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After guiding Tottenham to their first trophy in 17 years, Ange Postecoglou claims he still wants to lead the team and that he has not “completed the job.”

Spurs defeated Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League final in Bilbao, Spain, thanks to Brennan Johnson’s scrappy first-half goal, followed by a determined defensive display.

The club won their first continental trophy since 1984’s Uefa Cup triumph, and it was their first silverware since winning the Carling Cup in 2008. Tottenham’s qualification for the Champions League will come after the outcome of a disappointing campaign.

The 59-year-old Australian said, “I’ve had such a laser focus on winning this, whatever happens, happens.” When asked about his future, he replied: “I’ve had such a laser focus on winning.”

The football club’s manager is not in my power to decide that. I’m only aware that wearing this medal around my neck signifies that we’ve won a trophy. I don’t believe my job has been completed.

“This team is still being built,” he said. We need to add experience because the Champions League is currently being played by a young team. For the next four or five years, I’ve been attempting to create a team that can be challenging.

I’ve always believed in winning things, and I want to continue doing that.

In my second year, I always triumph. Nothing has changed. I don’t say things unless I believe them.

Ange Postecoglou, the manager of Tottenham, was in a defiant mood when his team lost 1-0 to Arsenal at home in September, and he has since heard that phrase all the time.

The 59-year-old Australian, who took over Spurs in July 2023, has had the last laugh by winning Manchester United 1-0 on Wednesday in the Europa League final.

Tottenham, whose most recent success was the 2008 League Cup, was only a few points away from proving him wrong earlier this year.

After the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Liverpool, they took a 1-0 lead before falling to 4-0 in the reverse fixture at Anfield. Tottenham also lost to Aston Villa in the FA Cup fourth-round hurdle.

The Europa League victory, which kept Postecoglou’s excellent second-year record, and may keep him in his job, also sealed his 100th game as manager of Spurs, which also included his 100th appearance in charge of the club.

In his second or third full year in charge, he won the Australian title with Yokohama F. Marinos, the Japanese league with South Melbourne and Brisbane Roar, and the Australian league with Yokohama F. Marinos.

Postecoglou also won the Scottish championship and the Asian Cup twice while leading Celtic, two years after taking over as Australia manager.

He spent two seasons in charge of the three smaller clubs he failed to win anything at, including Melbourne Victory, which he left after 18 months in search of the Australian job.

Matches: 113. Wins: 83 Draws: 12. Losses: 18. Goals scored: 284. Goals conceded: 108.

Postecoglou joined Celtic in June 2021, just after Rangers won the Scottish Premiership.

The Australian won five trophies with the Bhoys in his two years at the club, but he didn’t need two more to do it.

In his first campaign, they won the League Cup and became Scottish champions, before adding the Scottish Cup to complete the domestic treble in his second year with him, moving to Tottenham.

Before joining Celtic, former England goalkeeper Joe Hart had already won two Premier League titles with Manchester City. He believed that teaching his players new skills and a different perspective on the game was one of Postecoglou’s greatest strengths.

Following Postecoglou’s second Scottish title triumph in May 2023, Hart remarked, “He is top, really, really good.” He says, “It makes me feel alive because he is very clear about what he wants, and the biggest buzz for me is playing for someone who is pushing me.”

I’ve played for a number of successful teams. This is the first time I have played for a team with that kind of identity, despite the fact that it has always existed.

Matches: 161. Wins: 79. Draws: 30. Losses: 52. Goals scored: 313. Goals conceded: 228.

Prior to joining Yokohama F. Marinos, Postecoglou spent three and a half years in Japan.

In his first ten months there, he almost won a trophy, but Shonan Bellmare lost 1-0 to him in the J. League Cup .

However, his team’s success was not far away, winning the J1 League to become Japan’s champions and moving six points clear of FC Tokyo.

After Yokohama had fought back from 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2 down to leave it at 3-3 after 90 minutes, the team was invited back to the Japanese Super Cup (their version of the Community Shield).

Japanese football writer Dan Orlowitz remarked, “Ange really gave the club a purpose.”

It was a fresh approach to football that the league had not yet witnessed. Even when YFM struggled to achieve its goals in 2018, it was obvious that the players, and more importantly, Ange, were committed to what he was doing.

Matches: 49. Wins: 22. Draws: 12. Losses: 15. Goals scored: 86. Goals conceded: 58.

Postecoglou played for Australia four times during his playing career, and in 2013 he was given the opportunity to become the nation’s national manager.

Australia finished third in a tough group that included the Netherlands, Chile, and 2010 champion Spain at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

More than 76, 000 spectators watched the Socceroos’ victory in Sydney’s Asian Cup match against South Korea in January 2015 in the home country of Australia.

Before Son Heung-min, Postecoglou’s current captain at Tottenham, scored in the 91st minute to bring the tie to extra time, Massimo Luongo (currently at Ipswich Town) put Australia ahead. However, James Troisi, who developed through Newcastle United’s academy, delivered the winning goal as Postecoglou and Australia won the tournament by 2-1.

Tim Cahill, a former Everton midfielder, was a key player for Australia at the time, and he praised Postecoglou in an interview with Optus Sport in 2024.

I never knew Ange until he started working in Australia, where he had a great pedigree, Cahill said. Everything he says when he speaks is clear and logical: he wants the players to have the ball in the air, action, and intensity.

Matches: 83. Wins: 42. Draws: 24. Losses: 17. Goals scored: 142. Goals conceded: 91.

Postecoglou spent 18 months with Melbourne Victory before assuming the role of Australia manager. However, he was unable to return for a second full season.

He returned after a fantastic season with another Australian team, the Brisbane Roar. They won the A-League Championship in 2010-11 after a two-and-a-half-year hiatus, and they kept it that way the following year.

Former Brisbane captain Matt Smith stated to BBC Sport, “Ange’s main strength is his ability to bring players along that journey and buy into what he does.”

“Players who don’t want to follow have no tolerance for it. We never felt comfortable; instead, we were constantly striving to improve, develop, and work harder than any other group I’ve ever encountered.

Postecoglou served as the head coach of the Australian youth teams for seven years, winning three games and competing at the Oceania Under-17 and Under-20 Championships.

Matches: 155. Wins: 82. Draws: 30. Losses: 43. Goals scored: 276. Goals conceded: 194.

Postecoglou’s first managerial position was in South Melbourne’s A-League, which was the A-League’s predecessor.

Manchester United is now left to heal after winning the Europa League, leaving Tottenham with the trophy. But who stood out at the San Mames in Bilbao and who vanished?

Pedro Porro’s wide crossing caused United to struggle in the rearguard and kept Mount’s influence at a minimum (7-4).

Cristian Romero: Tottenham’s starting captain put together a superb and dominant performance that handled Hojlund – 9 with ease.

Vicario’s heroic acrobatic clearance led to the release of Micky van de Ven from jail. 8 out of 10 stars

Diallo had a bad first half for the Destiny Udogie, but the United forward got to know him later (6: 6)

Yves Bissouma’s all-action display. Despite veering off in front of his back four, he continued to advance as far as he could.

Pape Sarr: A doubt after suffering a foot injury against Aston Villa on Friday, but he made a significant contribution. 7–

Rodrigo Bentancur: A seasoned engine room manager. kept his team’s spirits high by 70%.

Richarlison was the night’s biggest pick, but he made a strong impression on his manager. Excellent performance before falling asleep: 7

United wasted no time in scoring goals, but Dominic Solanke did not create any lasting peace in the 7-minute attack.

Did Brennan Johnson touch anyone? He undoubtedly claimed the goal. Up to Spurs’ 7th, an energetic display

Wessair Mazraoui: Hard-working down the right flank but unable to penetrate offensively (6–6).

Leny Yoro will play football like a pro and join the elite’s center-backs in Europe. In the second half, Rodriguez led his side 7 points.

Harry Maguire: A few challenging moments but consistently managed to handle what was most likely his fate.

Luke Shaw: United lost the game due to a one-time lapse in concentration. Although you can’t really call it an error, 5 out of 5 for it was significant.

Down the left-hand side of Patrick Dorgu, tired. Son made a particularly catchy tackle after a 50-yard dash, which was 6 yards.

Has carried United under his weight this year, but his best performance came in this match.

Casemiro: With his experience and guile in the middle of the park, he struggled because of Bissouma and Sarr’s athleticism (5).

Mason Mount: Flittered throughout until he was substituted in the second half, scoring 5-1.

Rasmus Hojlund: Romero and Van de Ven spat out and consume. A half-fit Joshua Zirkzee, who eventually made him happy, 4 – 4

Amad Diallo: United’s brightest spark, especially in the first half. In the second period, less powerful but still a threat (70%).

First T20, Canterbury

West Indies 146-7 (20 overs): Matthews 100* (67); Bell 2-29

England 150-2 (16.3 overs): Dunkley 81* (56); Fletcher 1-27

England won by eight wickets; lead series 1-0

England’s new era under captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and coach Charlotte Edwards started with a comfortable eight-wicket win in the first T20 against West Indies in Canterbury.

The tourists posted 146-7 after captain Hayley Matthews’ superb unbeaten century, but England made light work of the chase by reaching the target in 16.3 overs thanks to Sophia Dunkley’s brilliant 81 not out from 55 balls.

Sciver-Brunt fell for a duck in her first match as permanent skipper, but her predecessor Heather Knight finished 43 not out alongside opener Dunkley.

Matthews’ sensational solo effort held West Indies together, with Mandy Mangru’s 17 the second-highest score after they had slipped to a dismal 87-6.

She reached her 67-ball ton from the final ball of the innings, having expertly farmed the strike as the wickets tumbled around her, with England’s Lauren Bell taking 2-29.

England’s new-look bowling attack after their Ashes humiliation included a recall for fast bowler Issy Wong, who took 1-35, while fellow seamer Em Arlott performed admirably with 1-28 on her international debut.

The fallout from England’s 16-0 thrashing in the Ashes that started the year resulted in a new captain and coach, and constant references to starting with a clean slate.

England were presented with a below-par target, but delivered on their promises at the first time of asking.

Opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge, dropped from the ODI side, only managed 17 but Dunkley continued her fine form from the winter when she was one of England’s rare bright sparks in a miserable campaign.

West Indies bowlers struggled for consistency on a chilly evening, offering far too much width as she dominated through the covers and down the ground with 12 fours in her knock.

Meanwhile Knight looked rejuvenated without the shackles of captaincy, seemingly happy to support Dunkley’s attacking approach as she kept to a simple plan of rotating the strike and punishing the bad balls in their unbroken stand of 94.

West Indies offered little threat with the ball, with their spin-heavy attack struggling to extract any help from the surface.

With injuries to three of West Indies’ other experienced batters in Deandra Dottin, Chinelle Henry and Stafanie Taylor, the pressure on Matthews shoulders was even greater than usual.

Given their depleted resources, the tourists started cautiously and crawled to 37-2 from the powerplay after Bell’s double-wicket maiden in the fourth over, with opener Qiana Joseph dismissed for two and Zaida James caught behind for a duck.

Wong and Arlott bowled with lively pace and bounce to unsettle the middle order, while the spin of Charlie Dean and Linsey Smith stifled them to ensure that England did not miss Sophie Ecclestone too much – and at 87-6 in the 14th over, the tourists’ innings looked to be stuttering to a sorry end.

But Matthews was unfazed, familiar with the role of carrying her team’s batting line-up. She was dropped by Charlie Dean on 73, albeit a very difficult one-handed chance at cover, but was otherwise sublime.

Any width was greeted by her trademark elegant drives and she struck the spinners firmly down the ground, the only partnership of note coming for the seventh wicket as she shared a stand of 47 with Mangru.

Starting the final over on 89, Matthews struck a four off Bell before having to turn down singles to keep herself on strike. A wide gifted an extra ball, and a scampered single saw her reach her third T20 century.

England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, speaking to Sky Sports: “Happy days, I didn’t have to do anything!

“Hayley [Matthews] is such a big player for them but stemming the runs by taking wickets at the other end was our method.

“Then that chase was calm and calculated. It was brilliant to watch.”

West Indies captain and player of the match Hayley Matthews: “It was a good day for myself but unfortunate not to get the win. We were 15 or 20 runs short.

“It is always pretty good to get a hundred. Hopefully, I can carry this form throughout this series.”

By signing Australia prop Angus Bell from Waratahs on a temporary deal, Ulster have made a serious statement of intent.

The 24-year-old loose-head will take a sabbatical from December until the campaign’s 2025-26 ends.

Bell is anticipated to play a significant role in Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies’ clash with the British and Irish Lions in this summer’s Australian Test series.

Since making his 2020 debut, Bell has won 36 caps for Australia. He missed the November Test against Ireland in Dublin because of illness, but his country kicked off against England, Wales, and Scotland.

He stated on Ulster’s website, “I’m very excited to be joining Ulster Rugby later this year and experiencing the game in a different hemisphere.”

“It was really inspiring for me to play in a brand-new environment and step outside of my comfort zone.” I was more excited to join such a historic club after speaking with [Ulster general manager] Bryn Cunningham about it.

“We have always said that we would look for opportunities in the market to add players to our team who can make a big impact,” Cunningham continued, “and Angus definitely fits that bill.”

He has a good age range and is currently one of the most exciting loose-head props in rugby.

After taking a sabbatical, Bell’s contract will end in 2027, making a return to Waratahs.

Dan McKellar, the club’s head coach, described his decision to join Ulster as a “continued personal growth.”

He said, “We think the time at Ulster will be beneficial for his development on and off the field, which ultimately will help the Waratahs in the long term because he is a young man who came straight out of school into the Waratahs system.”

Bell’s arrival in Ireland in the second half of this year will continue the trend of short-term deals between southern-hemisphere players.

Jordie Barrett, a New Zealand international, joined Leinster in December, with his All Blacks team-mate Rieko Ioane expected to join at the end of 2025.

Bell’s short-term agreement was announced on the same day that Ulster “mutually consented” to the departure of New Zealand-born flyhalf Aidan Morgan.

At the end of the 2024-2019 campaign, Ulster signed South African back row Juarno Augustus from Northampton Saints, and the team also signed loose-head Andy Warwick.

When South Africa’s World Cup-winning loose-head Steven Kitshoff was brought to the province in 2022, he left after just one season. Kitshoff, however, did a major coup.