Andoni Iraola and Marco Silva are two potential candidates to replace Ange Postecoglou as head coach of Tottenham Hotspur if the club decides to make a change. Postecoglou is under increasing pressure after a recent loss to Silva’s Fulham, which left Spurs in 14th place in the Premier League with only nine games remaining. Although Tottenham has shown support for Postecoglou, the team’s inconsistent form, particularly following a number of injury returns, has raised concerns. In particular, Tottenham has failed to beat Bournemouth and Fulham in recent matches, and they struggled to secure a win against AZ in the Europa League.
Despite this pressure, the club has not given any indication that Postecoglou would be sacked, even if Spurs were to fail in the Europa League or were eliminated by Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter-finals. The Europa League is seen as a crucial competition for Tottenham, offering a chance to win silverware and secure qualification for the Champions League next season.
Iraola has done a remarkable job at Bournemouth this season, despite a recent loss to Brentford. His team is in contention for European qualification and is preparing for a quarter-final FA Cup match against Manchester City after the international break. Reports suggest that Bournemouth is keen to extend Iraola’s contract, but sources close to him have indicated that he may be interested in moving to Tottenham. His current contract runs until 2026, but Bournemouth owner Bill Foley is set to speak with Iraola about his future when he visits the UK next month. However, Bournemouth may face the challenge of keeping their top players, such as defenders Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez, who have attracted interest from larger clubs.
Silva’s Fulham team defeated Tottenham to maintain their own bid for European qualification, and they are also in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, where they will face Crystal Palace. However, there are doubts about Silva’s future at Fulham, with some sources suggesting that he may leave at the end of this season. Silva, like Iraola, is under contract until the end of next season, but Fulham has a £6 million release clause in his contract. Whether Tottenham, or another club, would be willing to pay that fee to acquire Silva remains to be seen.
While Postecoglou has remained popular with Tottenham’s players and fans during what has been a challenging season, some tensions have begun to show. After the loss to Fulham, Postecoglou was seen confronting an angry supporter, and his team selection for the match raised eyebrows. Some key players, including Wilson Odobert and James Maddison, who had been instrumental in Tottenham’s win over AZ, were left on the bench for the Fulham match, as was Lucas Bergvall, one of Spurs’ best performers this season. Postecoglou is managing player fitness carefully, and he also dropped Micky van de Ven back to the bench after he had started in Europe. However, the decision to bench Odobert, Maddison, Bergvall, and captain Son Heung-min raised questions about Postecoglou’s priorities, especially given that Tottenham’s next match isn’t until April 3, when they will face Chelsea. This has led to debates over whether Postecoglou is prioritizing the Europa League over the Premier League, which could be seen as a sign of how crucial the European competition is to his future at Tottenham.
At this stage, Tottenham is in a precarious position. The club must decide whether to continue supporting Postecoglou or make a change in an attempt to salvage their season. The pressure is mounting as the team’s performance in the Premier League has been underwhelming, and failure to perform in the Europa League could push the club to reconsider their coaching situation. While Iraola and Silva are seen as potential successors, the situation remains fluid, and much will depend on the coming weeks and the results that Tottenham achieves both domestically and in Europe. As the season progresses, it will become clearer whether Postecoglou can turn things around or if Tottenham will seek a new direction.
In conclusion, the next few weeks will be critical for Tottenham Hotspur as they approach the end of the Premier League season and continue their Europa League campaign. Postecoglou’s future at the club hangs in the balance, and if the team’s form does not improve, the club may have to look for a new head coach. Iraola and Silva are the two main candidates being considered, but both have their own situations to navigate. Iraola is thriving at Bournemouth but is under contract until 2026, and Silva’s future at Fulham is uncertain despite his success. The decisions made by Tottenham in the coming weeks will have a major impact on the club’s future, and the appointment of a new head coach could be crucial in determining whether the team can turn their fortunes around.
