MATE, oh mate, we’ll miss you, mate.
Even though you weren’t our mate. And we knew that, especially if you called us “mate”.
Ange Postecoglou, you were the last fair-dinkum footballing romantic inside the cynical world of Premier League football.
You staked your reputation, you risked your job, on winning silverware for Tottenham.
You told us you always won things in your second season in any job and we laughed at you and said, “Yes, mate, but this is Tottenham”. And then you went and won something in your second season.
You gambled and it paid off and yet they sacked you anyway. And what could be more cynical than that?
You realised that winning the Europa League would mean far more to Spurs fans than finishing in the top half of the Premier League and you told us so.
Just like you told us time and again that VAR is ruining the enjoyment of football.
Just like you told us that those stats bores who try to suck the joy out of the game spend most of their time spouting nonsense.
Ange Breaks Silence On Tottenham Sacking
ANGE Postecoglou issued a statement just moments after being axed.
It read: “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 foundations that means 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 needed 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.”
You were right about all of those things and plenty more.
You were chippy and sarcy and narky but you spoke more good, honest commonsense than any other manager in the Premier League has done for years.
You spoke like a true lover of the game, a true fan, with all the heart-on-sleeve emotion and all the ‘us against the world’ spikiness that entails.
You tried to play football the right way, the Spurs way, the glory, glory way, the ‘To Dare Is To Do’ way.
And if it often looked naive and inflexible, then at least you never bored the pants off us.
“Are you not entertained?” you asked us and, invariably, we were. Even if Spurs invariably lost.
Your policy of prioritising the Europa League over the Premier League cut to the heart of the essential question any Tottenham Hotspur manager should ask, namely: ‘What is the point of Tottenham Hotspur?’
For an entire generation, Spurs were the sixth richest club in England and since Newcastle’s Geordie Arabia revolution, they are the seventh richest.
As a result, Spurs are unlikely to win the Premier League any time soon.
The peak of their realistic ambitions are to win knock-out competitions and to consistently entertain, to bring joy to those who pay to watch them.
And if that wasn’t the case very often last season – when Spurs lost 22 league matches and finished 17th – then at least it was always the intention.
The scenes witnessed in Bilbao after the Europa League Final victory over Manchester United – and at the trophy parade a couple of days later – will be remembered by Spurs supporters for as long as they live.
You were the last fair-dinkum footballing romantic inside the cynical world of Premier League football.”
Dave Kidd on Ange Postecgolou
And that was down to you, Ange Postecoglou – a bloke who grew up on the other side of the world, where football is a minority sport.
An outsider, consistently patronised and belittled throughout your career. A man who never tried to pretend that those attitudes didn’t hurt you.
And you defended your club. You hated the way we often laughed at it.
You railed against long-held perceptions and ‘agendas’ and you stuck up for Spurs.
You were loyal and you were proud and yet, ultimately that loyalty was never repaid.
Because ultimately, no major football club, no big company, ever truly gives a stuff about its employees.
We will miss you, mate. And if you ever wind up on our shores again, we will welcome you with open arms.
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