me, that was my ambition, I said that. I was prepared to wear it [if it didn’t happen].”

Ange Postecoglou, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur, smiles after his side’s victory in the UEFA Europa League Final 2025 between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Estadio de San Mames on May 21, 2025 in Bilbao, Spain. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

“I’m still trying to take it all in. I know what it means to this football club. I always felt comfortable that if we got ahead, we would win the game.”

Earlier reports suggested that Postecoglou’s future could remain uncertain, no matter the outcome of Wednesday night’s game. However, the Spurs manager has yet to give any thought to what his own future might hold: “Again, I’ve had such a laser focus on winning this thing. Whatever happens, happens. We’re still building this team. We need to add some experience to it.”

Postecoglou continued: “I’m the manager of the football club, that decision is not in my hands. “All I care about is this thing [medal]. I don’t feel like I’ve completed the job yet, we’re still building. The moment I took the job; I wanted to win something. We’ve done that.”

With Wednesday night’s historic victory, Tottenham have secured a spot in the UEFA Super Cup final, set to face the Champions League winner – either Paris Saint-Germain or Inter Milan – scheduled for next Saturday in Munich. The Super Cup final will take place on Wednesday, August 13, at Stadio Friuli, the home stadium of Serie A’s Udinese.

Ange Postecolgou looks at the Scottish Cup in June 2023 ahead of competing the treble then his departure to join Tottenham. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Following his side’s triumph, Postecoglou also made history as the first manager to win a European title after departing Celtic. During his two-year tenure in Glasgow’s east end, the 59-year-old secured five out of six major domestic trophies, highlighted by a Treble in his second season as manager.

With a Europa League victory now on his already impressive CV, Postecoglou has the chance to claim another European accolade – the Super Cup – within the next three months.

Conor Spence

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