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      ‘Plenty of noise’ – Sacked Ange Postecoglou takes final swipe at critics in heartfelt statement to Tottenham fans

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      ANGE POSTECOGLOU has broken his silence after he was given the boot by Tottenham.The Aussie boss was sacked two years to the day he was hired by chairman Daniel Levy.Ange Postecoglou has released a statement after being sacked by TottenhamCredit: AFPHe broke the club’s 17-year wait for a trophy and took a final swipe at criticsCredit: PAPostecoglou leaves the north London club having broken their 17-year wait for a trophy after lifting the Europa League in Bilbao by beating Manchester United.However, a woeful Premier League campaign which saw the club finish 17th and record 22 losses meant his position was ultimately untenable.But the 59-year-old has now released a statement on the decision, via his agency CAA Base, taking a final swipe at his critics.The lengthy farewell said: “When I reflect on my time as manager of Tottenham Hotspur, my overriding emotion is one of pride.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”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.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK”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. Postecoglou unrecognisable in amazing throwback video as first club share emotional 3-minute tribute after Europa League”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.”Full Tottenham Statement On Ange’s SackingFollowing a review of performances and after significant reflection, the Club can announce that Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties.Ange joined us from Celtic in the summer of 2023 and oversaw a period of change on the pitch, returning us to the attacking brand of football that has traditionally been associated with the Club, while writing a new chapter in our history by leading us to UEFA Europa League glory in Bilbao last month – an achievement that will live with us all forever.We are extremely grateful to Ange for his commitment and contribution during his two years at the Club.Ange will always be remembered as only the third manager in our history to deliver a European trophy, alongside legendary figures Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw.However, the Board has unanimously concluded that it is in the best interests of the Club for a change to take place. Following a positive start in the 2023/24 Premier League (PL) season, we recorded 78 points from the last 66 PL games.This culminated in our worst-ever PL finish last season. At times there were extenuating circumstances – injuries and then a decision to prioritise our European campaign.Whilst winning the Europa League this season ranks as one of the Club’s greatest moments, we cannot base our decision on emotions aligned to this triumph.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.This has been one of the toughest decisions we have had to make and is not a decision that we have taken lightly, nor one we have rushed to conclude.We have made what we believe is the right decision to give us the best chance of success going forward, not the easy decision.We have a talented, young squad and Ange has given us a great platform to build upon. We should like to express our gratitude to him.We wish him well for the future – he will always be welcome back at our home.News on the appointment of a new Head Coach will be announced in due courseThe decision comes after Postecoglou compared his time at the club to a TV show before saying, “season three is better than season two”.His overall record at the club reads 47 wins from 101 games, with a win percentage of 47 per cent.As SunSport reported, Fabio Paratici is to return to Tottenham as managing director and will play a key role in finding the club’s next manager.In the club’s own statement on the sacking, Spurs said: “This has been one of the toughest decisions we have had to make and is not a decision that we have taken lightly, nor one we have rushed to conclude.”We have made what we believe is the right decision to give us the best chance of success going forward, not the easy decision.”We have a talented, young squad and Ange has given us a great platform to build upon. We should like to express our gratitude to him.”We wish him well for the future – he will always be welcome back at our home.”Read More on The SunIt is understood Postecoglou will take home a £4million compensation package as a result.Brentford boss Thomas Frank and Fulham’s Marco Silva have both been linked with the now-vacant job in north London.Next Tottenham manager oddsOdds from talkSPORT BETThomas Frank 1/2Marco Silva 8/1Michael Carrick 8/1Oliver Glasner 12/1Carlos Corberan 12/1Xavi 14/1Scott Parker 20/1Tottenham ratings: Bissouma dominates Europa League final as occasion gets to UdogieBRENNAN JOHNSON was Tottenham’s hero as they finally ended their 17-year trophy drought in the Europa League final.Despite being without James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski for the clash in Bilbao, Spurs came up with a massive win against Manchester United.Johnson scored the goal as he helped bundle in from a corner in a tussle with Luke Shaw to send fans into dreamland.But Spurs also owe a huge thanks to Yves Bissouma who was totally dominant in midfield.At the other end, Destiny Udogie struggled to get up to the pace of the match as he was up against Manchester United’s Amad Diallo.Spurs had just three shots, only 27 per cent of the ball, and completed a mere 115 passes over 90 minutes.But it didn’t matter, as United never really looked like finding a leveller to take it to extra time.SunSport’s Henry Tomlinson gave his ratings for the Tottenham players… More

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      Tottenham manager contenders compared after Postecoglou axe including boss who could pave way for England duo to join

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      TOTTENHAM are seeking a replacement for sacked boss Ange Postecoglou.Chairman Daniel Levy has axed Postecoglou despite the Aussie ending Spurs’ 17-year trophy drought.Ange Postecoglou has been axed as Tottenham managerCredit: AlamyPostecoglou, 59, lifted the Europa League trophy in BilbaoCredit: GettyThe 59-year-old vowed that his work was not done after his side beat Manchester United to lift the Europa League in Bilbao last month.But following lengthy deliberations, Levy has still decided to get rid of Postecoglou.With Tottenham having finished 17th in the Premier League table, the Spurs supremo will be desperate for a boss that can lift his side back towards the top four.And with the Lilywhites having qualified for the Champions League via the Europa route, Postecoglou’s successor will have a tricky job on their hands juggling what will need to be an improved league campaign with European duties.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLSunSport assesses the pros and cons of the runners and riders in the race to replace axed Ange.THOMAS FRANKPros: The Brentford boss has shown his versatility across seven incredible seasons in West London.The straight-talking Dane would be a common-sense appointment. An effective communicator with both players and the media, Frank should be well placed to navigate what could be an awkward start with a squad of players that were largely behind Postecoglou.Frank, 51, has used several different formations at Brentford and should be confident in improving Spurs’ leaky defence, while he has a track record of getting his strikers scoring, with Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa, Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins having all been prolific under his management.Most read in FootballSunSport understand Frank is the strong favourite at Spurs.BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKThomas Frank has done an exceptional job at BrentfordCredit: GettyCons: Following the highs of Bilbao, Spurs fans and maybe even players may be quite underwhelmed by sacking the man that masterminded that success in order to hire a mid-table boss.For all of his positive traits, Frank has never won a major trophy, albeit having never managed a club realistically expected to challenge for them.Ange Postecoglou drops huge hint over Tottenham future with incredible mic-drop moment at Europa League paradeFrank can at times deploy quite direct football, a style that has not gone down particularly well under the likes of Nuno Espirito Santo and Jose Mourinho at Spurs in the past.MARCO SILVAPros: The Portuguese gaffer has done a remarkable job at Fulham, guiding them from being a Championship yo-yo club to a stable mid-table Premier League side.That sort of stability could be an attractive proposition to the Spurs board, who have overseen a chaotic six years since Mauricio Pochettino was sacked.Fulham performed well in London derbies last season, beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and taking a point off Arsenal – something Spurs always struggled to do under Postecoglou.Cons: Silva’s previous big move, from Watford to Everton, did not go well – with the 47-year-old being sacked barely a year-and-a-half into the job.He is not known to be particularly charismatic, which could lead him to struggle in getting Spurs fans onside early on.Silva also hasn’t won any trophies since lifting the Greek title in 2016, while he has never finished higher than eighth in the Premier League.Marco Silva has led Fulham to mid-table stabilityCredit: Shutterstock EditorialMICHAEL CARRICKPros: Having played for Spurs between 2004 and 2006, Carrick possesses an understanding of how the club runs and what their supporters appreciate.Carrick, 43, has therefore also worked with Levy, which could help him when dealing with the Spurs chairman.Following several years at Manchester United, the former midfielder has an impressive contacts book within the game.Cons: Quite simply, Spurs fans will baulk at the idea of hiring a boss that has just been sacked by a Championship side.Carrick’s first full-time gig as a manager has to be seen as a failure, having not been promoted with Middlesbrough in three attempts.All three of his seasons at Boro faltered in the run-in – something Spurs fans and board members cannot accept.Michael Carrick was sacked by Middlesbrough after missing out on the play-offsCredit: PAOLIVER GLASNERPros: Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner knows what it takes to win trophies.The Austrian, 50, lifted the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022, before going on to win Palace’s first ever major silverware in the FA Cup last season.With the Eagles’ participation in Europe next term shrouded in doubt, Spurs could pounce for their boss amid the uncertainty – perhaps alongside long-term targets Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi too.Cons: Palace chairman Steve Parish will not let go of his manager without a fight – having scrapped to keep Glasner following Bayern Munich’s advances 12 months ago.Tottenham have targeted Palace stars Eze and Guehi, but may be unlikely to get them immediately should the Eagles be stung from losing their manager to the North Londoners. It could force a waiting game for the England duo.Glasner’s three-at-the-back formation is not too dissimilar to Antonio Conte’s, which broke down following his first year at Tottenham – while key Spurs defenders Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven have both suffered repeatedly with injuries in the last two seasons.Oliver Glasner won the FA Cup with Crystal PalaceCredit: GettyXAVIPros: Former Barcelona boss Xavi would add a bit of star-power to the White Hart Lane dugout.Spurs supporters have always appreciated a dash of flair, so having one of the world’s greatest-ever midfielders as manager would likely appeal to many.Xavi, 45, showed that he can work under difficult circumstances by winning the LaLiga title in 2022-23, while he also demonstrated that he was versatile enough to deviate from Barca’s traditional 4-3-3 system when required.Cons: Xavi has no experience of English football, having never played or managed in the Premier League.His job at Barca, while impressive, was not particularly similar to what the task would be at Spurs – more a of a rebuilding effort than title charge, at least initially.A disappointing run mid-way through the 2023-24 season saw Xavi dramatically claim that he would quit Barca at the end of the campaign – only for him to later perform a U-turn… before being sacked anyway.Xavi coached Barcelona between 2021 and 2024Credit: ReutersSCOTT PARKERPros: Like Carrick, Parker has a deep understanding of Spurs having played for the club.The Burnley boss also began his coaching career at Tottenham, having managed their Under-18s during the 2017-18 season.Parker, 44, has previously been assisted by coach Matt Wells, who has spent the last two seasons on Postecoglou’s coaching staff.Cons: Tottenham fans would be extremely underwhelmed by the appointment of Parker.The former midfielder has had previous cracks at the Premier League with Fulham and Bournemouth – being sacked by both clubs.Parker’s football has been quite dour on the eye at times, something Spurs fans would struggle to accept unless results were extremely good.Scott Parker guided Burnley to promotion last seasonCredit: PAANDONI IRAOLAPros: Iraola’s high-octane pressing football could excite the Spurs faithful next season.The Spaniard’s rise across stints in LaLiga and the South Coast is reminiscent of Mauricio Pochettino’s career prior to joining Tottenham.Iraola has shown an ability to improve his players, with the likes of Dominic Solanke having levelled up under his tutelage.Cons: Iraola’s football takes time to implement and patience may be in short supply following Postecoglou’s dismissal.Read More on The SunThe Cherries did not win any of Iraola’s first nine Premier League games in charge at the start of the 2023-24 campaign.Postecoglou was criticised for the amount of injuries suffered by his players, potentially down to his style of football – with similar accusations having been levelled at Iraola.Andoni Iraola has impressed in two seasons at BournemouthCredit: Shutterstock Editorial More

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      Next Tottenham manager odds: Thomas Frank clear frontrunner after Ange Postecoglou SACKED

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      TOTTENHAM are on the hunt for a new manager after sacking Ange Postecoglou.Despite ending a 17-year trophy drought in spectacular fashion and bringing the club Champions League football, the Aussie has been ordered to empty his desk by Daniel Levy.Ange Postecoglou with the Europa League trophy – which wasn’t enough to save his jobDaniel Levy has brutally axed the Aussie despite trophy success.Bookmakers talkSPORT BET have now SLASHED the odds of Brentford’s Thomas Frank to replace Ange as the new Spurs boss.The Dane is now comfortably odds-on at 1/2 to take over the Europa League champions.That win on the continent had saved the club’s season, ensuring Champions League football next term and papering over a poor domestic campaign.But we shouldn’t be surprised – he told us all he was going to win a trophy.Speaking to Australian media after the season ended, Ange seemed defiant on his future, saying: “I didn’t want us to just enjoy the moment, I also wanted us to think about what’s next — don’t settle for this.”The longer it went without any indication from the club, the more it looked like his job had also been saved by the European trophy.Next Tottenham manager oddsOdds from talkSPORT BETThomas Frank 1/2Marco Silva 8/1Michael Carrick 8/1Oliver Glasner 12/1Carlos Corberan 12/1Xavi 14/1Scott Parker 20/1Which was just as well, given he admitted putting the Premier League on the backburner to clinch silverware and give the fans something to cheer.But despite a reported compensation payout of £4million, a total of 22 losses in the top flight left Levy with no other choice but to sack yet another manager.Frank is now the 1/2 favourite with talkSPORT BET to be Spurs’ new manager, which is a significant move for the market.The current Brentford boss has developed a persona for fast, attacking football, highlighted by Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa’s excellent scoring return in the league last season.The Bees are now a stalwart in the Premier League under his stewardship and were even in the hunt for Europe going into the final weeks.Thomas Frank is the hot favourite to replace AngeHe has won 54 of his 152 league games in charge at the Gtech with 228 goals scored and 224 conceded in that period.Marco Silva and recently-sacked Michael Carrick are joint second favourites but are big prices at 8/1.Silva has been linked with the Spurs role for some time now, with Carrick having recently been sacked by Middlesbrough.Oliver Glasner (12/1) was strongly linked with Spurs after guiding Crystal Palace to FA Cup glory but both he and the club have been adamant saying he’ll remain in charge.Xavi (14/1) and Scott Parker (20/1) have their admirers and have been linked but this opportunity looks set to pass them by.Remember to gamble responsiblyA responsible gambler is someone who:Establishes time and monetary limits before playingOnly gambles with money they can afford to loseNever chase their lossesDoesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressedGamcare – gamcare.org.ukGambleAware – GambleAware.orgRead our guide on responsible gambling practices.For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites. More

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      Ange Postecoglou sacked LIVE: Tottenham begin search for next manager with Thomas Frank and Marco Silva linked

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      TOTTENHAM have SACKED Ange Postecoglou despite the Aussie winning the Europa League, it is understood.The 59-year-old led Spurs to their first trophy in 17 years with a 1-0 win over Manchester United in the final two weeks ago.Domestically, it was a season to forget for Tottenham, finishing 17th in the Premier League, their lowest position in the top flight since promotion in 1978.Spurs have been linked with Brentford boss Thomas Frank and Fulham gaffer Marco Silva as they begin the search for their next manager.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSFollow all the updates on Tottenham’s manager hunt below…Tottenham next manager oddsHere’s who’s the likeliest to take over the hot seat at Tottenham:Odds from talkSPORT BET:Thomas Frank 1/2Marco Silva 8/1Michael Carrick 8/1Oliver Glasner 12/1Carlos Corberan 12/1Xavi 14/1Scott Parker 20/1Copy linkCopiedTottenham managerial targetsTottenham will now start searching for Ange Postecoglou’s successor at the helm.Returning managing director Fabio Paratici is thought to be a fan of former Ajax boss Francesco Farioli.Fulham’s Marco Silva, Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola and Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner are all thought to be in the frame.Brentford manager Thomas Frank also poses as a favourite.Copy linkCopiedWhat’s next for Tottenham?Tottenham will now start looking for a new manager after Ange Posteocglou’s reported dismissal.As SunSport reported Fabio Paratici is to return as managing director and will play a key role in finding the club’s next boss.Paratici was Spurs’ managing director of football between 2021 and 2023.That was before the Italian was forced to resign in April 2023 after being hit with a two-and-a-half-year worldwide ban by Fifa due to financial malpractice at previous club Juventus.Copy linkCopiedWhy Ange fell out of favourAnge Postecoglou fell out of favour during his second year at Tottenham despite an impressive debut season.That is despite the fact Postecoglou finally ended Spurs’ trophy drought since 2008.The Aussie tactician achieved something the likes of Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte and Mauricio Pochettino couldn’t before him.However, the North Londoners finished the season 17th in the Premier League, just one place above the relegation zone with 22 losses in 38 matches, of which they only won 11.Copy linkCopiedFull story Tottenham have decided to part ways with Ange Postecoglou, reports suggest.Read SunSport’s full report:Copy linkCopiedAnge Postecoglou ‘SACKED’Tottenham have fired Ange Postecoglou, SunSport understand.After weeks of deliberation by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy the decision was made to sack Postecoglou.That is despite the fact the Aussie tactician ended the North Londoners’ 17-year run without a trophy.The 59-year-old head coach made history by beating Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League final.Copy linkCopied More

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      ‘Time has moved on’ – Man Utd wild child Ravel Morrison, 32, targeting Championship transfer as he puts past behind him

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      RAVEL MORRISON has pleaded for clubs to ignore his wild child past.The former Manchester United wonderkid is targeting a move back to the Championship – but wants to put the past behind him.Ravel Morrison has pleaded for clubs to ignore his wild pastCredit: GettyMorrison was hailed as a whizz-kid of the Old Trafford youth system when Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge but he quickly earned the reputation of an unreliable ‘bad boy’.He made what turned out to be disappointing move to West Ham and then Lazio, where he only managed eight appearances in 2015.Loan spells at Birmingham City, QPR, Cardiff City, Sheffield United, Derby County and Mexican side at Atlas also didn’t work out.But Morrison is wiser than the kid who got into trouble, ended up in court and left Old Trafford on a sour note.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSBack in September, the 32-year-old signed for the 14th club of his rollercoaster career – Precision FC in Dubai in the UAE second division. He told The Athletic: “Even now, I can guarantee that if I signed for a club in England, the headline in all the newspapers would be something negative.“If another player at United gets into trouble, he’s always ‘the next Ravel’. Anything that anyone does wrong gets linked to my name. “It pops up on my Instagram and I’m thinking, ‘Oh, not again… how many years is this now?’.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSAt West Ham, there were occasions when he missed training because he had been up all night on his PlayStation.And he was accused of attitude issues, timing problems and appeared in court for witness intimidation and criminal damage while at Man Utd in 2011.Ravel Morrison reveals he used to steal boots from Man Utd dressing room to sell and feed his family Morrison was also once fined £7000 by the FA for alleged homophobic comments made on Twitter.But homesick Morrison has set his mind on moving back to England and having one last crack at the second-tier again, where he has already played for six different sides.He said: “I do believe I can play in the Championship — easy. The frustrating thing is I’m not getting the opportunity.It all stems from my own mistakesMorrisonThe Athletic“My agent has spoken to a lot of sporting directors, chief scouts and heads of recruitment, and we’ve got really close to an agreement.“Then they get the manager’s opinion and it becomes, ‘Ah, but he’s done this, he’s done that’, and they are speaking about things that happened when I was a kid. “Time has moved on, it’s over a decade ago. But it’s crazy sometimes how people don’t move on.”“So many people have formed an opinion about me, but those opinions are based on things that happened 10 to 15 years ago. “I’m 32 now. I’ve played football around the world and had a good career. I’m not a kid of 16 or 17 anymore.“But then again, I have to look at myself because it all stems from my own mistakes. I did some things that were wrong and I can’t blame anyone but myself.”He has won 20 caps for Jamaica since switching allegiances in 2020.Morrison, who shares the same hometown as Marcus Rashford in Wythenshawe, has his eyes set on returning to where it all began at Carrington.Read More on The SunSpeaking on the Undr the Cosh podcast last month, Morrison said: “I’ve got my B licence now – I did it in the summer.'”I want to get into some type of coaching after I retire. That’d be good. I’d like to go back to United!” More

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      Ange Postecoglou SACKED by Tottenham despite finally ending Spurs’ 17-year trophy drought with Europa League triumph

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      ANGE POSTECOGLOU has been sacked by Tottenham despite ending the club’s 17-year trophy drought, it’s understood.Spurs beat Manchester United 1-0 in Bilbao to lift the Europa League last month – sparking incredible scenes, both at San Mames and back home at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.Ange Postecoglou lifts the Europa League trophyCredit: GETTYPostecoglou hugs chairman Daniel Levy following the Europa League finalCredit: GETTYThe Aussie remained popular with several players in his squadCredit: GETTYPostecoglou delivered on his silverware promiseCredit: GETTYPostecoglou, 59, vowed after the match that he wanted to stay at Spurs, insisting his work was not “complete”.Nevertheless, chairman Daniel Levy has decided to end the Aussie’s reign, with the club’s dire Premier League form costing Postecoglou his job.Tottenham finished the season with a 4-1 home defeat by Brighton that left them 17th in the table with 38 points – their worst in Prem history.They fell six points short of their previous worst points tally of 44 in 1997-98.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLPostecoglou’s record in two years at Spurs reads 47 wins from 101 games, with a win percentage of 47 per cent.As SunSport reported Fabio Paratici is to return to Tottenham as managing director and will play a key role in finding the club’s next manager.The Italian, 52, was the club’s managing director of football between 2021 and 2023, before being forced to resign in April 2023 after being hit with a two-and-a-half-year worldwide ban by Fifa due to financial malpractice at previous club Juventus.Paratici is thought to be a fan of former Ajax boss Francesco Farioli.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSMarco Silva, Andoni Iraola and Oliver Glasner are all thought to be in the frame.Postecoglou’s reign began amid a wave of optimism in North London.Tottenham fans PARTY through the night in Bilbao after Europa League triumph He arrived at Tottenham in June 2023, having been poached from Celtic where he won back-to-back Scottish Premiership titles.Postecoglou had initially appeared to be a breath of fresh air following the miserable reigns of Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte.His tenure began in style as Tottenham made the club’s best-ever start to a Premier League season.Postecoglou celebrates with his jubilant players in BilbaoCredit: SHUTTERSTOCKThe Aussie, 59, claps the travelling Tottenham supportersCredit: GETTYSpurs won eight and drew two of their first ten Premier League games despite the exit of club icon and record scorer Harry Kane on the eve of Postecoglou’s first match in charge.They were top of the table until a crazy 4-1 home defeat by Chelsea and a slew of injuries in late October triggered a steady decline in form.Tottenham finished fifth following a dismal end to the campaign, but many fans still felt optimistic about Postecoglou’s tenure.However, Spurs struggled with a long list of injuries this season and despite a landmark 4-0 win over champions Man City at the Etihad in November, they were frustratingly fragile domestically.Following the City thrashing, Spurs won just one Premier League game in the next 71 days – and that was against Southampton – before eventually ending their barren run at Brentford in January.’QUE SERA, SERA’Postecoglou pleaded for patience amid a heavy injury crisis across the winter months.And with his first choice defence and front line restored, he was able to guide Spurs to Europa League glory.Following the final, Postecoglou said: “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.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.”Ange Postecoglou”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.”Postecoglou added: “I know our league form has been unacceptable.Read More on The Sun”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.”Delighted Daniel Levy congratulates Postecoglou – but has now axed himCredit: GETTY More

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      England stars are physically and mentally cream-crackered – surely life is too short for these Andorra and Senegal games

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      WHY do we need to put ourselves through this again?Why do England have to play Andorra at football, when the basic point of sitting down to watch any football match is to think: ‘I wonder who’s going to win this one’.Thomas Tuchel’s England squad play Andorra in a World Cup qualifier on SaturdayCredit: GettyWe already know that England will win. We know that Andorra are extremely unlikely to score. And it would be a significant surprise if Jordan Pickford has to make a single meaningful save.Surely your life is too short to tune in at 5pm on Saturday and watch this thing happen.This isn’t English arrogance. It’s not jingoistic or tub-thumping to point out that Andorra has a population of 80,000 – making it slightly bigger than the town of Bracknell but smaller than Weston-Super-Mare.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAnd therefore, England, with its 57 million people, will always beat it in a football match.Andorra is a lovely place in the Pyrenees, it’s good for skiing and the Andorrans are rightly proud of their tiny nation state.Not that they currently have a football stadium suitable to hold this World Cup qualifier, which is instead being staged at Espanyol’s home ground in Barcelona.But with players burnt-out, the calendar congested with fixtures and with a month-long Club World Cup about to start, does anyone need this thing – Andorra versus England – to be part of our lives?Most read in FootballEngland breezed past Andorra 4-0 in 2021Credit: GettyCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSOver the past 19 years, England have played Andorra six times and beaten them 5-0, 3-0, 2-0, 6-0, 4-0 and 5-0.The 3-0 in Barcelona was vaguely memorable because Steve McClaren, probably the silliest man ever to manage England, had a hissy fit and stormed out of the post-match press conference.England star Ivan Toney hits back at Bruno Fernandes with blunt reply after Man Utd star’s Saudi transfer snubBut, despite being at the majority of those matches, I can’t remember a single thing about any of the rest of them.So 4-0 to England will be roughly par, even though pretty much everyone will then say that 4-0 is not enough.There can be a certain sadistic pleasure in witnessing an absolute hiding – a nine or a ten – but that’s almost certainly not going to happen either.It is not that difficult for 11 fit young blokes of lower-tier EFL standard – which is Andorra’s level – to sit behind the ball in a packed defence, block shots for 90 minutes and keep the score down, especially if they are showing zero ambition of actually scoring.In almost 30 years as a recognised international football team, Andorra have never lost by more than 7-0. They aren’t that bad.In the past five years, they have beaten fellow minnows San Marino, Liechtenstein, St Kitts & Nevis and Grenada.Before that, Andorra defeated Moldova, Macedonia, Albania and Belarus – as well as their one genuine stand-out result, a 1-0 win over Hungary in 2017.The Nations League has been excellent for smaller nations, giving them regular competitive football against countries of a similar size and teams of similar ability.Andorra and other postage-stamp nations should not be entirely barred from World Cup qualifying – a pre-qualifying tournament, or Nations League results, could determine that one of them reaches the actual qualifying rounds.But surely something has to give in the fixture schedule. And if you’re looking for a place to start when cutting fixtures, then how about fixtures that nobody wants to watch and nobody wants to play in?England’s footballers are tired. Very wealthy, yes, but also physically and mentally cream-crackered.They don’t need to spend ten days of their lives preparing to play Andorra and then Senegal – who are, admittedly, half-decent – in a match at Nottingham next Tuesday which will mean absolutely nothing.I sincerely hope that you have something better to do at 5pm on Saturday than watching this match.Read More on The SunAnd also that you have something better to do on September 6, when, just three months from now, England will play Andorra yet again.At some point, we will all reach our deathbeds. And, please believe me, none of us will ever find ourselves staring into that ultimate abyss, wishing that we had spent more of our time watching England play Andorra at football.England’s players are knackered after a long seasonCredit: Getty More

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      ‘Best boss I ever had’ – Cristiano Ronaldo’s former bodyguard reveals risks of protecting star and how much he was paid

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO’S former bodyguard has revealed the eye-watering sum he was paid to protect the footie icon. Hichman Bukhari was part of CR7’s security detail for four years when the Portugal star plied his trade with Real Madrid.Hichman Bukhari, left, was Cristiano Ronaldo’s bodyguard for four years while he was at Real MadridCredit: INSTAGRAM @hichman.07Man mountain Bukhari is a private military contractorCredit: INSTAGRAM @hichman.07Bukhair earned a pretty penny for protecting RonaldoCredit: INSTAGRAM @hichman.07The private military contractor (PMC) and close protection operative (CPO) was by Ronaldo’s side every time he stepped out in the Spanish capital or jetted to a luxurious location.Bukhari attended some high-profile events during his watch of Ronaldo, which earned him a whopping £850 a day. That equated to a £4,250 for a five-day week and £21,250 per month.His annual salary worked out to be a cool £255,000.READ MORE SPORTS NEWSDespite having to fend off scores of adoring footie fans, paparazzi galore and the occasional thief, Bukhari insists working with Ronaldo was a breeze. During an appearance on Telecinco, he said: “Our work depends on the client’s profile. “In the case of Cristiano, with whom I worked for four years, his profile wasn’t high-risk because people didn’t want to kill him, and he didn’t receive death threats. “He was threatened by fans or people who wanted to rob him.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSInside Cristiano Ronaldo’s incredible lifeAS arguably the greatest player of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo lives a life befitting such a superstar.”We always have to know where we’re going, who will be there, and have clear entry and exit points, as well as contact points.”We must always be aware that our lives could be at risk. Big-hearted Cristiano Ronaldo laughs it off after fan in wheelchair accidentally drives into him“We have to be willing to protect a person, and sometimes we have to give our lives to protect them.”If I have to use weapons, I will use them. “The most important thing is having the ability to think quickly, solve problems, and remain calm in difficult situations.”Bukhari has fond memories of his time protecting Ronaldo, who was his “best” employer to date. He said of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner: “He is the best boss I’ve ever had. He was threatened by fans or people who wanted to rob him.”Cristiano Ronaldo’s former bodyguard, Hicham Bukhari”We have a good relationship.’Working with him wasn’t like working with someone threatened with death or kidnap. “We had some silly incidents with paparazzi or crazy fans, but nothing major.”Read More on The SunRonaldo and his Portugal team-mates booked their place in the Nations League final on Wednesday night with a 2-1 win over Germany. Ronaldo set up an all-Iberian final against Spain with a 68th minute winner. More