Ange Postecoglou: Sacked| Fired| Salary| Sack

Introduction

Ange Postecoglou is one of modern football’s most intriguing managerial figures – a coach with big-idea philosophies, a remarkable trophy haul (in certain stints), and now two very public sackings in the space of a year. In this article we explore his career arc, the circumstances of his dismissals, the financial implications (salary, payout), and the wider lessons his story offers about managerial risk in elite football.
We’ll cover:

• Postecoglou’s background and rise

• His appointments at Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest

• The reasons for his sackings (“sacked/fired”)

• His salary, the compensation involved, and contractual issues

• What his situation tells us about management in the Premier League

Background: From Australia to Europe

Postecoglou began his career in Australia, making his name domestically before moving into international and then club management overseas.

Key milestones:

• Managed in the A-League (Australia) – built a reputation for proactive, attacking football.

• Managed the Australian national team (including winning the AFC Asian Cup in 2015).

• Went on to manage in Japan (Yokohama F. Marinos) and then at Celtic F.C. (Scotland) where he secured domestic successes.

His philosophy of “playing positive football”, demanding high intensity and pressing, earned him admirers. However, as we will see, moving into the Premier League has brought heightened scrutiny and less margin for error.

The Tottenham Appointment and Sacking

Appointment

In 2023, Tottenham Hotspur appointed Postecoglou as their head coach. This was viewed as a bold move: a manager with a strong character and style, but comparatively less proven at the very top of English-club management.

Achievements and Contradictions

• Postecoglou led Spurs to win the UEFA Europa League in 2025, the club’s first major trophy in 17 years.

• Despite that achievement, Tottenham had a disastrous domestic Premier League campaign that season: they finished 17th, just above relegation, recording 22 losses (the worst ever for a team avoiding relegation) in the process.

Sacking

• On 6 June 2025, Tottenham sacked Postecoglou despite the Europa League triumph.

• The club cited the need to “compete on multiple fronts” and that, despite the trophy, league performance was unacceptable.

• Reports suggested a payout of up to £4 million to Postecoglou.

The Nottingham Forest Appointment and Rapid Dismissal

Appointment

• After his departure from Tottenham, Postecoglou was appointed as head coach of Nottingham Forest on 9 September 2025.

Poor Start

• His tenure at Forest was disastrous from the outset: eight games in charge, zero wins, two draws, six losses.

• His stay lasted just 39 or 40 days (depending on the source), making it the shortest managerial tenure in Premier League history.

Sacking

• On 18 October 2025, Forest announced his dismissal after the 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea F.C. which left the club in 17th place and perilously close to relegation.

• Owner Evangelos Marinakis reportedly walked out early during the Chelsea match, signalling the pressure and urgency behind the decision.

Sacked / Fired: What Does It Mean in Football?

The terminology of “sacked”, “fired”, “relieved of duties”, etc., in football often hides complexity. Some key things to understand:

• Unlike many industries, football managers often have fixed-term contracts but their performance (especially results) can trigger termination clauses.

• A “sacking” does not always imply a moral failing — clubs may feel they need a fresh start, especially when the fan base is unhappy or relegation is threatened.

• Payouts and severance (compensation) are a major part of these decisions. Even when sacked a manager is often still paid some or all of his contract.

• The corporate and emotional pressures (fan expectations, media scrutiny, board dynamics) are far more intense at top clubs, meaning margin for error is minimal.

In Postecoglou’s case, both sackings reflect this: major club expectations, a mismatch between trophy and league form (Tottenham) and the brutal reality of being held accountable for a terrible short start (Forest).

Salary, Contract, and Compensation

Tottenham Era

• When he joined Tottenham, his salary was reported to be among the higher levels for Premier League managers (exact figures are often private).

• Upon his sacking, sources suggested he would receive a payout of up to £4 million (roughly US $5.4 million) for his termination.

• Additional bonus: He reportedly received a £2 million bonus for the Europa League win.

Nottingham Forest Era

• The exact salary and compensation details for his Forest contract have not been publicly confirmed in full detail.

• Considering the rapid nature of his exit, it is probable that the club still had to honour some portion of his contract or a negotiated settlement. (Common practice in Premier League.)

• A report suggested Postecoglou received an $8 million pay-out after his sacking.

Implications of Salary/Compensation

• These figures illustrate the financial risk for clubs: hiring a big-name manager often means a large salary and, in many cases, significant termination costs.

• From a manager’s perspective, a lucrative contract offers security but also enormous performance pressure — results must usually follow quickly, or the club may seek a rapid exit.

• For fans and media, the relevance of “salary” and “sack” often becomes intertwined in the narrative: “He’s on X salary, gets sacked after poor results, we paid his payout”.

Why Was He Sacked? Analysis of Two Cases

Tottenham: Trophy But Failure?

• The contradiction: Winning the Europa League (a major achievement) yet finishing 17th in the Premier League. That gap between European success and domestic failure proved fatal.

• Tottenham’s board stated that “we cannot base our decision on emotions” and needed to move forward to compete on multiple fronts.

• From the club’s perspective, league performance (which drives TV revenue, sponsorship, long-term stability) weighed more heavily than the one-off European triumph.

• Some critics argue Postecoglou’s style was ill-suited for the rigours of the Premier League week-in, week-out, or that the squad was not sufficiently adapted to his demands.

Nottingham Forest: No Time, No Results

• At Forest, there was little time for adjustment. Eight games, zero wins, fan unrest, and a club hovering above the relegation zone. In such an environment, the decision to sack may come earlier than usual.

• The pressure of managing a smaller club with fewer resources compared to Tottenham means that any slump is more dramatic. The margin for error is tiny.

• It’s possible that the transition to Forest – his methods, communication, squad adaptation – didn’t happen quickly enough. The board opted for a change rather than wait.

• The fact that his reign set a Premier League record for brevity (39/40 days) underlines how unforgiving top-level football is.

What This Tells Us About Football Management

1. Success in one domain doesn’t guarantee security: Winning a cup doesn’t necessarily buy you time in the league, especially if domestic form is poor.

2. Match results and points matter more than style: Even if a team is playing exciting football, if results don’t follow, boards will act.

3. Job security is short: Especially in the Premier League, managers may have only a few matches to set the tone.

4. Financial risk for clubs is high: Terminating a manager often means hefty compensation. Thus the “salary vs. sack” dynamic is a critical part of club strategy.

5. Fit matters: The manager’s philosophy must align with the club’s infrastructure, resources, squad, and expectations. Otherwise, friction emerges quickly.

6. Adaptability is crucial: A system built abroad or in different conditions may require modification for the Premier League. Resistance to change can be costly.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Postecoglou?

• Despite the sackings, Postecoglou remains a respected figure with significant achievements and a clear managerial identity.

• His next move will be carefully watched: Will he take a club with less pressure to rebuild his reputation? Or will he aim back at the top quickly?

• The lessons from his recent experiences may shape his next chapter: perhaps more emphasis on short-term impact, smarter squad building, clearer alignment with club vision.

• For clubs looking at him, the decision will involve questions about expectations, resources, patience, and alignment of style.

Conclusion

The story of Ange Postecoglou’s recent sackings offers a potent case study in modern football management.
From the heights of European success with Tottenham to a rapid exit at Nottingham Forest, the journey underscores that managerial salary and status do not guarantee root. The “sack” comes when results, expectations and alignment all collide.