Tottenham have reportedly identified Andoni Iraola and Marco Silva as the leading candidates to replace Ange Postecoglou at the end of the season. It is now looking likely that the struggling Australian will leave regardless of his side’s success in the Europa League.
Reports claim that Postecoglou will depart at the end of the campaign, either by being sacked or through a mutual parting of ways. He has overseen a hugely underwhelming Premier League campaign in which Spurs sit 16th in the Premier League. Runs to the Europa League and Carabao Cup semi-finals have been the 59-year-old’s two saving graces at times when it has seemed he was at the end of the road.
According to the Telegraph, winning the Europa League may yet save Postecoglou from the sack. However, there is a growing feeling that he will leave at the end of the season, regardless of the club’s performance in the Europa League.
Iraola and Silva have been lined up as potential replacements, the report adds. Both coaches have impressed during their spells at Bournemouth and Fulham, respectively.
Cherries boss Iraola’s vibrant brand of football is understood to have caught the eye of several top clubs. However, his club are fighting to keep the Spaniard and are said to be ‘optimistic’ about doing so.
Iraola’s Bournemouth have a strong chance of qualifying for Europe next season, sitting eighth in the Premier League. Finishing in that position could land a club a place in next season’s Conference League come May.
They also reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup but were narrowly beaten by Manchester City. Fellow Spurs candidate Silva has Fulham contending for a place in the top half of the Premier League after guiding the Cottagers back into the top-flight in 2022.
Both managers have been backed with strong resources and stability at their current clubs. They will likely want assurances that this will be the same if they decide to move to Spurs.
The north Londoners lost for a staggering 18th time in the Premier League on Monday night, beaten 2-1 by Champions League hopefuls Nottingham Forest. Nineteen defeats in the league would be a club record.
Postecoglou navigated an injury crisis that spanned almost the entire winter, and there has been plenty of sympathy from the club’s hierarchy over some of the challenges he has faced. But Spurs now face a make-or-break Europa League semi-final against Bodo/Glimt. Defeat could seal Postecoglou’s fate.
