Tottenham Hotspur ended over four decades of European nightmare after defeating Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League final to lift their first continental title since 1984.
Brennan Johnson’s decisive goal just before halftime proved enough to deliver Spurs their first major trophy in 17 years and secure a coveted place in next season’s UEFA Champions League (UCL).
The hard-fought win at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium comes as sweet relief for manager Ange Postecoglou, who endured a difficult Premier League campaign with Spurs languishing near the bottom of the table.
Despite the domestic struggles, the Australian tactician fulfilled his promise of silverware in his second season — a claim he had boldly made earlier in the campaign.
The final, a rare meeting between the Premier League’s 16th and 17th-placed teams, was far from a footballing spectacle but delivered a historic moment for Tottenham. It was their first European trophy since winning the UEFA Cup, now known as the Europa League, in 1984, and their first major title since lifting the League Cup in 2008.
“This season hasn’t been good at all, but I swear, not one of us players care about that,” said Johnson, the match-winner, in a post-match interview.
“This is what it’s all about, this club has not won a trophy for 17 years. It means so much. All the fans get battered; we get battered for not winning a trophy. I’m so happy. We got it done today.”
Manchester United, under mounting pressure and led by coach Ruben Amorim, came close to finding an equaliser on multiple occasions.
The loss not only denies United a chance at silverware but also confirms they will miss out on European football next season, a blow to the club’s ambitions and to Amorim’s tenure, which is now under intense scrutiny.
