Tottenham Hotspur lifted their first trophy in 17 years on a dramatic night at San Mamés Stadium, in Bilbao, Spain, edging Manchester United 1-0 in the UEFA Europa League final, thanks to a scrappy but decisive first-half goal from Brennan Johnson.
The long-awaited triumph marked a major milestone for under-pressure head coach Ange Postecoglou, who promised silverware in his second season a vow now fulfilled.
Postecoglou, who boldly declared pre-match that he would “never be a clown” in the face of criticism, brought joy to thousands of travelling Spurs fans who turned Bilbao into a sea of white and navy. While his future at the club remains uncertain, the Australian tactician has now etched his name into Spurs folklore alongside legends Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw the only other managers to lead the North London side to European glory.
Beyond the trophy, Spurs will receive a reported £100 million windfall from qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League, capping off what has become a landmark campaign for a side long-starved of success.
A Night of Nerves, A Moment of Luck
The final was hardly a classic, featuring the two lowest-ranked sides ever to reach a European final, but for Tottenham, the aesthetics were irrelevant. The only goal of the match came just before halftime when Pape Matar Sarr floated a cross into the box. Brennan Johnson, battling with Luke Shaw, got a faint touch.
The ball deflected off Shaw and left United keeper Andre Onana scrambling. Johnson lunged again, possibly getting the final touch, but it was already too late the ball crossed the line.
It was Tottenham’s only shot on target in the match. It didn’t matter.
In what was his 100th match in charge, Postecoglou added another title to a résumé that includes domestic success in Australia, Japan, and Scotland, as well as the Asian Cup with the Australian national team. He now becomes only the third manager to bring European silverware to Spurs and the first to do so in the 21st century.
United’s Season Ends in Disappointment and Doubt
For Manchester United, the loss compounds what has already been their worst season since 1973–74, when they were relegated from the top flight. Head coach Rúben Amorim, under pressure to prove he can turn things around, made bold selection choices notably starting Mason Mount ahead of the in-form Alejandro Garnacho that failed to pay off.
Despite some second-half pressure, including a Rasmus Højlund header cleared off the line by Micky van de Ven and a late Luke Shaw header denied by a superb save from Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario, United could not find a way back.
In the final minutes, with the clock ticking down, Leny Yoro opted to shoot from 25 yards instead of passing to teammates in better positions — a moment that typified United’s lack of composure and tactical cohesion. Garnacho had the final effort, smashing the ball into the side-netting.
With no late heroics akin to their famous 1999 treble-winning comeback, United’s European hopes ended in bitter disappointment. They will miss out on European football next season for just the second time since English clubs were readmitted to UEFA competitions in 1990.
The Red Devils now face Aston Villa in their final Premier League match with lingering doubts over Amorim’s future and a squad in urgent need of renewal.
Final Score:
Tottenham Hotspur 1 – 0 Manchester United
Goal: Brennan Johnson (45’)
