Tottenham finally put to an end their unwanted 17-year wait for a major silverware, as Brennan Johnson’s scrappy goal was enough to condemn Manchester United in the Europa League final at Athletic Bilbao’s San Mamés Barria stadium.
The goal was scruffy, with some debate over whether Johnson got the last touch – and was indicative of how both side’s season have transpired. No one at Spurs will care about that though.
Victory means under-fire head coach Ange Postecoglou has fulfilled a promise to bring a major silverware in his second season at the North London club.
In his 100th game as Spurs boss, Postecoglou got his second season trophy, just as he did with South Melbourne and Brisbane Roar in Australia, Yokohama F Marinos in Japan and Celtic in Scotland.
Tottenham, also the first English club to win a European competition have become the latest to do so, beating an English opponent for the second time after overcoming Wolves in the 1972 Uefa Cup final.
Ange Postecoglou now joins Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw in winning a European trophy with the north London giants.
In addition to being part of the underdogs who have won a trophy this season e.g Newcastle and Crystal Palace, Tottenham are also set to benefit from a £100m windfall after guaranteeing Champions League football next season.
For Manchester United, Ruben Amorim will have to rally round his team and raise their head up ahead of the last Premier League game of the season against Aston Villa on Sunday with doubts over his competence to lead a club as big as Manchester United.
This is also their worst season since the 1973-74 relegation campaign.
Reuben Amorim’s decision to pick include Mason Mount ahead of Alejandro Garnacho in an attacking role did not go as planned, coupled with skipper Bruno Fernandes largely being quiet meant United struggled with gaining a foothold in the game, and bring themselves level on terms.
They came close to an equaliser with a Rasmus Hojlund header, following Guglielmo Vicario’s error, however Micky Van de Den was luckily on ground with an acrobatic clearance to prevent the ball from crossing the line.
Vicario then made a dramatic late save to keep out Luke Shaw’s header.
At the blast of the final whistle, over 15,000 spurs fans were brought to tears of joy and smiles including many unofficial Tottenham fans across the world.