“I typically secure a trophy in my second season at a club,” Ainge Postecoglou declared back in September.

Such remarks might not have caught much attention if they were made by another club’s coach, but when uttered by the Tottenham manager, they take on a different, even amusing tone.

As the season progressed, with the North London side often serving as a “punching bag” for other teams, his claim became fodder for mockery.

So much so that one British journalist remarked prior to the Europa League final that Postecoglou would either emerge as a clown or a hero depending on the outcome. Tottenham entered the match sitting at 17th place, just above the relegation zone, leading to a rather cheeky headline.

However, the Athens-born, Melbourne-raised coach managed to achieve what neither Antonio Conte nor Jose Mourinho could: he brought a trophy to North London with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United.

“Ainge told us everything,” the Premier League noted on social media, recalling his September proclamation.

For trophies, even principles may be compromised

Postecoglou faced many defeats with Tottenham, but one match from November 2023, when Spurs were even at the Premier League summit, perfectly illustrates his tactical philosophy.

With his team reduced to nine men against Chelsea, Postecoglou maintained his high defensive line and opted to be aggressive. The result? A 4-1 loss.

“That’s our identity, and it won’t change as long as I’m here. If we have five defenders, we’ll aim to score,” Ainge asserted passionately.

Then came the Europa League final, where Tottenham took the lead just before halftime thanks to a goal from Brennan Johnson. In the second half, Postecoglou adopted a more conservative approach reminiscent of Mourinho, focusing on defense rather than attack.

And it paid off—the first cup arrived after a 17-year wait, marking their first European trophy in four decades.

“I am a winner; I’ve always been. I thrive on victories,” Postecoglou asserted clearly after the final in Bilbao.

European trophies are part of Tottenham’s legacy

Shattering the trophyless curse will ensure that Tottenham is no longer seen as a team that never wins—a reputation that has dogged them in recent years.

It seems that the wait was excessive, even though genuine trophies had eluded the north side of the capital. Historically, Tottenham has always had a strong European pedigree.

After all, it was the club that first brought a European trophy to England in 1963, when the renowned striker Jimmy Greaves and his team triumphed over Atletico Madrid (5-1) in the Cup Winners’ Cup final held in Rotterdam.

They also became the first team to win the UEFA Cup in 1972, a competition that succeeded the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. The Europa League later replaced the UEFA Cup, and Tottenham has now claimed the title three times—in 1984 and this past May in northern Spain.

In recent challenging years, they showed their European ambitions by reaching the Champions League final in 2019, only for Liverpool to shatter their dreams.

It appears Tottenham and Kane had to move on; Son is a legend

Harry Kane, a Tottenham legend who set Premier League scoring records in his white shirt, found himself unlucky not to win any silverware with the club he cherished.

Eventually, Kane’s departure coincided with Tottenham lifting a trophy, now proudly displayed alongside the achievements of the great striker.

Kane became a champion in Germany with Bayern this season, while Tottenham celebrated their cup victory after 17 years.

A trophy that arguably Captain Son Heung-Min deserved the most after ten years at the club—he can now confidently declare, “Yes, you could say I’m a Tottenham legend now.”

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