‘It was strange’ – Tottenham star opens up on Ange Postecoglou’s sacking

Last Updated on 16 December 2025

It was meant to be a moment of release. A European trophy. Seventeen years of waiting finally over. For Tottenham, it should have marked the beginning of something, not the end.

Yet within weeks, the direction of the club changed entirely. And inside the dressing room, the decision to sack Ange Postecoglou landed just as unexpectedly as it did outside it.

Now, one of Tottenham’s key figures has spoken openly about Ange’s departure that caught even the players by surprise.

Micky Van de Ven reveals shock at Postecoglou’s sacking after trophy win

Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven has admitted he “never expected” the club to sack Ange Postecoglou, describing the situation as “strange” given the circumstances.

Postecoglou’s two-year spell in north London came to an abrupt end just 16 days after lifting the Europa League, delivering Tottenham’s first major trophy in 17 years.

Speaking on The Overlap podcast, Van de Ven made clear that the decision caught him completely off guard.

“He was a really good manager. I still really like him.” Van de Ven said. “I don’t know how everything went backstage. I didn’t expect it. It was strange how everything went after, he’s the manager that won silverware for Tottenham.”

The Dutch international revealed he immediately messaged friends and family after the news broke. “When he got sacked, I sent a message to my dad and my friends and said, ‘I never expected this.’”

Has Thomas Frank’s arrival made Tottenham more stable at the back?

Van de Ven admitted he admires Ange’s system but did not like ‘to be exposed on every counter’.

“I liked the offensive football, but I also like what we have now with Thomas Frank. We are more secure in the back and not getting exposed in some situations. I really liked the offensive football, but I don’t like to be exposed every game on the counter attack.”

But do the stats back that claim up? Not necessarily.

While it’s true Thomas Frank has made every effort to make Tottenham more stable at the back. Fact is, they have conceded 21 goals in 16 games already and if they continue at that rate, they will concede only two goals fewer than last season, when Spurs conceded 65.

Tottenham may have moved away from ultra-aggressive football but Frank’s job is not a whole lot secure, either. With only one win in their last seven Premier League games, pressure is mounting on the Danish manager.