Who will replace Postecoglou in the Tottenham hot seat after his sacking?

Tottenham Hotspur's decision to part ways with Ange Postecoglou, just 16 days after securing the club's first major trophy in 17 years, has sent shockwaves through the footballing world.

Despite the euphoria of a 1–0 Europa League final victory over Manchester United, the club's dismal 17th-place finish in the Premier League - their worst in the modern era - proved decisive.

Chairman Daniel Levy and the board cited the need for consistent performance across all competitions as the rationale behind the sacking.

Now, with summer looming, rumblings of discontent amongst the playing staff and uncertainty clouding the future, Spurs must pick a path forward.

The challenge? Finding someone who can balance ambition with pragmatism, rebuild confidence in a fractured squad, and navigate the unique pressures of working under one of football's most scrutinised chairmen.

Flashscore has taken a deeper look at the top contenders being eyed to replace Postecoglou at Tottenham:

Thomas Frank

Thomas Frank is more than just a steady hand. At Brentford, he has built a side that punches well above its weight, all while cultivating a culture of trust and tactical intelligence.

His use of a 3-5-2 formation might feel conservative, but under Frank, it becomes a springboard for dynamic wing play and clinical counter-attacks.

Frank's stock is high for good reason. Brentford's Premier League survival and mid-table respectability were achieved on a fraction of Tottenham's budget.

His recruitment - focused on data and marginal gains - has unearthed gems like Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa and Vitaly Janelt.

Brentford final standingsFlashscore

The Dane's calm, articulate demeanour could appeal to a fanbase weary of drama, and his close working relationship with Johan Lange might ease the perennial friction that surrounds Levy's hot seat.

In an interview with Sky Sports back in 2021, Frank remarked: "It's not just about playing the game, it's about building a culture. We want players who are willing to run through brick walls for each other."

That ethos could well resonate in a Tottenham dressing room craving identity.

But questions linger. Can Frank translate his methods to a club where benchmarks for success seem to be constantly changing? Does he have the tactical versatility to manage Spurs in Europe and the Premier League? And does his understated profile truly fit a club that still clings to the idea of being one of England's big boys?

Mauricio Pochettino

For some, Mauricio Pochettino is the solution hiding in plain sight.

He understands the club, its culture, and its constraints. His first spell - including a 54.27 per cent win rate, Champions League final and several top-four finishes - remains the gold standard of modern Tottenham.

His ability to cultivate, nurture, and transform stars like Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, and Dele Alli adds developmental strength to his CV, particularly for a club that prioritises buying young players with potential resale value.

A 'Poch' return would be emotionally resonant, offering supporters a narrative of redemption and unfinished business. Tactically, he still believes in high pressing and vertical transitions, styles that fit the DNA Levy has long tried to instil.

Despite his brief foray to London rivals Chelsea, the Argentine has regularly expressed his desire to one day return to the club where he truly made his name as a top coach.

He told Sky Sports earlier this year: "When I left the club, I always remember one interview I said I would like one day to come back to Tottenham.

"What I said then, still after six years or five years, I still feel in my heart that, yes, I would like one day to come back.

"We will see with the timing, like Daniel (Levy) said."

But Pochettino is no longer the fresh-faced builder he once was. His spell at Chelsea was mixed at best, and his new post with the US national team complicates availability.

Moreover, revisiting a past relationship can be as risky as it is romantic, especially if the circumstances that led to the split have not fundamentally changed.

Andoni Iraola

If there's a wildcard in the race, it's Andoni Iraola.

The Basque coach has made Bournemouth arguably the most improved team of the season. Under his intense, vertical pressing system, the Cherries reached 48 points - their highest-ever tally in the top flight - playing with an urgency that caught many opponents (including Arsenal and Manchester City) off guard.

Iraola's style evokes memories of Pochettino's early days at Tottenham: High energy, fearless pressing, and an emphasis on team coherence. His time at Rayo Vallecano in Spain also showed his aptitude for improving players and punching above his weight.

During his time in LaLiga, Iraola once reflected: "I want my teams to make the opponent uncomfortable from the first second." Such relentless intensity could spark life into a Spurs side too often accused of sleepwalking through fixtures.

Yet Iraola remains a risk. His limited experience at the elite level and combative demeanour in interviews and press conferences could create friction behind the scenes. He would certainly be prone to the sort of honest outbursts that Antonio Conte unloaded upon the club, much to Levy's embarrassment.

Working with Levy requires more than tactical clarity - it demands diplomacy, patience, and political nous. Whether Iraola possesses those softer skills is unclear.

Xavi Hernandez

Xavi's arrival would be something of a bold statement. Here is a manager who inherited chaos at Barcelona and, within two seasons, restored order and clinched La Liga. His 62.55 per cent win rate speaks volumes to that success.

His style - possession-driven, disciplined, and rooted in Barcelona's identity - would bring a technical finesse to Spurs. He champions young players and has demonstrated his ability to guide a club through turbulent times.

"If we control the ball, we control the game. That is how we attack, that is how we defend," Xavi told El Pais in 2022. That sort of idealism may appeal to a club long associated with stylish, entertaining football.

Yet there are valid doubts. Xavi has never coached outside Spain, never dealt with the intensity of English football's media - something that contributed to his undoing with the Catalans - and he's never faced a chairman quite like Levy.

His methods, which rely on technical superiority, may not suit a squad built around pace and pressing. And while his name carries weight, his Premier League learning curve would be steep.

Roberto De Zerbi

If Tottenham want boldness, Roberto De Zerbi fits the bill. His Brighton side became cult favourites, blending tactical risk-taking with relentless intensity. At Marseille, he's continued to push the envelope, and his 43.03 per cent win rate across 409 matches only tells part of the story.

De Zerbi's football is built on building from the back, positional fluidity, and attacking overloads. He relishes tactical duels and embraces complexity - something Spurs have often lacked.

His Brighton tenure, in particular, showed that he can make brave ideas work in the Premier League, and the Italian is fully prepared to punch above his weight.

"I don't want possession for its own sake. I want it to create chaos in the opponent," De Zerbi told The Athletic in 2023. His philosophy could electrify Tottenham - if the club has the nerve to follow through. They certainly did not with Postecoglou.

However, similarly to Iraola, his confrontational style may be ill-suited to Tottenham's hierarchy.

He is known for speaking his mind - a trait that could either refresh or rupture relations at the board level. And his style requires time, belief, and total buy-in. That may not align with a club where patience is seldom afforded.

At the time of writing, the Italian has reportedly already rejected any advances from Spurs and remains committed to his current employers.

Tottenham's next step is not just about tactics or personalities. It is about clarity. What does the club want to be? An entertainment hub or a results machine? An academy paradise or a big club with big-club habits?

The answer may lie not in CVs or stats, but in which manager best understands - and is brave enough to define - what Daniel Levy's vision of Tottenham seemingly is: Success without expense, league position above trophies, and very little wiggle room for error.

AuthorFlashscore