Unravelling of Ange Postecoglou from affable Aussie who was everyone’s ‘mate’ to death stares and snapping at reporters
ANGE POSTECOGLOU arrived in England with a stellar managerial record, a witty sense of humour and an exciting box of tactical tricks.
However, 18 months on things look very bleak for the affable Aussie.
![Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou on the sidelines.](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/tottenham-hotspur-stadium-tottenham-manager-966943161.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
![Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham Hotspur manager, celebrating a victory.](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ange-postecoglou-manager-tottenham-hotspur-838954486.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
![Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham Hotspur manager, looking distraught.](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/file-photo-dated-26-01-967044525.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Tottenham are inexplicably staring down a relegation battle as the end of the January transfer window approaches, one just one Premier League win since the start of December.
Postecoglou’s team has been ravaged by injury throughout the season, with many fans blaming a lack of backing from chairman Daniel Levy for exacerbating the issue.
And following the latest defeat to relegation-threatened Leicester who were themselves on a seven-game run without a win, it is by far the darkest moment of Postecoglou’s career in England.
The man himself is the most clear example typifying Spurs’ beleaguered season so far.
Gone are the days when Postecoglou would crack jokes with reporters, giving way to snapping at questions in press conferences and death stares aimed at fans.
In the early days of his reign, Spurs were winning for fun and seemed to genuinely be in a title race even with the loss of record goalscorer Harry Kane.
After a 2-0 win against Bournemouth, Postecoglou joked: “I just copied Pep,” after his inverted full-backs were highlighted.
Things were so good in fact that the ex-Celtic boss won a hat-trick of Manager of the Month awards for his first three months in charge.
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But after ten unbeaten games, Spurs and their bold high line finally became unstuck against Chelsea as they went down to nine men in a 4-1 drubbing.
Yet Postecoglou, 59, caught almost no flak for the heavy defeat and was instead widely praised.
The team were in fact, clapped off the pitch in acknowledgement of their efforts.
His press conference was a sign of things to come as he said: “If we go down to five men, mate, we’ll have a crack. It’s who we are mate.”
That Chelsea game gave way to a run of four more games without a win before Spurs found their feet again.
And despite a largely positive campaign, in which Spurs could never be accused of not having a crack, their season ended on a sour note.
A 4-0 defeat to Newcastle in April – the heaviest of his reign to date – saw him double down in his tactics, saying: “It’s part of our growth, sometimes growth is painful.”
Four defeats in six before the end of the season – albeit in an extraordinarily tough run of games – added to the pain.
What was obvious from the first season was that reinforcements were needed, badly.
Injuries had taken their toll on the squad and without recruitment in the right areas they were doomed to simply have another false dawn. And so it has proved.
Four players arrived in the summer, but only Dominic Solanke was above the age of 20. Good signings for the future sure, but what about the present?
That lack of vision has come back to bite Spurs, with Daniel Levy and transfer chief Johan Lange taking a huge portion of the blame from fans.
![Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham Hotspur manager, celebrating a victory.](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ange-postecoglou-manager-tottenham-hotspur-963646133_875c66.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
![Ange Postecoglou of Tottenham Hotspur looking dejected.](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ange-postecoglou-tottenham-hotspur-looks-966872534.jpg?strip=all&w=640)
![Daniel Levy, chairman of Tottenham Hotspur, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/tottenham-hotspur-stadium-tottenham-chairman-966931129.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Yet it has been Postecoglou on the frontline trying to put out fires and continue on this death march.
Following Tottenham’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in September, Postecoglou boldly proclaimed he always wins trophies in his second season.
Hit-and-miss performances have followed since then, with Spurs managing to beat the likes of Man City 4-0 but then losing at home to Ipswich and getting thrashed 6-3 by Liverpool.
December, however, is where the mental strain truly started to show after results took a major plunge.
With fan disgruntlement on the up, Postecoglou declared he had “no interest” whether fans backed him up so as they supported the team.
Postecoglou was seen confronting fans after losing to Bournemouth, saying he “didn’t like what was being said”, before calling the exchange “some direct feedback”.
The silver lining of the month came with a 5-0 win over Bournemouth, following which Postecoglou said being a manager was harder than being the prime minister, joking that he has an “election every weekend”.
But things then took a U-turn when he threatened to stop answering questions from a BBC journalist after questioning his tactics.
He said: “I’m just going to stop answering these questions. If people can’t see the obvious, I’m not going to point it out. Make of it what you want, yes we’re conceding goals.
“If you want to discount the fact we’re missing a goalkeeper, two centre-backs and a left-back and that hasn’t coincided with what we’re doing… I don’t know what to say anymore.”
![Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou reacting during a soccer match.](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/120-images-no-video-emulation-961457576.jpg?strip=all&w=700)
![Ange Postecoglou, manager of Tottenham Hotspur, on the sidelines.](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ange-postecoglou-manager-tottenham-hotspur-954836355.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
![Ange Postecoglou in a post-game interview.](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/familiar-story-967096033.jpg?strip=all&w=571)
A controversial VAR decision when playing Newcastle in January did not improve his mood, saying he was the “angriest I have ever been,” as his side lost 2-1.
Responses to questions from multiple outlets after that game are said to have been “really spiky and a little bit disrespectful to reporters” according to Faye Carruthers on the Seaman Says podcast.
Defeats to Arsenal and Everton followed, with the latter seeing him snap after a reporter asked if it was a “familiar story” to see defeat.
Postecoglou had said: “Familiar story? Yeah okay. Great way to start an interview.”
But despite all that has been thrown his way, Postecoglou does still have his witty sense of humour, at least pre-game and in a gallows humour sense.
Ahead of Tottenham’s Europa League clash with Hoffenheim, Postecoglou’s translator had a coughing fit, to which he joked: “We’ve lost the translator as well, even my translator is injured.”
A 3-2 win followed, but it did nothing to solve their league form, and Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Leicester ended up with Spurs being booed off the pitch.
As Postecoglou walked down the tunnel, one fan could be heard saying: “We’re going down with you.”
Postecoglou then backtracked and glared up at the fan, before a club official ushered him on, marking the latest flashpoint in his Spurs career.
Tottenham have confirmed the under-fire manager will take their press conference for their Europa League clash against Elfsborg on Thursday.
It’s clear he still has the burning fire to try and fight through this horror run and try and fulfil his promise of winning a trophy for the club.
But how long he will be given by Levy remains to be seen, with every loss tipping the scales more and more towards his seemingly inevitable exit.
![Soccer players and coaches walking down a tunnel.](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/e4c0a2be-bb02-4174-86dc-551f03c78b93.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
![Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham Hotspur manager, looking distressed.](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/file-photo-dated-26-01-967044478_b2cb9a.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
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Трамп планує закінчити війну в Україні до весни 2025 року – The Independent
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Які сидерати не тільки підвищать родючість, а й оздоровлять ґрунт
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Man, 20s, left with ‘life-threatening injuries’ after horror crash in Co Monaghan as Gardai issue appeal
A MAN has been left with “life-threatening injuries” after a horror car crash in Co Monaghan.
Gardai have issued an appeal after the single-vehicle crash which occurred on Monday.
![Irish Sun File Irish Sun File Irish Sun File Irish Sun File 17/10/15 Garda stock pics Photo Garrett White](https://www.thesun.ie/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/09/SUNIRE_cgemail_gardastockpics1jpg-js194102090jpg-JS872173319_b0a524.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The man, aged in his 20s, was left with serious injuries in the crash.
The crash took place on the R186 on the northern side of Tydavnet village towards Clogher.
A spokesperson for An Garda Siochana said: “Gardai are appealing for witnesses following a serious-injury road traffic collision which occurred in Tydavnet, Co Monaghan, on Monday 27th January, 2025.
“The single-vehicle collision occurred on the R186 on the northern side of Tydavnet village towards Clogher at some time between 12.50am and 3am.
“A male in his 20s was brought to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda with life-threatening injuries. He has since been transferred to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin where he is in a critical condition.”
Asking for anyone with information to come forward, cops said: “Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward.
“Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) who were travelling in the area of the R186 north of Tydavnet village, between the hours of 12.50am and 3am, are asked to make this footage available to Gardaí.
“Anyone with any information is asked to contact Monaghan Garda Station on 047 77240, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.”
Separately, two people have been rushed to hospital following a horror gas explosion at a restaurant in Mayo.
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Emergency services rushed to the scene of an explosion at the Imperial Blue restaurant on Lower Charles Street in Castlebar last night.
The incident occurred at around 7.30pm.
Three people, all believed to be employees at the restaurant, were at the premises at the time of the explosion.
Two of these employees were rushed to Mayo University Hospital with burn injuries.
Their injuries are not believed to be life threatening.
Love Island star ‘goes missing from the show’ after his romance broke down – as fans say ‘I forgot he was there!’
LOVE Island All Stars fans got a shock with a brief glimpse of an islander they “forgot was there”.
As the ITV2 favourite continues, drama is being ramped up with clashes between Scott Thomas and Luca Bish, and islanders cracking on in order to find “The One”.
![Nas Majeed smiling on a date on ITV2 Love Island All Stars.](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/c02dd0ee-7152-48ba-812c-608d62d9c9fe.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
![Nas Majeed from Love Island All Stars with long hair.](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/cec0775d-3ef9-44b3-a1ee-85d67840448e.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
But after the collapse of his relationship with Catherine Agbaje, Nas Majeed – who first appeared on series six of the main show – has all but disappeared from the show.
Staying out of the drama and failing to find a connection, Nas has been criticised by fans for disappearing from the screens.
Taking to X, one wrote: “Is Nas still in Love Island ? #LoveIslandAllStars”
Another added: “i forgot nas was in the villa and then he says he fancies elma the most that is so random #loveisland”
“Nas is just an extra at this point cause what’s he still doing there , he doesn’t want Catherine and no one wants him #LoveIslandAllStars,” said a third.
“Lol I just realised Nas is still in The villa. This man is here for a free holiday at this rate,” joked a fourth.
While a fifth said: “At least Ron is chatting to the ladies & trying… why is Nas still there & not even approaching anyone”
Despite a seemingly budding romance, with Nas and Catherine attempting to make things work, the pair mutually agreed to remain friends after failing to get sparks flying.
Catherine had previously criticised Nas for lack of affection, with Nas claiming he was a “slow burner” when it came to romantic interests.
But since their split, there has been little interest from either of them about someone else, with Nas making a brief comment towards Elma Pazar which didn’t amount to anything.
New bombshells are due to enter the villa, but that also means dumpings are on the horizon.
Will Nas be able to find a new romance once again?
During his last stint on the series, he left with girlfriend Eva Zapico – and the couple remained together for four years before amicably splitting.
Nas has since said that they remain friends, but the pair had grown apart.
![Nas from Love Island All Stars.](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/e52d5b8e-0154-4937-9e0e-735311e8b0f6.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
![Nas Majeed on Love Island All Stars.](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/27c628ad-62ac-427b-bd8b-ecec11746839.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
![Catherine and Nas sleeping in bed.](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/7d688a97-42f2-4b23-90a0-20cdcabb8721.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
![Three shirtless men on Love Island talking and drinking.](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/da955aeb-16ae-4e32-90ab-f3c8a36937c7.jpg?strip=all&w=960)