Postecoglou: “Tottenham Are Not a Big Club”

Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has sparked debate by claiming Spurs are “not a big club”, citing financial constraints and transfer failures during his time in charge.

Appearing on The Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast, the Australian launched a pointed critique of the club’s transfer strategy, just days after Thomas Frank was sacked following a poor run that left Spurs 16th in the Premier League.

“When you look at their expenditure and particularly their wages structure, they’re not a big club,” said Postecoglou.

“I saw that because, when we were trying to sign players, we weren’t in the market for those players.”

Postecoglou revealed that top targets including Pedro Neto, Bryan Mbeumo, Antoine Semenyo, and Marc Guehi were out of Tottenham’s financial reach in 2024.

• Neto joined Chelsea for £54m

• Mbeumo moved to Manchester United for £65m

• Semenyo and Guehi signed for Manchester City in a combined £85m deal

Postecoglou’s Spurs Tenure

Postecoglou initially guided Spurs to 5th place and ended the club’s 17-year trophy drought by winning the 2025 Europa League. However, he was sacked the following season after a disappointing 17th-place league finish.

“I think they didn’t realise that, to actually win, you’ve got to take some risks,” he added.

Tottenham’s Instability Highlighted

Postecoglou also criticised the broader instability at Tottenham, referencing the club’s chaotic managerial history:

• Mauricio Pochettino (2014–2019)

• Jose Mourinho (2019–2021)

• Nuno Espirito Santo (2021)

• Antonio Conte (2021–2023)

• Ange Postecoglou (2023–2025)

• Thomas Frank (2025–2026)

He described Spurs as a “curious club” and questioned whether Frank was aware of what he was walking into.

“There’s no guarantee whichever manager you bring in… They’ve had world-class managers there and haven’t had success. And for what reason?”

Quote Recap

• “Unbelievable facilities… but not in the market for the top players.”

• “You’ve got to take some risks.”

• “They’re not one of the big boys.”

• “It’s a curious club… There’s instability.”