Tottenham’s decision to replace Antonio Conte with Ange Postecoglou paid off faster than anyone could have imagined after his summer appointment. The Australian has so established himself as a coach, now considered one of the elite coaches in world football, that he has been linked with many of the most important jobs.
Postecolgou, who came to the Premier League as a relative unknown, has become one of the most popular men around with his expansive football and positive and inspiring attitude off the pitch. However, it was not just a change of atmosphere, as Daniel Levy immediately noticed a more tangible change of fortune at Tottenham Hotspur.
Spurs are fourth in the standings with less than a quarter of the season to go and are now in contention for a Champions League place. The turnaround from last year to now has been remarkable, but it has also brought with it the fear that Postecoglou could be recalled.
While Liverpool are planning to appoint a new manager to replace Jurgen Klopp in the summer and Barcelona want to get a new man after Xavi, Postecoglou’s name has appeared on the list of candidates. As the previous manager of one of Manchester City’s football teams, Yokohama F Marinos, he has also been mentioned as a possible successor to Pep Guardiola’s throne.
The Spaniard is currently only under contract until the end of next season, although he could extend it. Spurs are not afraid of their new man leaving soon.
The Telegraph reports that they are not afraid of leaving, especially not to Liverpool. Xabi Alonso is the front-runner to take over the job, while an interesting group of names are vying to come to the Camp Nou after Xavi. Tottenham, despite the potential merry-go-round, are not preparing to look for a new head coach any time soon.
Tottenham are confident of keeping manager Angelo Postecoglou in the face of Liverpool’s interest, the Telegraph reports. Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has announced he will retire from the club at the end of the season and the favourite for the position is former footballer and current Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso.
Postecoglou signed a four-year contract when he arrived in north London in the summer. His first appointment came after unsuccessful attempts to bring in Julien Nagelsmann, Luis Enrique and Arne Sloto.
The outcome could hardly have been better and Postecoglou himself has hinted that he will stay at the club for a long time to settle his family life. “The thing is, my wife is in Australia at the moment and she’s grumbling about it too,” he said earlier this month. “We’ve moved so much that it’s – I don’t have a house where everything has its place.
“I’d love to one day [have all my trophies on display] and they’re all somewhere. I’ve got the Celje ones because they’re travelling with us at the moment, but I don’t know all the others. They are somewhere, but they are packed.
“We had an interesting life, not normal, when you have a family and you can arrange your [home] … that will come one day. Hopefully very soon. But we were nomads for a little bit and you live that kind of existence with all your possessions. I have my family, which is the only trophy I need.”