Tottenham end trophy drought in Europa League final as Ruben Amorim admits Man United sack is possible - reaction
Tottenham 1-0 Man United: A scrappy first-half goal was enough for Spurs to salvage a dire season with a first trophy since 2008
Tottenham Hotspur salvaged their season and delivered vindication for Ange Postecoglou as they defeated Manchester United 1-0 in a dismal Europa League final in Bilbao to claim a first trophy in 17 years.
United and Spurs showed exactly why they lie 16th and 17th in the Premier League table as they produced a low-quality affair and the only goal of the game reflected that perfectly. Just before the break, a combination of Brennan Johnson and Luke Shaw contrived to bundle the ball into the corner of the net.
Spurs required a spectacular goal-line clearance from defender Micky van de Ven as they defended doggedly in the second half, with the result delighting boss Postecoglou who said he always believed Tottenham would live up to his claim of “always winning a trophy in his second season”.
United, meanwhile, face a difficult rebuild with no Champions League football to finances their summer transfer plans. Ruben Amorim admitted afterwards that he would not ask for compensation if United decide to go in a different direction, but he vowed not to quit despite United’s worst season in 50 years.
Relive all the Europa League final action, including updates from our Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney, with our live blog below:
Ruben Amorim’s Man United future is bleak – but this painful change can save his job
Big Ange Postecoglou was not for turning. Or so we thought.
High lines. Front foot football. Almost all out attack. It brought Tottenham Hotspur some thrilling victories in the early days of Angeball. Since teams worked out how to counter it, however, results have taken a dramatic downturn.
Ruben Amorim took a similar hardline stance when he arrived on our shores, but since then a clear trend has developed. It was music to new Manchester United overlords Ineos’ ears – after years of directionless travel under Erik ten Hag, someone was willing to come in and instil a philosophy, an identity, on the club.
Amorim’s Man United future is bleak – but this painful change can save his job
Emotional Son Heung Min now a Tottenham ‘legend’ after Europa League win
Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung Min admitted he can now be called a “legend” after he achieved his dream of lifting silverware at the club following Europa League success.
Brennan Johnson’s messy 42nd-minute finished proved enough to help Spurs down Premier League rivals Manchester United by a 1-0 score in San Mames.
Emotional Son Heung Min now a Tottenham ‘legend’ after Europa League win
Uefa issues apology after Tottenham players left without Europa League medals
Uefa have apologised after Tottenham captain Son Heung Min and vice-captain Cristian Romero were briefly left without medals after beating Manchester United to win the Europa League.
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin was visibly surprised to see that there were not enough medals during the trophy ceremony, leaving Son, Romero and Rodrigo Bentancur, who were the three players last in line, empty handy.
Uefa issues apology after Tottenham players left without Europa League medals
Alejandro Garnacho casts doubt on Man United future after venting frustration at not starting Europa League final
Alejandro Garnacho was non-committal over his Manchester United future after expressing annoyance at being named on the bench for the Europa League final loss to Tottenham Hotspur.
The 20-year-old has been linked with a move away from the Red Devils this season, with Napoli and Chelsea expressing interest in signing the Argentina international during the winter transfer window.
Alejandro Garnacho casts doubt on future after not starting Europa League final
Tottenham joy vindicates Ange Postecoglou’s biggest decision of Europa League triumph
Ange Postecoglou dared to say it, and his players have gone and done it. The Greek-Australian has won a trophy in his second season, and Tottenham Hotspur’s first in 17 years.
The Europa League has often been discussed in terms of what it means regarding everything else in football but, for Spurs, it is suitably about glory. This is their moment, this scrappy 1-0 win over Manchester United was deserved.
Tottenham joy vindicates Ange Postecoglou’s biggest decision of Europa League triumph
Will Tottenham Hotspur have a trophy parade after winning Europa League?
Tottenham Hotspur secured one of the greatest nights in their history with Europa League glory after a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in Bilbao.
Spurs triumphed in the San Mames thanks to a scruffy goal from Brennan Johnson, sparking scenes of jubilation and confirming a trophy in Ange Postecoglou’s second season, just as he had vowed months earlier.
Will Tottenham have a trophy parade after winning Europa League?
‘Serial winner’ Ange Postecoglou wants to build on Europa League triumph at Tottenham
Ange Postecoglou hailed his Tottenham Hotspur players after they “climbed the mountain” and reiterated his desire to stay after the club ended its 17-year trophy drought with a Europa League final victory over Manchester United.
It was far from a classic at San Mames, but Brennan Johnson’s scruffy 42nd-minute finish alongside Micky van de Ven’s miraculous flying goal-line clearance in the second half to deny Rasmus Hojlund proved the difference.
‘Serial winner’ Ange Postecoglou wants to build on Europa League triumph at Tottenham
Record trophy winners
Tottenham moved level with Liverpool as the most successful English side in the Uefa Cup, which was rebranded to become the Europa League in 2009.
Both clubs have won the competition three times - Tottenham in 1972, 1984 and 2025, and Liverpool in 1973, 1976 and 2001.
Inter Milan, Juventus and Atletico Madrid have also won the Uefa Cup/Europa League three times.
Only Sevilla have won it more, standing alone with seven titles - between 2006 and 2023.
'I'm confident that I'm the guy'
Ruben Amorim says he is confident that he is still the man to take Manchester United forward despite a disastrous first season in charge.
United are 16th in the Premier League, have won no trophies and will not play in Europe next year.
Amorim said: “I’m confident that I’m still the guy, more than then at the beginning.
“I know that it is going to be tough, I know that we lost against an English team, I know the patience of the fans is going to be really short in the next season but I guarantee you I will not quit, I will not go away.
“I know the club, I know what it means to coach this club and I understand what this team needs so I have more tools to do my job.”
How will Amorim make United better?
The manager was asked that question after the game and he was short in his reply.
He said: “If yesterday was not the moment [to talk about what needs to change at Man Utd] imagine this moment.
“This moment is not to talk about, it is to give space to the winners and deal with the pain of losing this match.
“We will find a way to make the team better.”
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