Jack Grealish sent a concise and heartfelt message to Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou following Spurs’ 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the 2025 Europa League final on May 21, 2025, in Bilbao. As reported by football.london, Grealish posted on Instagram, “Congrats Ange! 👏,” praising Postecoglou’s bold pre-season prediction that he “always wins things in [his] second season.” The triumph, secured by Brennan Johnson’s 42nd-minute goal, ended Tottenham’s 17-year trophy drought and marked their first European title since 1984, earning them Champions League qualification despite a dismal 17th-place Premier League standing.[
Grealish, a Manchester City star who nearly joined Spurs in 2018, has long admired Postecoglou, previously calling him “brilliant” in 2023 for Tottenham’s strong Premier League start. His message reflects respect for the Australian’s achievement, especially amid a challenging season marred by injuries to key players like Son Heung-min, Cristian Romero, and Micky van de Ven, and a shift from Postecoglou’s usual high-pressing “Ange-ball” to a pragmatic, defensive approach in the final, with just 27.7% possession—the lowest in a major European final since 2009-10, per Opta.[](https://www.football.london/tottenham-hotspur-fc/news/jack-grealish-gives-honest-verdict-27909622)[](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/czely53z689o)
The gesture comes at a time when Grealish’s own future at City is uncertain, with limited starts and Pep Guardiola favoring younger players like Savinho. Posts on X, such as @Spurs_fl, amplified Grealish’s message, with fans noting his class and speculating about a potential future move to Spurs, given Postecoglou’s need for attacking depth. However, Grealish’s message focused purely on congratulating Postecoglou, avoiding any mention of his own career or Tottenham’s performance, keeping the spotlight on the manager’s vindication after a season of scrutiny.
Postecoglou’s emotional post-match comments, reported by The Guardian, underscored the significance of the win, stating, “I’m a winner… I want to build on it,” despite ongoing uncertainty about his Tottenham future due to their poor league form. Grealish’s simple message joins tributes from figures like Harry Kane and Mohamed Salah, highlighting the widespread respect for Postecoglou’s achievement in delivering silverware against the odds.
