Bilbao, Spain (AP) – The wait for a title at Tottenham has finally come to an end.
The Spurs triumphed over Manchester United with a score of 1-0 in the Europa League final, marking their first European trophy in over 40 years on Wednesday.
This victory represents Tottenham’s first major title since their English League Cup win in 2008, and their first on the European stage since clinching the second UEFA Cup in 1984, which is akin to the current Europa League.
Brennan Johnson scored the winner just before halftime, providing much-needed redemption for a Spurs team that has struggled near the bottom of the Premier League standings this season.
“That’s all,” Johnson expressed. “This club hasn’t won a trophy in 17 years. This feels right. It makes sense. Since arriving here, we’ve achieved this. Tottenham is a great team, but we must do more.”
This title secures a spot in next season’s Champions League and offers some much-needed relief to Manager Ange Postecoglou, who has had a challenging season getting his team on track.
The victory in Europe’s secondary competition comes six years after Tottenham’s loss to Liverpool in the Champions League final.
Tottenham concluded their Europa League campaign with 10 wins, three draws, and two losses.
As per UEFA, no team in the UEFA Cup-Europa League has recorded as many victories. The win on Wednesday marked the 98th victory in this competition, breaking the previous joint record of 97 wins held with Roma.
This defeat puts pressure on United’s coach Reuben Amorim, as his team currently sits in 16th place, just ahead of Tottenham, in the Premier League. Consequently, the club will not participate in European competitions next season.
“I’m not going to speculate about the future. Right now, I need to process the pain of this loss,” Amorim said. “Our team performed well, and the players gave their all to secure the win.”
United started aggressively, with Rasmus Hojlund’s header being saved on the line by Tottenham’s Mickey Van de Ven. Late in the first half, a header from Luke Shaw forced a challenging save from Spurs goalkeeper Gugliel Moviario.
“I still can’t believe what we accomplished tonight. It’s incredible,” Vicario said. “We made history, and this team has written its legacy in 2025. Mickey Van De Ven’s crucial save was pivotal. We knew every contribution mattered.”
Neither team created significant scoring chances until Tottenham broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute. After Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg entered the box, the ball ricocheted and fell to Johnson.
“I felt it hit me and looked up because I didn’t connect perfectly,” Johnson stated. “The ball just dropped towards the goal after that. I can’t express my emotions.”
After conceding, United pressed forward but couldn’t find an equalizer in front of a nearly equal crowd of around 50,000 at Athletic Bilbao’s San Mames Stadium.
While there were a few disturbances among fans as over 50,000 English supporters flocked to Bilbao and nearby towns, the day of the final remained largely peaceful.
United last lifted a trophy in the 2024 FA Cup, with their last European victory occurring under manager Jose Mourinho in 2017. They were defeated in the Europa League final against Villarreal in 2021.
The Red Devils have faced Tottenham four times this season, suffering losses in all matches and failing to defeat their rivals over the last seven encounters.
United and Tottenham previously met in the 2009 League Cup final, where Alex Ferguson’s side triumphed 4-1 on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
Tottenham striker Son Heung-min, brought on in the 67th minute, was the one who lifted the trophy during the awards ceremony, celebrating the end of the title drought in his career.
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Source: apnews.com