Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has made history by ending the club’s 17-year-long title drought, beating Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League Final.
A cross from Spurs midfielder Pape Matar Sarr met with forward Brennan Johnson as the goal secured their win, as the team weathered United in the later stages and held onto victory.
Centre-back Micky van de Ven cleared a Rasmus Højlund header off the line during the second half after keeper Guglielmo Vicario’s error.
Vicario made up for it by making saves against Luke Shaw and Alejandro Garnacho as United continued with waves of attacks against the Spurs’ defence late in the match.
United pushed for a late winner, with even its keeper André Onana coming up to Spurs defensive half in the last of the seven added minutes at the end of the game.
But Casemiro’s overhead kick, and United’s last chance, hit the side netting and led to no late heroics for a side that will now lose out on European football for only the second time since 1990.
United had 73 percent of overall possession, had 16 shots on target compared to Spurs’ three and completed three times as many passes as its opponent.
After the match, Postecoglou gave TNT Sports comments on Spurs’ win.
“I know what it means for this football club,” he said. “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.”
The victory is the Spurs’ first European win since they won the European Cup in 1984, with Postecoglou joining legends such as Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw in winning a European trophy with the club.
The last time the club lifted a trophy was in 2008, with their 2-1 victory over Chelsea in the EFL Cup.
The Spurs manager also made history twice by becoming the first Australian and first Greek to manage in the Premier League. But despite also securing Champions League football next season, it might not be enough to keep his job according to pundits including Roy Keane and Jamie Carragher, as the club has experienced its worst performance domestically since 1974, when they were relegated.
The club is currently 18th in the league and with only one game in hand they could potentially go up the table, taking United’s spot in 17th with only a point separating the two sides.
Photo: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium by Acabashi found HERE and used under a Creative Commons license. This image has not been modified.
