The atmosphere at Tottenham is unsettling. With the position of manager Ange Postecoglou (60) in jeopardy, names for potential successors are already emerging.
The British "Telegraph" reported on the 17th (Korea time) that "Tottenham is considering Andoni Iraola (AFC Bournemouth) and Marco Silva (Fulham) as candidates for the manager position."
The only remaining competition where Tottenham has a chance to win this season is the UEFA Europa League (UEL). Having reached the quarter-finals, Tottenham will face Eintracht Frankfurt for a spot in the semi-finals next month. However, if they fail to win this tournament, the future of Postecoglou as manager is expected to become uncertain, leading to a high possibility of dismissal.
Tottenham has been underperforming in the Premier League this season. On the 16th, they lost 0-2 in an away match against Fulham, marking their 15th loss in the league. Their current record stands at 10 wins, 4 draws, and 15 losses, earning them 34 points and placing them 14th. They have the same points as 15th-placed Everton and 16th-placed West Ham, which means they could drop further depending on the outcome of their next game.
Postecoglou, who took over the reins of Tottenham ahead of last season, had a solid start in his first season by finishing 5th in the Premier League. However, he was eliminated early in the League Cup (Carabao Cup) and FA Cup, falling far from winning titles.
Many had high expectations for Tottenham's performance this season, given that he had previously won titles in his second season with former teams. However, reality was different. In the League Cup semi-finals, they lost to Liverpool, and in the FA Cup fourth round, they failed to get past Aston Villa. They are also struggling in the league, dropping to 14th place.
In this situation, Tottenham is searching for potential candidates for the next manager. The British "Telegraph" noted, "Iraola, the Bournemouth manager, and Silva, the Fulham manager, are being considered by Tottenham as their next head coach," adding that "Bournemouth will strive to keep manager Iraola, but concerns about Silva's future have arisen despite his good performance with Fulham."
In fact, the teams led by both managers are currently ranked higher than Tottenham. Bournemouth, with a record of 12 wins, 8 draws, and 9 losses, has 44 points and is in 10th place, while Fulham, with 12 wins, 9 draws, and 8 losses, has 45 points and sits in 8th place.
"Sports Bible" reports that British betting companies consider Iraola to be the leading candidate for the next Tottenham manager. There are also reports mentioning Mauricio Pochettino, Thomas Frank, Silva, and Kieran McKenna as potential candidates.
Under pressure, manager Postecoglou has demanded a turnaround from his players. After the defeat against Fulham, he emphasized, "It is unacceptable to focus solely on the UEL while neglecting the league. We cannot finish the season like this. We have lost too many matches. This situation is unacceptable."
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[OSEN = Reporter No Jin-joo]