Reports suggest Ange Postecoglou`s position as Tottenham manager is under significant threat, with speculation that he could be sacked this summer even if the team wins the Europa League.
Spurs are currently navigating a difficult Premier League campaign and sit in a disappointing 16th place in the table.
Their recent 2-1 loss to Nottingham Forest on Monday night was their 18th league defeat this season, bringing them perilously close to matching the club`s record of 19 losses from the 2003-04 season.
However, winning the Europa League could still provide a silver lining, potentially ending the club`s 17-year wait for a major trophy.
Postecoglou`s squad overcame Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter-finals and are now scheduled to face Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in the semi-finals.
Despite the possibility of European glory, lifting the Europa League trophy on May 21 will reportedly not be sufficient to save the Australian manager`s job.
According to claims made by The Telegraph, Tottenham`s leadership has reportedly made the decision to dismiss Postecoglou irrespective of the outcome in the Europa League.
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is said to be highly regarded by Tottenham executives, though his current club is reportedly determined and hopeful of keeping him.
Fulham boss Marco Silva is also mentioned among the potential candidates to replace Postecoglou.
Former Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino has reportedly expressed interest in a return, although he is currently preparing to manage the United States national team in their home World Cup next summer.
It is also understood that Tottenham`s technical director, Johan Lange, is an admirer of Brentford`s head coach, Thomas Frank.
These rumours about Postecoglou`s future coincide with separate reports suggesting that the club`s chief football officer, Scott Munn, who is considered a key supporter of the current manager, is also expected to be sacked.
Prior to the Europa League quarter-final victory against Eintracht Frankfurt, the under-pressure manager addressed questions about his future, admitting he had “got no idea” if he would still be at Spurs next season.
He commented on the situation, stating, “You either believe I am capable of doing the job now or you don`t. That`s my perspective on these matters.”
“If people believe winning tomorrow all of a sudden makes me a better manager than what I am today or us losing tomorrow somehow makes me a worse manager, I guess that’s their burden, not mine,” he added.
He continued, “I don’t see it that way, and I hope most people don`t, regarding their own sort of self esteem and who they are as people.”
He then stated emphatically, “I couldn’t care less. Really. I couldn’t care less.”
“There’s no burden on me, there’s no anxiety on me,” he explained. “What I’m sitting here doing is thinking we’ve got a great opportunity to get to the final four of a major tournament.”
He concluded by emphasizing his commitment to the current task: “Mate, I’m not going to let that slip by without fighting tooth and nail for it irrespective of what may come the day after.”
