Son Heung-min has sent an emotional message to Ange Postecoglou and branded him as a “Tottenham Hotspur legend” after the north London club sacked the Aussie on Friday.
Spurs confirmed in a statement that Postecoglou had been relieved of his duties “following a review of performances and after significant reflection”.
They added: “It is crucial that we are able to compete on multiple fronts and believe a change of approach will give us the strongest chance for the coming season and beyond.”
Postecoglou’s dismissal comes just 16 days after he guided Tottenham to their first piece of major silverware in 17 years. Spurs beat Manchester United to win the Europa League in Bilbao.
However, Tottenham’s form in the Premier League had been dismal for some time. Indeed, Spurs ended the top-flight campaign in 17th, their lowest finish since the 1976/77 season, after losing 22 of their 38 fixtures.
Despite this, Postecoglou appears to have left a lasting impression on the Tottenham dressing room. The Telegraph reported that his departure has angered a number of Spurs players, with some now wanting to leave.
Several stars took to social media on Friday to thank Postecoglou, including Richarlison and Pedro Porro. Now, Tottenham captain Son has become the latest to issue a heartfelt statement following Postecoglou’s exit.
In a post on Son’s Instagram account, he said: “Gaffer. You’ve changed the trajectory of this club. You believed in yourself, and us, since day one and never wavered for a second. Even when others did.
“You knew what we were capable of all along. You did it your way. And your way brought this club the best night it’s had in decades. We will have those memories for life.
“You trusted me with the captaincy. One of the highest honours of my career. It’s been an incredible privilege to learn from your leadership up close, I am a better player and a better person because of you.
“Ange Postecoglou, you are a Tottenham Hotspur legend forever. Thank you, mate [white love heart emoji].”
Postecoglou replaced Antonio Conte as Tottenham’s next permanent manager in June 2023 and made an excellent start to life in north London, winning eight and drawing two of his first 10 Premier League matches.
That was a run that put Spurs top of the table, but that is as good as it got in the league for Postecoglou. They ended up finishing the season on a dour note and missed out on qualification for the Champions League.
Tottenham’s league form continued into this campaign and resulted in them getting their worst top-flight finish for almost 50 years. Although the Europa League run was memorable and should not be forgotten, the Spurs board felt performances and results in the Premier League were not good enough and contributed to his exit.
Speaking in a statement on social media after his Tottenham departure was confirmed, Postecoglou said: “When I reflect on my time as manager of Tottenham Hotspur my overriding emotion is one of pride. The opportunity to lead one of England’s historic football clubs and bring back the glory it deserves will live with me for a lifetime.
“Sharing that experience with all those who truly love this club and seeing the impact it had on them is something I will never forget.
“That night in Bilbao was the culmination of two years of hard work, dedication and unwavering belief in a dream. There were many challenges to overcome and plenty of noise that comes with trying to accomplish what many said was not possible.
“We have also laid the foundation that mean this club should not have to wait 17 more years for their next success. I have enormous faith in this group of players and know there is much more potential and growth in them.
“I sincerely want to thank those who are the lifeblood of the club, the supporters. I know there were some difficult times but I always felt that they wanted me to succeed and that gave me all the motivation I need to push on. It’s important to acknowledge the hard working people at Spurs who gave me encouragement on a daily basis.
“And finally I want to thank those who were with me every day for the last two years. A fantastic group of young men who are now legends of this football club and the brilliant coaches who never once doubted we could do something special.
“We are forever connected. Audere est Facere. Ange.”
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