Ange Postecoglou could be facing the sack at Tottenham after a 13th Premier League defeat (Image: Getty)
won’t have to look very far to find their successor for if the under-fire boss is sacked in the coming days, with the opportunity to approach Andoni Iraola one they cannot afford to pass up.
The Australian’s future may well be hanging in the balance after overseeing another dismal result,
It marked their 13th defeat in just 23 games this season – one more than the entire 2023-24 campaign where Spurs finished fifth under Postecoglou. If there is anything that is keeping the 59-year-old in his job, it is how they performed last term under his guidance.
But Postecoglou will be acutely aware that his position is under threat as Spurs continue hover dangerously above the relegation zone in 15th place. After the game, he said: “I’m a football manager and I get judged on results, that is the way of the world.”
Postecoglou’s football has attracted huge fanfare since he took charge 18 months ago, but after a fine start to his reign, results have become a major concern. Patience is wearing thin after a run of eight defeats from their last 10 league matches, which was reflected by the loud boos that emanated from the Stadium.
Iraola has been in that position before. In October 2023, it was reported that he was one defeat away from getting the sack at Bournemouth in October 2023 before he turned things around.
Some 15 months later, his side are now seventh in the and dreaming of clinching a spot in Europe next season.
The Cherries have been one of the surprise packages this season and the fact they are 16 points ahead of Spurs at this stage is an achievement that cannot go without mention.
Andoni Iraola is flying high with Bournemouth after guiding the Cherries to seventh (Image: Getty)
That is made more impressive by the fact Iraola has got the better of Postecoglou, , , , and Eddie Howe this term.
Nuno Espirito Santo added his name to the victim list after Bournemouth thrashed high-flying Nottingham Forest 5-0 on Saturday.
If that’s not enough, the Spaniard, 42, has coped tremendously with a crippling injury crisis where he lost both of his strikers, Evanilson and Enes Unal, to long-term injuries.
Instead of complaining, Iraola worked tirelessly to find a solution and improved his side in the process.
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy should consider Andoni Iraola (Image: Getty)
Justin Kluivert has been used as a makeshift ‘false nine’ and bagged seven goals in six matches. Then there is Antoine Semenyo, Dango Outtara and Milos Kerkez, players who were hardly known to fans but have shot to prominence under the ex-Rayo Vallecano coach.
Of course, there are reasons to give Postecoglou time to turn things around. Spurs’ injuries have been somewhat unprecedented at the club, having lost Guglielmo Vicario, Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven for long periods this season.
If Postecoglou gets those players back, the results will soon turn around – the pressure on inexperienced duo Archie Gray and Antonin Kinsky at the back has been telling.
But a manager who can beat top sides in the , work with a shoestring budget and handle one of the league’s longest injury lists is exactly what Spurs need.
Ange Postecoglou’s time at Spurs could be up with his side 15th in the table (Image: Getty)
Daniel Levy will be reluctant to pull the trigger on Postecoglou, but the solution is staring him right in the face.
The only question is whether Iraola could be tempted to leave Bournemouth’s promising project for the club in decline.
There is no comparison between the two clubs in terms of stature – Spurs’ stadium is a huge draw and they have a squad filled with young talent, which could lure Iraola.
As of yet, there is nothing to suggest there is any interest from the north London outfit. But with the sack looming over Postecoglou, Iraola should be at the top of their list of targets.