Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou responds to England job link as ex-Celtic boss has say on Southgate exit

Ange Postecoglou has played down reports linking him with the vacant England job, with the Tottenham Hotspur boss saying his focus is on bringing success to Spurs.

The 58-year-old Australian has emerged as a contender to replace Gareth Southgate after a newspaper report on Thursday afternoon claimed he is one of five candidates being mulled over by the Football Association.

The former Celtic manager was back in Scotland for a pre-season friendly as Spurs defeated Hearts 5-1 at Tynecastle and after the match, he was quizzed on the prospect of succeeding Southgate, who resigned from his role earlier this week after losing the final of Euro 2024 to Spain.

“Mate, I was having a nap this afternoon, so I’ve got no idea!" was Postecoglou's response when the reports were put to him. “I’m Tottenham manager and I’m determined to bring success to this club, as I have with every other club I have been at. That’s where my focus is totally. We haven’t achieved anything yet, so until we achieve something, my work isn’t done.”

When asked further if it would be a type of job that interests him in the future, Postecoglou continued: “Mate, five years ago I was in Japan, and now I’m in the Premier League. Who knows where I’ll be in five years? I could be back in Japan, I could be on a beach somewhere, hopefully!

“It’s not something that enters my headspace, I’m Tottenham manager and I’m determined to bring success to this club. Nothing else is on my radar except for that.”

Postecoglou was also asked if he understood why Southgate, who spent eight years in charge of England, had decided to call time on his tenure.

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"With all these things it’s hard to know," he continued. "In my career I’ve always felt there was a natural conclusion. Sometimes as a manager that gets taken out of your hands, so you’ve got no choice about whether you move on or not.

“I’ve always moved on when I’ve felt it was the right time, so he’s the best judge of that. He’s done an unbelievable job, ridiculously good in terms of results and performances at major tournaments.

“The expectations are now really high for England, and he’s created that. But he is in the best place to say that it was time for him, and as managers, a lot of the time our future’s taken out of our own hands.

“It’s nice when we make the decision sometimes.”

Graham Potter, Lee Carsley, Eddie Howe and Mauricio Pochettino remain the bookmakers' early favourites to land the England job.