Former Tottenham assistant coach Nick Montgomery says it is a shame Ange Postecoglou and his staff were not given the chance to build on their Europa League triumph, revealing that they knew a change was coming regardless of the result in Bilbao.

Montgomery has been reflecting on his time working alongside Postecoglou at Spurs in an interview with GiveMeSport, including the conversation that convinced him to join the Australian’s coaching staff in 2024.

After Chris Davies left to take charge of Birmingham City, Postecoglou contacted Montgomery and made his ambitions clear.

“Ange contacted me, we jumped on a call, and he said, ‘I’m going to win a trophy at Tottenham. I want you to come and help me.’ To be honest, I didn’t really need to think about it much. It was a pretty quick decision, and one I definitely don’t regret.”

That promise was fulfilled in May 2025, when Tottenham beat Manchester United in the Europa League final to end their 17-year wait for silverware and secure Champions League qualification.

However, the triumph did not save Postecoglou from losing his job. He was dismissed just 16 days after the final, with Montgomery explaining that the coaching staff were already aware a change was likely, whatever happened in the competition.

“Ange came out and said it in an interview, so for sure – everyone knew there was going to be a change no matter what happened,” Montgomery said.

He added that the staff focused on what they could control: winning the Europa League and bringing Champions League football back to Tottenham.

“It’s just a shame they didn’t give Ange and us that chance. But that’s football. You move on.”

Montgomery’s comments offer another insight into the frustration within Postecoglou’s coaching team after delivering a major trophy in difficult circumstances.

Spurs endured a severe injury crisis during the 2024/25 campaign and finished 17th in the Premier League, but their European success secured a place in the Champions League.

The former assistant has since moved into management with Beijing Guoan, but clearly retains fond memories of his time in north London and the achievement of lifting European silverware with Tottenham.