Tottenham Hotspur Win Europa League, Ending 17-Year Trophy Wait

Tottenham Hotspur celebrated their first major trophy in 17 years, beating Manchester United 1-0 in a hard-fought Europa League final at San Mamés Stadium on May 21, 2025. Brennan Johnson’s scrappy first-half goal secured Spurs’ third Europa League title and a spot in next season’s Champions League.

Key Highlights:

• Tottenham ended a 17-year trophy drought by beating Manchester United 1-0 to win the 2025 Europa League
• Brennan Johnson’s scrappy goal and heroic defending sealed Spurs’ third European title and a Champions League return
• Ange Postecoglou delivered silverware in his second season, with jubilant fans readying for a victory parade in London

The match was intense but lacked flair, mirroring both teams’ struggles in the Premier League, where Spurs sit 17th and United 16th. Despite United controlling the ball, Tottenham’s grit shone through. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and defender Micky van de Ven were the heroes, with van de Ven’s stunning goal-line clearance to stop Rasmus Hojlund’s header in the 68th minute proving crucial. Vicario also made a vital save against Luke Shaw in stoppage time.

Johnson’s goal, a messy effort that deflected off Shaw in the 42nd minute, was enough to seal the win. Tottenham’s manager, Ange Postecoglou, delivered on his promise to bring silverware in his second season, joining club legends Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw as a European champion. “This club has had world-class coaches and players, and they haven’t had a night like this,” Postecoglou said post-match. Captain Son Heung-min, lifting his first major trophy with Spurs, became a fan favorite, overshadowing former star Harry Kane’s trophy hunt elsewhere.

For Manchester United, the loss capped a tough season, leaving them without European football next year for the first time since 2014-15. Manager Ruben Amorim remained optimistic, saying, “We had chances, but we didn’t score. We’ll keep building.”

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Tottenham’s victory sparked wild celebrations among fans in Bilbao and at a live screening in north London. The team plans an open-top bus parade on May 23 to mark the occasion. With Champions League football secured, Spurs now aim to build on this success, while United face a challenging road ahead