Tottenham End 17-Year Trophy Drought With Europa Final Win

• May 22, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur lifted their first major trophy in 17 years after beating Manchester United 1–0 in the Europa League final.

The decisive moment came in the first half, when Brennan Johnson scored the only goal of the game. The victory marked a historic night for Spurs, ending a long wait for silverware and bringing relief to fans and players alike. It also secured the club a return to the UEFA Champions League next season, along with a reported £100 million financial boost.

Tottenham’s head coach Ange Postecoglou had come into the final under significant pressure, with questions around his future at the club. However, by guiding Spurs to European glory, he delivered on his promise to bring success in his second season in charge. In doing so, he joined the ranks of legendary Tottenham managers Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw, both of whom also won European titles with the club.

Postecoglou, who made headlines before the match for declaring he would “never be a clown,” now exits the tournament as a hero in the eyes of many Spurs fans. Around 15,000 supporters packed into the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao to witness the win, celebrating what will be remembered as a special night in the club’s history.

The result continued a trend of underdog success this season, with clubs like Newcastle and Crystal Palace also enjoying rare moments of glory.

For Manchester United, the defeat was another setback in what has been one of their worst campaigns since their 1973–74 relegation season. Coach Ruben Amorim now faces growing scrutiny, especially after controversial decisions in the final. His choice to start Mason Mount over Alejandro Garnacho failed to make an impact, and star midfielder Bruno Fernandes struggled to influence the game.

United’s best chance came in the second half, when a Rasmus Hojlund header almost found the net following an error by Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. But defender Micky van de Ven made a crucial clearance off the line. Later, Vicario redeemed himself with a dramatic save to deny Luke Shaw’s header.

Tottenham’s narrow win may not settle Postecoglou’s long-term future, but it delivered long-awaited joy to a club starved of success.