Ange Postecoglou has spoken publicly about his Tottenham departure, and he’s admitted he knew his sacking was coming for some time before it happened.
The former Celtic manager was dismissed from his role as Spurs boss at the end of last season, despite winning the Europa League in his final game in charge.
Daniel Levy – who recently confirmed his own exit – and co.’s decision came after the north London outfit finished 17th in the Premier League, one place above the relegation zone – their lowest finish since the league’s rebrand.
Now, Postecoglou has been appointed as Nottingham Forest manager and has spoken candidly about his Tottenham departure at his unveiling for the first time.
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Ange Postecoglou admits he knew his sacking was coming way before Europa League final
Speaking to the media at Nottingham Forest, Postecoglou was asked about his departure from Spurs.
“It wasn’t great,” he admitted. “I knew it was coming so it wasn’t a surprise. I knew it was coming a fair way before the final. From my perspective, I’ve had a chance to process that.
“I had two very challenging years but I worked with some fantastic people. We put the supporters through some tough times but Spurs supporters still want to hug me and take me home for dinner.
How it ended, I don’t really think about it.”
Postecoglou, who recently turned 60, replaces Nuno Espirito Santo at the City Ground, and he admitted he never would have predicted he would be the next Forest manager after the job the former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss had done pushing the club into the European spots.
Nuno Espirito Santo and Steve Cooper exits ‘the nature of football’, says Ange Postecoglou
Asked about replacing former Spurs boss Nuno Espirito Santo, he said: “It’s the nature of football. You don’t really know what circumstances you’ll take over. Until Steve Cooper took over the club, they weren’t looking as though they were going to be in the Premier League. They’ve had two excellent managers who have done fantastic work.
“You certainly don’t know when these things come to an end. I certainly didn’t think I would finish up [at Spurs] after winning a trophy.”
Postecoglou admitted that every job he’s had, his appointment has always been one that he didn’t see coming.
“If you asked me at the start of the year whether Forest would be a possibility, I would have said ‘no way’ because of the job Nuno had done,” he said.
Postecoglou’s first game in charge comes this weekend, where he will return to north London to face former foes Arsenal at the Emirates.
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