Ange Postecoglou is likely to continue as head coach of Tottenham Hotspur next season, according to a report.
The 59-year-old placed immense pressure on himself to deliver silverware in 2024-25 after stating back in September last year that he 'always win things in his second year'.
Nevertheless, Postecoglou stuck to his word and ended Spurs' 17-year trophy drought by steering the club to Europa League glory, beating Manchester United 1-0 in the final earlier this month to qualify for next season's Champions League.
Tottenham endured a bitterly disappointing domestic campaign, though, as they finished 17th in the Premier League - their lowest finish since promotion to the top flight back in 1978 - as they became the first team in top-tier history to lose 22 matches in a 38-game season and not suffer relegation.
Chairman Daniel Levy has been left with a 'difficult' decision to make over Postecoglou's future, with the Greek-Australian boss possessing two years left on his contract in North London.
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Postecoglou set to stay at Spurs next season?
According to former Premier League scout Mick Brown, Postecoglou is set to remain at Spurs next season and will be backed by the club in the summer to start fresh.
Brown, who worked as the chief scout at Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers and remains very well-connected within the game, claims that Postecoglou has already begun planning for the 2025-26 campaign and has put the ball firmly in Levy's court after expressing his desire to stay.
However, Postecoglou's position at the club could become untenable if results do not improve in the early stages of next season.
Brown has compared Spurs' situation to that of Man United last summer when Erik ten Hag lifted the FA Cup in the previous season, but endured a poor start to 2024-25 and was eventually sacked having previously been backed over the summer.
Speaking to Football Insider, Brown said: "It's similar to what happened with Erik ten Hag at Man United. [Postecoglou has] lifted that trophy and proved he can be successful with that squad, despite their poor form.
"So from that point of view, it's difficult to sack him because he's also won over a lot of the fans. I think Postecoglou has handled the situation well, he knows he can't change the decision.
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"But he's put the ball in Daniel Levy's court, and has made a very strong case about why he should stay and where they could go.
"There are doubts, of course, that they'll be in the same boat at the start of next season. If they start poorly and there doesn't look to be any signs of improvement, they'll have to sack him.
"But for now, I think he's earned the right to being backed in the summer and then they can start fresh with a stronger squad and Champions League football."
Postecoglou keen to take Spurs to the next level
Postecoglou has acknowledged that he is not entirely sure what the future holds for him in North London, but he has expressed his desire to build something special at the club after their "unprecedented" Europa League success.
Speaking after Spurs' 4-1 home defeat to Brighton on the final weekend of the Premier League season, Postecoglou said: "I'll be honest, I've been finding it really weird talking about my future when we've done something unprecedented.
"I've had to answer the questions because no one else at the club is kind of in the position to do so, I guess. But I can't answer that question about me and my future, and part of me is kind of thinking, well, why have I been asked that question? But it is what it is.
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Postecoglou: 'Spurs can be a real contender for honours on a yearly basis'
"And I've got no doubt, though, that this could be a real sort of defining moment for this club because wherever I've been, I've kind of made an impact where I've brought success to a club that hasn't had for a while, and you just have to look at those clubs' trajectory even after I've left, they're still competing for things.
"I really think this is a moment in time where this club can really push on and be a real contender for honours on a yearly basis."
Asked for his gut feeling on his future, Postecoglou added: "My gut feeling is that I feel, right now, that I've done something that no one believed I could. And I shouldn't be here, sitting there, talking about it. That's my feeling, but it is what it is.
"And probably I'm talking now because I'm tired, mate. It's done. I don't have to think about another game. I just want to go on a break and enjoy my family and reflect on being part of something unbelievably special.
"I'm so confident about what we can build at this football club, and I want to push on and take it to the next level and we'll see whether that happens or not."
Since joining Spurs in July 2023, Postecoglou has taken charge of 101 matches in all competitions, winning 47, drawing 15 and losing 39 games.