Tottenham Hotspur have ended their 17-year wait for a major trophy, defeating Manchester United 1-0 in a hard-fought Europa League final. A 42nd-minute goal from Brennan Johnson was enough to secure the historic victory and bring European silverware back to North London for the first time since 1984.
The final whistle at San Mamés was met with an explosion of white shirts as the Spurs bench emptied in sheer delight. Manager Ange Postecoglou, who famously declared he wins a trophy in his second year at a club, celebrated with a triumphant smile, his fists clenched, having delivered on his promise.
“I still can’t believe what we’ve done tonight… it’s unbelievable… we have written history,” exclaimed a jubilant Guglielmo Vicario, whose crucial stoppage-time save from Luke Shaw preserved Tottenham’s lead. Micky van de Ven also earned hero status with a spectacular acrobatic goal-line clearance from Rasmus Højlund in the 68th minute, a moment that will undoubtedly be replayed for years to come.
Brennan Johnson, draped in the Welsh flag, was overcome with emotion. “This club hasn’t won a trophy for 17 years… it means so much… all the fans get battered, we get battered, for not winning a trophy… we got the first one in a while today,” he shared, highlighting the significance of the win for the long-suffsuffering Spurs faithful.
For Manchester United, led by a visibly distraught Bruno Fernandes, it was a night of bitter disappointment. Despite dominating possession with 241 completed passes to Tottenham’s 96, they failed to find the elusive equalizer.
The victory marks a significant milestone for Tottenham Hotspur, adding them to an elite group of clubs with three Europa League/UEFA Cup titles, joining Internazionale, Liverpool, Juventus, and Atlético Madrid. For captain Son Heung-min, who has dedicated a decade to the club, the moment of lifting the trophy was a deeply personal triumph.
“I wanted a day like this for Sonny… he’s done everything he can in the last ten years… he’s there now,” Postecoglou stated, acknowledging his captain’s dedication.
As the celebrations continue, Postecoglou has already cast an eye towards the future. “We’re still building this team… it’s still a very young team… we need to add some experience… we’re in the Champions League… I’m trying to build a team that can be successful for four, five, six years,” he explained, signaling his intent to build on this historic success.
The win not only breaks a long trophy drought but also instills a new belief within the club, with Postecoglou hoping it “feeds into itself, they feel differently about themselves… and it’s mainly for the supporters… hopefully this takes the club forward.”
