Ange Postecoglou kept his promise of always delivering in his second season as he helped Tottenham end their trophy drought by beating Manchester United 1-0. The result also means that Spurs have qualified for the Champions League for the first time since the 2018-19 season, when they last lost a continental final. In a scrappy showpiece that featured two struggling teams domestically, Spurs had the last laugh when Brennan Johnson got the slightest of touches from Pape Sarr’s cross that came off Luke Shaw minutes before halftime to send his team to dreamland. Johnson earlier tested Onana from close range, but that is all Postecoglou’s team had to offer attacking-wise in the entire game, as they resorted to defending stoutly in the second half.
Manchester United threw bodies forward and almost got their equaliser when an error from the goalkeeper, Guglielmo Vicario, gave Rasmus Hojlund a free net to head in, only to be denied by a spectacular goal-line clearance by Micky van de Ven. The Italian made up for his mistake later in the game by getting down to deny the substitute Alejandro Garnacho and a late header from Luke Shaw. Bruno Fernandes, who was excellent in the competition, failed to convert his header, while Casemiro failed to continue his streak of winning every European final he has featured in. The evening was meant to be for Spurs, whose 40-year-and-363-day wait for a European trophy is now over.
Here is all the record set in the Europa League 2024-25 Final between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United:
No Trophyless Taunting
Tottenham Hotspur lifted a trophy for the first time in 17 years and 86 days, with their previous achievement being the League Cup title in 2008. It was their first European honour in 41 years since beating Anderlecht on penalties in the 1984 UEFA Cup final. This was also the first win for the Lilywhites on Spanish soil.
Third crown
The 2024-25 Europa League triumph is the third time Spurs have lifted this trophy since their first success in 1972, known as the UEFA Cup that time. This is the fourth time they have won a European final and the second time facing an English team. They are the second English side to win this competition three times, after Liverpool.
Second season magic
With this success, Ange Postecoglou repeated his impressive feat of winning trophies in his second season. He won the A-League title with South Melbourne and Brisbane Roar and the J-League with Yokohama Marinos in his second season in charge.
Milestone
The Europa League triumph also came in Postecoglou’s 100th game in charge of Tottenham after joining the club in July 2023. He's the first manager to take charge of a 100th game with an English club in a major final since George Ramsay with Aston Villa in the 1892 FA Cup final.
First
The former Celtic boss is the first Australian manager to reach a major European final and also the first to win the trophy. The last time a new nation had a manager reach a major European final for the first time was Norwegian Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the 2021 Europa League final with Manchester United.
Worst champions
Spurs’ victory means they are the worst team in history to clinch a European trophy, having stayed 17th in the Premier League, a place above the relegation zone, during their triumph. It was also the first major European final between two teams who finished outside the top 10 in their league.
Strike
Brennan Johnson scored with the only shot on target Spurs managed in the final. It was his 18th for Spurs in all competitions this season, scoring more than any other teammate, while he became just the seventh Welshman to score a goal in a major European final. Johnson became the first Welsh player to score five goals in this competition since Craig Bellamy in 2003-04.
Conceding first
This was the 31st time Manchester United conceded the opening goal in a game this season, the most by any Premier League team across all competitions. Four of those have come in their four games in this fixture.
Fear factor
Spurs are the first team to beat Manchester United four times in a single campaign since 1985-86. They have only ever done so against a single opponent in 1992-93 against Manchester City. The Red Devils have also gone winless in seven straight games against Tottenham for the first time, six under Postecoglou.
Losing habit
Manchester United have suffered their 20th defeat in all competitions this season, their most in a campaign since losing 22 in 1973-74, when they were relegated from the top-flight.
Very English
This was the sixth all-English final in the history of UEFA club competitions, with no other country providing as many finals between two of their clubs. It was the third to involve Tottenham, who beat Wolves 3-2 on aggregate in the 1972 UEFA Cup final and lost 2-0 to Liverpool in the 2019 Champions League showpiece. Since the Europa League's 2009 rebrand, this was the fourth final contested between two sides from the same nation.
Player for the tournament
Though failing at the final, Bruno Fernandes has personal accolades to cheer about after being the joint-highest goalscorer in the Europa League this season with seven. The United captain has the most total goal involvements of any player in Europa League history, with 46. His 19 assists are also a competition-high.
Unlucky three
Andre Onana became the first goalkeeper to appear in three European finals with three different clubs but he has lost in each of them.
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