"I Always Win Things in My Second Year" – The Story Behind Ange Postecoglou’s Remarkable Second-Season Record

Ange Postecoglou is confident he can bring silverware to Tottenham (Image: Getty Images)

When Tottenham Hotspur lost 1-0 at home to bitter rivals Arsenal back in September, manager Ange Postecoglou stood defiant. "I always win things in my second year. Nothing has changed. I don't say things unless I believe them," he insisted.

That quote has echoed throughout Spurs' turbulent season. And now, with one game left, the Australian coach has the chance to make good on his promise.

Tottenham face Manchester United in the Europa League final in Bilbao on Wednesday – Postecoglou's 100th game in charge. It’s a chance to rescue a season that has, in many ways, fallen short. Spurs crashed out of the FA Cup in the fourth round and suffered a humiliating collapse in the Carabao Cup semi-final against Liverpool, losing 4-0 at Anfield after winning the first leg. Domestically, they are staring down one of their worst Premier League finishes, sitting 17th and 45 points adrift of champions Liverpool.

But none of that will matter if Postecoglou lifts a European trophy and books a place in next season's Champions League.

There’s a reason the 59-year-old is so confident about his second-year track record. Throughout his career, success in year two has followed him like a shadow.

A Career Built on Second-Season Silverware

From Australia to Scotland, Postecoglou has developed a reputation for turning potential into trophies by his second season.

At South Melbourne, his first managerial job, he guided the club to back-to-back championships in 1997-98 and 1998-99, also winning the Oceania Club Championship in 1999.

Fast forward to Brisbane Roar, where in just over two seasons, he transformed the club into A-League champions—claiming the title in 2010-11 and again the following year. Former captain Matt Smith remembers his no-nonsense approach: “If you weren’t pulling your weight or following his principles, he was very ruthless.”

Australia after winning the 2015 Asian Cup (image: Getty Images)

As head coach of the Australian national team, Postecoglou endured a tough World Cup in 2014 but bounced back in his second year to lift the 2015 Asian Cup on home soil. Ironically, it was current Spurs captain Son Heung-min who equalised in the final for South Korea, before Australia went on to win 2-1 in extra time.

Then came his spell in Japan with Yokohama F. Marinos, where after falling short in the 2018 League Cup final, he rebuilt the squad and stormed to the J1 League title in 2019.

Journalist Dan Orlowitz praised Postecoglou’s impact, calling it a “refreshing style of football the league hadn’t really seen.”

At Celtic, Postecoglou didn’t even need two seasons to make his mark. He arrived in June 2021 and immediately led the team to a league and cup double, then completed a domestic treble in his second season before moving to north London. Players like Joe Hart have hailed his clarity and commitment to a bold playing style, even when it meant taking risks: “It makes me feel alive,” Hart said.

Across all his successful stints, one theme is clear: Postecoglou builds belief, sticks to his principles, and usually wins in year two.

Last Chance for Spurs’ Redemption

Now, he's hoping to write a new chapter in that legacy with Tottenham.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. European silverware. Champions League football. Redemption for a rocky season. And perhaps most crucially, a strong case to silence the growing number of critics questioning whether he’s the right man to take Spurs forward.

With players like Son Heung-min backing him and a track record of second-season glory, Postecoglou knows this is his moment.