Tottenham’s turbulent season has left Ange Postecoglou on increasingly shaky ground, and while the club continues to publicly back the Australian, behind-the-scenes contingency plans may already be forming. But if Spurs do decide to part ways with Postecoglou at the end of a dismal campaign, early signs suggest they’ll face a serious uphill battle to land any of their top managerial targets.
Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola and Fulham’s Marco Silva are believed to be high on the shortlist if Spurs opt for a change in the dugout. Both have impressed in the Premier League with clearly defined styles, overachievement relative to resources, and strong leadership qualities – all traits that Tottenham fans hoped they were getting with Postecoglou.
But according to reports, neither manager is currently expected to leave their current posts this summer.
The BBC claim that Bournemouth owner Bill Foley is flying to England this week to open formal talks with Iraola over a contract extension. The Spaniard’s current deal expires in 2026, but the Cherries are determined to tie him down long-term after a positive season in which he’s won admirers for his attacking style and calm control.
Meanwhile, Fulham have gone public in their desire to keep Silva, who signed a contract extension through to 2026 last October. Speaking to BBC Radio London, Fulham vice-chairman Tony Khan made it crystal clear that they have no intention of letting their manager go anytime soon.
“Marco is a huge, huge asset to Fulham Football Club,” said Khan. “He is such an amazing person and he is so important to the football club. Marco has a great relationship with my father [club owner Shad Khan] and myself, and we really love Marco and we want him to stay at Fulham Football Club forever.”
It’s the sort of endorsement Spurs fans could only dream of hearing about their own manager right now.
Postecoglou’s position at Tottenham has come under intense scrutiny again following a damaging 4-2 loss to Wolves – the club’s 17th defeat in 32 Premier League games this season. Spurs now sit 15th in the table and are just two points clear of Gary O’Neil’s side, having seen what was once a promising season fall apart in dramatic fashion.
A make-or-break moment looms in the form of Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final second leg against Eintracht Frankfurt. Having drawn 1-1 in the first leg at home – thanks to a Pedro Porro goal and a standout performance from Frankfurt keeper Kaua Santos – Tottenham must now go to Germany and get a result.
Should they crash out of Europe, many feel the writing could be on the wall for Postecoglou.
Elsewhere, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner and Brentford’s Thomas Frank are also being linked as possible fallback options for the Spurs hierarchy. Glasner is only months into his Palace tenure but has made an immediate impact, while Frank remains one of the league’s most respected coaches, despite Brentford’s struggles this season.
If nothing else, the manager links show Tottenham’s ambition to get back on track quickly – but with Iraola and Silva seemingly locked into their respective clubs, and with no clear fan consensus on Postecoglou’s reign, the path forward looks anything but straightforward.
The pressure is on – not just to make the right decision, but to actually convince the right successor to take the job.
