Ange Postecoglou 'didn't want to tarnish' Tottenham's trophy parade after Spurs boss learned he would be sacked despite Europa League triumph

Three months after being dismissed by Tottenham, Postecoglou has returned to top-flight management with Nottingham Forest, replacing Nuno Espirito Santo. His Spurs exit came despite beating Manchester United to win the Europa League, as the club slumped to 17th in the Premier League. The 60-year-old admitted the decision was not a surprise to him, saying he had anticipated it even before the final.

Speaking to the media, Postecoglou said: "It wasn’t great. I knew it was coming, so it wasn’t a surprise. I knew it was coming a fair way before the final. We won it and had the parade and had a great three days, and I didn’t want to tarnish that, but I knew it was done. From my perspective, I had the chance to process it. Whether I feel it was unjust, other people make those decisions; they make those determinations."

While Spurs celebrated continental glory, their domestic collapse ultimately forced the board’s hand. For the Australian, though, his two years in north London boosted his reputation, and he has revealed that he does not feel ill towards the Lilywhites.

The former Celtic boss added: "What I do know is I had two years where it was very, very challenging but I worked with some fantastic people in the football department… the supporters we put them through some tough times but there isn’t a Spurs supporter that I don’t come across now that doesn’t want to hug me and take me home for dinner, so I must have done something right."

Postecoglou now begins his Nottingham Forest tenure with a tough test against Tottenham's north London rivals, Arsenal, as he inherits a squad in transition. He will have to face off against his former side in December but he will only have the chance to return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when Forest face off with Spurs in March in the return fixture.