Ange Postecoglou is the first Australian manager to win a major European club final. For Tottenham, a summer followed by opportunities awaits. Their historic triumph in the Europa League in Spain means they can go into the transfer window with their heads held high.
The 17-year trophy drought is over, and not least – they are back in the Champions League.
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This opens certain doors. The economy is stronger; you can attract players – or coaches in Spurs’ case – who might not even have considered the club before. The Champions League is where the elite players demand to play. It is the platform the best talents dream of reaching.
Life is easier in the Champions League, and chairman Daniel Levy can settle for that before what looks to be a busy summer.
Here we look at their to-do list, from the coach’s future to recruitment plans and bonuses for European success.
To keep Postecoglou or not?
Of course, the biggest development this summer will inevitably be who becomes manager Ange Postecoglou wrote himself into Tottenham’s history books on Wednesday night, but his position for next season is still uncertain.
Whether the euphoria of what happened in Spain changes the direction of Postecoglou’s future should become clear in the near future.
Before this week, the expectation was that Postecoglou would leave the club before next season – the Australian would eventually pay the price for a horrendous domestic season.
BBC Sport understands that the club is already well advanced in the process of identifying potential replacements for Postecoglou.
So, with that in mind, if Spurs stick to their original beliefs, Postecoglou could still be on borrowed time.
On the other hand – how can you fire a coach who has just led you to such glory?
Regardless of how the next few days develop, it is clear to Tottenham that they will have to handle any leadership changes smoothly – certainly more professionally than their previous managerial search, where they staggered from candidate to candidate before ending up with Postecoglou.
Among the candidates are believed to be Thomas Frank – who has a relationship with technical director Johan Lange – Andoni Iraola, Marco Silva and Oliver Glasner.
Everyone may have had reservations about joining Tottenham before Wednesday night. However, with Champions League football to look forward to, Spurs have become a significantly more attractive option.
The potential re-appointment of Fabio Paratici also needs to be considered.
Paratici, who left his position as chief executive of football in 2023 after an appeal against a two-and-a-half-year FIFA ban for alleged financial irregularities from his time at Juventus was rejected by Italy’s highest sports court, is in talks about a return when the ban ends in July.
How influential can he be in the decision about Postecoglou and his possible replacement?
How will Paratici – who also has interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia – and Lange coexist in relatively similar roles?
If Paratici completes a return, does that mean that current director of football Scott Munn’s days are numbered, especially with Vinai Venkatesham already confirmed as the club’s next CEO?
But before all that – the bonuses In the
short term, Levy will approve a £2 million bonus to Postecoglou for lifting the club’s first European trophy since 1984.
The players will also share a performance-related package of around £3 million for their success, although it is understood that automatic salary increases for Champions League qualification are not universal in all contracts.
In any case, one can imagine that Levy will have no qualms about paying for the club’s historic success.
However, we should not expect Tottenham’s chairman to continue spending large sums of money this summer. History tells us that it is not his style.
But building on Wednesday’s euphoria will come at a significant price.
Forming a squad capable of competing in the Champions League is a very different project than trying to improve a team that could just as well finish 17th in the league.
Experience the goal of recruitment BBC
Sport understands that the feeling within the club’s recruitment department is that their young squad should be supplemented with more experience.
For example, an established midfielder is believed to be on the club’s radar this summer.
If they lose vice-captain Cristian Romero to La Liga, they will look for a ready-made replacement for the Argentine international.
Spurs tried to sign Crystal Palace and England international Marc Guehi in January and are still interested in the centre-back.
They will do everything to keep the experience that is already at the club. Rodrigo Bentancur, whose current contract expires next year, has had initial talks about an extension.
The club has already exercised an option to extend captain Son Heung-min’s contract until the summer of 2026.
That doesn’t mean Tottenham will abandon their mission to sign young talent, with Southampton’s teenager Tyler Dibling as a target.
And whoever becomes a coach will have a big say in the team, as you can expect.
Not for the first time, it looks like it will be an interesting summer for Tottenham.
