Joe Hart exclusive: Ange Postecoglou can ‘hold head high’ after ‘harsh, ruthless’ sacking at Tottenham Hotspur - 'This won’t define him'
Published 06/06/2025 at 22:30 GMT+1
Ange Postecoglou's tenure at Tottenham Hotspur has come to an end after the club announced his dismissal on Friday afternoon. Despite guiding Spurs to their first trophy since 2008 and securing qualification for the UEFA Champions League next season, the Premier League side decided to part ways with the Australian. Former Spurs and England goalkeeper told TNT Sports that it is a "harsh" decision.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
Joe Hart has told TNT Sports that Tottenham Hotspur made a "harsh" decision to part ways with Ange Postecoglou after he won the UEFA Europa League with the club.
On Friday afternoon, Spurs announced that the Australian would be leaving despite guiding the club to their first piece of silverware since 2008 and securing qualification for the UEFA Champions League next season.
Although Spurs enjoyed a remarkable campaign in Europe, they finished in 17th place in the Premier League after suffering a record 22 defeats in the process, while only picking up 38 points.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with TNT Sports, former Spurs and England goalkeeper Joe Hart said the decision was "harsh", but added that Postecoglou can be proud of his tenure in north London.
"I can see both sides of the argument, but I think it’s harsh. He’s delivered something nobody has been able to do in such a long time.
"It was a risky, risky tactic for him to stand there and say he’ll win a trophy, but it was absolutely huge for him to achieve it. I’m mega proud of what he’s done, and I think he should hold his head up high and if that’s how they want to treat him, then so be it.
"He walks away with a trophy and a medal around his neck at a club where other managers have struggled. He stepped up and won something within two seasons."
When asked whether anything surprises him in football anymore, the former England No. 1 replied: "It’s a high-end business nowadays. I look at it from two points of view. I know the game and I know there’s no room for personal feelings.
"It’s ruthless, and I like football for that because it’s consistent.
"Of course, I don’t love this decision because I’m personally attached to Ange and I like him as a person and I think he’s a top, top coach but nothing is going to surprise me."
'Football doesn’t define him'
Hart spent two years with Postecoglou at Celtic, where they enjoyed great success together in Scotland.
The former shot-stopper said the sacking won't knock the Australian's confidence in the future.
"I’m sure he’ll be disappointed but as he said recently, this won’t define him and football doesn’t define him," he added.
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"He’s a good family man who cares about his players and his principles and if someone else wants to make this decision about him, then so be it.
"It always helps when someone makes a decision that makes you feel hard done by after you’ve done your job. You walk away with your head even higher because he said what he was going to do, and he did it."
Although Spurs languished in the bottom half of the league table for most of the campaign, there didn't appear to be rumblings of player discontent and Hart believes that Postecoglou's management style will be missed by the squad.
He explained: "He’s not the sort of person walking around wanting to be best friends with everyone.
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Joe Hart and Ange Postecoglou celebrate winning SPL title with Celtic.
Image credit: Getty Images
"He’s quite aloof at the training ground, but he does that because he wants to be completely fair and consistent and when you have a long-term plan as a manager, I think that approach plays out well in difficult and good moments.
"It’s not like he would’ve tried to be best friends with people if Spurs were riding high and trying to win the league. As a player, you can’t help but to respect someone who is fair and consistent."
Hart is confident that Postecoglou will take his time to decide when he wants to return to management and will reflect on his achievement at Spurs.
"He's always ready," he said. "I don’t think it’s the time to speculate over his future, but he’ll be able to take a moment to take in what he’s done.
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"A league position outside the European places doesn’t last long in the memory, but a European trophy and Champions League qualification, that’s something to be celebrated.
"He can now be a human being, he’s done a really good job and can take stock with his family, and I’m sure there’ll be a switch at some point that flips in him, and he’ll be dying to get back into it (football management) again or not."
Reports claim that Brentford boss Thomas Frank is the frontrunner to replace Postecoglou at Spurs and although Hart didn't want to be drawn on potential candidates, he said the club is in a much better place thanks to the outgoing Australian.
He explained: "I’m sure whoever comes into the job will have a positive mindset and be really excited to join the club.
"It’s a huge opportunity to manage a top club who are in an even better position than they were beforehand because they’re playing Champions League football, and they’ve just won a trophy."
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