Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou has been named Manager of the Year at the 2024 London Football Awards, which he has admitted is a “bit bizarre.”
The Greek Australian beat the likes of Arsenal boss and last year’s winner Mikel Artea, despite the Spaniard having his team right in the hunt for a Premier League title.
Postecoglou was also up against West Ham’s David Moyes, outgoing Chelsea Women manager Emma Hayes and Leyton Orient manager Richie Wellens.
The former South Melbourne player and coach is the first Spurs manager to win the award since Mauricio Pochettino in 2018-19, having taken the reigns in June last year.
He saw an impressive unbeaten run to start his Premier League tenure but has since seen his team slip to fifth on the table.
Despite that the 58-year-old stresses the season has been a work in progress and was a little taken back by his latest award win as he chases far greater success with Spurs.
“A little bit bizarre, obviously I’m honoured but as I said, not really made the impact I wanted yet,” Postecoglou told BBC Radio London after receiving the award.
“But obviously what we’ve done so far as a football club people have noticed which is great.
“I think our supporters have enjoyed elements of our football so far and just more to come I guess. There has to be (more to come).
“I’ve only really been here seven or eight months and we still haven’t achieved anywhere near what we want to so there’s still a lot of work to do. But as I said, it’s made some sort of impact which is pleasing.”
The former Socceroos coach has introduced his trademark brand of attacking football that has delighted Tottenham fans, and transformed the club who missed out on European football last season.
Despite the high-profile move to England, Postecoglou is adamant he’s stayed true to himself.
“I guess it’s just me. The one thing I try to do is just be me and whatever I’ve done and wherever I’ve been that doesn’t really change,” he said.
“It’s still football at its core, I still love it and I’m still passionate about it.
“It is only a game and I take what I do seriously, but don’t take myself too seriously, so it keeps me sort of in check.”
He was not the only award winner at the Spurs as Guglielmo Vicario, one of Postecoglou’s first signings, also took out Goalkeeper of the Year.
Tottenham next face Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday morning (AEDT) looking to bounce back from a 2-1 loss to the Wolves last time they met.
