Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has taken a swipe at the club’s financial structure, saying Spurs cannot be regarded as a “big club” when it comes to spending power.
Postecoglou’s remarks come in the wake of the dismissal of Thomas Frank, who succeeded him last summer. Frank was relieved of his duties on Wednesday with Tottenham sitting just five points above the relegation zone in the Premier League, deepening concerns over instability at the North London side.
Speaking on The Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast, as reported by BBC Sport, the Australian coach criticised Tottenham’s transfer policy and wage structure, suggesting it limited their ability to compete for elite players.
“When you look at their spending, especially the wage bill, they’re not a big club,” Postecoglou said. “When we were trying to sign players, we simply weren’t in that market.”
He revealed that during his time in charge, Spurs were unable to secure high-profile targets such as Pedro Neto, Bryan Mbeumo, Antoine Semenyo, and Marc Guehi, who eventually completed major moves elsewhere.
Despite the financial constraints, Postecoglou enjoyed early success at the club. He guided Tottenham to a fifth-place league finish in his debut season and ended their 17-year trophy drought by lifting the UEFA Europa League in 2025.
However, fortunes dipped dramatically the following campaign, with Spurs finishing 17th in the league, a slump that ultimately cost him his job.
Reflecting on his tenure, Postecoglou suggested the club’s ambition did not match its financial commitment.
“I felt Tottenham wanted to be seen as one of the big clubs,” he said. “But the reality is different. To truly compete and win consistently, you have to be prepared to take risks.”
Advertisement
