Former Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou has delivered a stark verdict on his ex-club, stating that Tottenham are "not a big club" despite their impressive infrastructure, citing limitations in spending and wage structure as key barriers to competing at the highest level.
In a candid appearance on The Overlap's Stick to Football podcast, Postecoglou who managed Spurs before his departure addressed the club's recent turmoil, including the sacking of his successor Thomas Frank.
He highlighted a disconnect between Tottenham's self-perception and their actual financial approach in the transfer market.
"They’ve built an unbelievable stadium, unbelievable training facilities," Postecoglou said. "But when you look at the expenditure, particularly in the wages structure, they’re not a big club.
I saw that, because when we were trying to sign players, we weren’t in the market for those players."
The Australian coach named several high-profile Premier League talents he pursued during his tenure but couldn't secure due to the club's reluctance to match top-tier wages or fees, including players like Pedro Neto, Bryan Mbeumo, Antoine Semenyo, and Marc Guehi.
Postecoglou contrasted Tottenham's famous motto "To Dare Is To Do" with what he described as a risk-averse reality.
"I felt like Tottenham as a club were saying: ‘We’re one of the big boys.’ And the reality is I don’t think they are," he added. "To actually win, you’ve got to take some risks at some point."
The comments come amid ongoing scrutiny of Tottenham's transfer policy and overall direction, with Postecoglou also touching on the persistent "Spursy" mentality and a perceived lack of belief within the club.
Postecoglou, known for his forthright style, emphasized that his remarks stem from firsthand experience rather than bitterness. He described Tottenham as a "curious club" whose actions often contradict their ambitious branding.
The former manager, who previously achieved success at Celtic and Yokohama F. Marinos, has since moved on from North London and continues to speak openly about his time in the Premier League.