Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has compared the challenges of being a Premier League coach to those of a Prime Minister, arguing that football managers face greater scrutiny with "an election every weekend."
Speaking on Wednesday, Postecoglou explained the relentless nature of the job: “How many times does a Prime Minister have an election? I have one every weekend, mate. We have an election every weekend and either get voted in or out.”
Tottenham, who last won a trophy in 2008, currently sit 10th in the Premier League. Last weekend's decisive 5-0 victory over Southampton highlighted the precarious nature of football management, as it led to the sacking of Saints boss Russell Martin, just hours after Wolves dismissed Gary O’Neil.
On Thursday, Postecoglou’s side faces Manchester United in the English League Cup quarter-finals, a crucial match that he acknowledges could bring more scrutiny if the result doesn’t go their way.
Reflecting on the growing pressures of modern football, Postecoglou expressed concern about how managers are treated: “We’ve lost all sense of respect in society where people are still in jobs, and their replacements are already being speculated about. It’s become too easy to throw people in the trash and move on without any thought or care.”
He continued, “People say managers have always been sacked, but now it feels different. We forget there’s a human being involved. This is the hardest job in any walk of life. Politics may be tough, but this is harder. Few managers come out of this job without scars.”
As Postecoglou prepares for Tottenham's next challenge, his comments highlight the intense pressure and scrutiny that define the world of football management today.
