The Tottenham Hotspur chairman declared that “failure is not an option” as he set Postecoglou’s successor as head coach, Thomas Frank, the target of winning the Premier League. Tottenham last won the league in 1961.
“You saw the outpouring of emotion with the parade. It was just incredible. We’ve won a European trophy,” Levy said after Tottenham’s triumph over Manchester United in Bilbao back in May.
However, he added: “But it’s not enough. It’s what we haven’t done that is more important. We need to win the league. We want to win the Premier League. We want to win the Champions League. We want to win.”
Postecoglou led the club to their first trophy in 17 years when Spurs beat United 1-0, but the 59-year-old Australian was subsequently sacked just 16 days after that victory, which saw Tottenham lift their first European trophy in 41 years, due to poor results in the Premier League. Spurs finished 17th, only one place above the relegation zone. Ultimately, losing 22 Premier League matches cost Postecoglou his job after two years at the club.
“It was a collective decision. It wasn’t my decision. We do everything together. Emotionally, it was difficult, but we believe we’ve made the right decision for the club.”
Speaking with Spurs’ in-house media team alongside chief executive Vinai Venkatesham, Levy revealed that the decision to dismiss Postecoglou was unanimous.
He said: “I’m very grateful to Ange. I don’t regret appointing Ange. In his first season we finished fifth and in our second season we were over the moon to win the trophy.
“But we need to compete in all competitions and we felt that we needed a change. I’ve told him he’s always going to be part of our history.
“It was a collective decision. It wasn’t my decision. We do everything together. Emotionally, it was difficult, but we believe we’ve made the right decision for the club.”
Spurs have replaced Postecoglou with Danish manager Thomas Frank who impressed during his seven-year spell in charge of Brentford. He will manage in Europe for the first time as Spurs prepare for Champions League football next season.
“Whenever you have a new coach it’s always a fresh start,” Levy continued, “You always have different ideas. But we want to build on the success of winning a trophy last season.
“One of the things that stood out to me with Thomas is that he’s clearly highly intelligent. Great communicator. Super human being. Plus all the other technical aspects that are obviously important.”
Levy has come in for increasing criticism from frustrated Spurs fans amid protests against both him and the ownership this season, though the top-flight’s longest-serving chairman – having first taken up the role in 2001 – is now hoping to take the club to Premier League and Champions League success in future after a pivotal hurdle was finally cleared in Bilbao.
“I’ve got very broad shoulders, failure is not an option,” he said. “The desire [is] to succeed. Because it’s so difficult I want to succeed even more.
“The pressure and disappointment of not winning over a number of years, I just wanted it so desperately. Not just for me, my family, but all the fans around the world.
“We deserve some luck, and that last seven or so minutes [of the Europa League final] was horrific. It felt like hours. So when that final whistle went, that was just an amazing experience.
“And you saw the outpouring of emotion with the parade, it was just incredible. We’ve won a European trophy, but it’s not enough.
“It’s what we haven’t done that is more important. We need to win the league. We want to win the Premier League, we want to win the Champions League. We want to win.”
Levy also said: “We’re very proud of the stadium, but we need to make sure we win on the pitch. There’s no point in having a wonderful stadium if you haven’t got a wonderful team and winning.
“The reason we do all these other events is to provide additional financial resources to the club, which in turn goes back into the team. Everything is about the team. Everything.”