What Will Ange Postecoglou Bring to Tottenham?

Tottenham’s appointment of Ange Postecoglou may appear low profile. The Australian coach arrives in North London with a modest CV compared to his predecessors. But with successful spells at Celtic, Brisbane Roar, and a stint with the Australian national team, Postecoglou comes with plenty of experience at the top level.

For Tottenham, it also marks a significant move away from the previous reigns of world-renowned coaches. Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte oversaw turbulent periods at Spurs between 2019 and 2023. Yet, a move in a different direction is likely to come with some scepticism from a fanbase with high expectations.

However, it is likely that Postecoglou will not deviate from his tactical approach and more laid-back persona. This could work hugely in Spurs’ favour this season, which makes the club favourites for a top-four spot, according to freebetoffers.org.uk

Attacking Focus

In previous roles, Postecoglou has favoured a 4-3-3 formation with a focus on controlling possession and utilising space effectively. As a result, the Australian coach will likely set up his new Spurs side to play on the front foot, to dictate the tempo.

Another standout style utilised by Postecoglou is attacking full backs that play narrow and high up the pitch. Then, the more attacking midfield and forward players capitalise on the wider areas left by the full-back players.

In the coming season, fans are more likely to see active participation from the full backs like Emerson Royal and Pedro Porro, who will be encouraged to push forward into advanced central positions.

Ultimately, this will signify a huge shift from the more defensive-first, counter-attacking style of Conte, Mourinho and Nuno Espirito-Santo. Moreover, with just one full pre-season with his new squad, Postecoglou is in a race against time to implement his way of playing to a squad used to playing more direct football.

Shrewd Transfers

Since joining Spurs in pre-season, Postecoglou has already spoken about removing some of the emphasis from Harry Kane and Son-Heung Min in attack. In the 2022/23 season, Kane and Son scored 40 of Spurs’ 70 Premier League goals, highlighting their importance to the side.

However, the North London club have moved quickly so far in the summer transfer window to bring in new players who will fit into Postecoglou’s style. England international James Maddison was one of the first signings as he joined from Leicester for around £50 million. In addition, Spurs have added former Fulham winger Manor Salomon to the squad for further attacking depth, while the club are closely linked with 22-year-old Dutch defender Micky van de Ven.

Bringing in younger players for lower transfer fees appears to be a new recruitment approach for Spurs. In previous seasons, the club have made high-profile players for large sums. Last season, the club spent well over £100 million for Richarlison, Cristian Romero and Yves Bissouma.

Positive Culture

Another area Postecoglou is looking to improve is the positive, welcoming atmosphere at Tottenham. The new Spurs boss has spoken about creating a shared goal within the club and helping footballers to enjoy their craft again.

Key to this culture could be getting club captain Harry Kane on side and Postecoglou is holding talks with the England striker to convince him to stay at the club.

However, regardless of if Kane stays, Postecoglou will be committed to his positive approach on and off the pitch. He has already proven in previous roles that he has a clear footballing vision that could get the best out of a Spurs squad that has underperformed in recent years.