Ange Postecoglou Slams Spurs: 'Not a Big Club'
Ange Postecoglou criticizes Tottenham Hotspur's approach, saying they're 'not a big club' and failing to live up to their motto 'To Dare Is To Do' due to lack of investment in players.
“When you walk into Tottenham, what you see everywhere is 'To Dare Is To Do' (the club motto)...”
Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has sparked controversy by stating that the club is “not a big club” after Thomas Frank's sacking. Postecoglou, who was axed by Spurs last summer despite winning the Europa League, believes the club's struggles stem from a lack of investment and risk-taking in the transfer market.
Postecoglou pointed out that despite having an impressive stadium and training facilities, Spurs' wage structure and expenditure don't match those of top clubs. He cited Arsenal's £100 million spend on Declan Rice as an example of the kind of investment Spurs should be making. Postecoglou also criticized the club's “To Dare Is To Do” motto, saying their actions are often the opposite, prioritizing caution over bold moves.
“Having been in that position now twice in the last six months, it's tough,” Postecoglou told The Overlap's Stick to Football podcast.
“You know that he can't be the only issue at the club. It's a curious club, Tottenham. It's made a major pivot at the end of last year, not just with me but with (executive chairman) Daniel (Levy) leaving as well, and you've created this whole sort of environment of uncertainty.”
Despite being a 'Big Six' club with a state-of-the-art stadium, Tottenham's trophy cabinet is surprisingly bare, with only two English championships to their name - the same number as Portsmouth, a club relegated to the Championship in 2012.
Their last league title came way back in the 1960/61 season, when Bill Nicholson's star-studded side did the 'Double', lifting both the old First Division trophy and the FA Cup. That's over 60 years ago.
“There's no guarantee whichever manager you bring in - they've had world-class managers there and they haven't had success,” Postecoglou said.
Spurs have had quite a few high-profile managers try to get them back to the top, but unfortunately, they haven't quite made it. We're talking about legends like Terry Venables, George Graham, Harry Redknapp, Jose Mourinho, and Antonio Conte. Despite their best efforts, the club hasn't seen the success they crave.
Let's take a look at some of these managers
- Terry Venables (1987-1993): Venables brought in big-name players like Paul Gascoigne and Paul Stewart, but couldn't quite get Spurs to win a major trophy.
- George Graham (1998-2001): Graham did win the League Cup in 1999, but his tenure was marked by controversy and a defensive style of play that didn't quite sit well with fans.
- Harry Redknapp (2008-2012): Redknapp had some notable successes, including a fourth-place finish in the Premier League, but ultimately couldn't replicate the success of earlier Spurs teams.
- Jose Mourinho (2019-2021): Mourinho's time at Spurs was marked by inconsistency and a lack of major trophies, despite some impressive individual performances.
- Antonio Conte (2021-2023): Conte guided Spurs to fourth place in the Premier League, but ultimately left the club after a disappointing run of form.
It's clear that Spurs have had some talented managers, but they've been unable to break back into the top of English football. What do you think it will take for Spurs to get back to the top.
Ange Postecoglou's time at Tottenham Hotspur ended despite leading the team to a Europa League victory, ending a 17-year trophy drought. The 60-year-old Australian attributed the club's struggles to a lack of investment in players, stating they're “not a big club” due to their wages structure and expenditure.
Read Also: Thomas Frank Sacked as Tottenham Manager
Postecoglou emphasized that Spurs' actions contradict their motto “To Dare Is To Do,” suggesting they need to take risks to win. He pointed out that other top clubs, like Arsenal, aren't afraid to spend big on players, implying Spurs should follow suit.
“They've built an unbelievable stadium, unbelievable training facilities but, when you look at their expenditure and particularly their wages structure, they're not a big club,” he said.
“I saw that because, when we were trying to sign players, we weren't in the market for those players.”
Postecoglou wanted to sign players like Pedro Neto, Bryan Mbeumo, Antoine Semenyo, and Marc Guehi, but the club opted for younger prospects instead.
"They're not a big club!" 😯
— The Overlap (@WeAreTheOverlap) February 12, 2026
Ange Postecoglou gives his verdict on Spurs’ current situation after the sacking of Thomas Frank! 📣 pic.twitter.com/5SpXGhAKpI
He also pointed out that other top clubs, like Arsenal, aren't afraid to spend big on players, implying Spurs should follow suit. Postecoglou's comments come after his successor, Thomas Frank, was sacked due to poor league form, despite leading the team to a Europa League victory.
“When you walk into Tottenham, what you see everywhere is 'To Dare Is To Do' (the club motto), and yet their actions are almost the antithesis of that,” he said. “I think they didn't realise that, to actually win, you've got to take some risks.
“I felt like Tottenham as a club were saying, 'we're one of the big boys', and the reality is I don't think they are.”
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