How Ange Postecoglou was driving force behind Tottenham’s only winter signing so far
Ange Postecoglou was replaced by Thomas Frank over the summer as Tottenham decided to move in a different direction.
Postecoglou led Tottenham to their first major trophy in 17 years, as they beat Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League final, but it wasn’t enough for him to keep his job.
The Australian’s focus on Europe saw Spurs finish 17th in the Premier League last season, and Frank hasn’t fared much better, with the Lilywhites currently sitting 13th after 20 games.
However, Postecoglou’s influence is still being felt around North London, and he had a big part to play in Tottenham’s first signing of the January transfer window.
Mason Melia officially joins Tottenham
Tottenham signed Mason Melia from League of Ireland outfit St. Patricks back in February 2025, for a fee of £1.6million.
However, the forward only officially made the move to North London on 1 January, after turning 18 back in September.
Postecoglou reportedly held meetings with Melia before he signed a contract with the Lilywhites and was pivotal in getting the deal over the line.
Tottenham legend Ledley King also had a part to play, speaking to the Irishman and his uncle on one of their many trips to Spurs’ Enfield training centre ahead of the move.
Who is Mason Melia?
Melia has become the most expensive sale in the history of the Irish leagues and is the first-ever player to depart for a seven-figure sum.
The 18-year-old scored 13 goals and notched three assists across 35 league appearances throughout 2025.
Even at such a young age, Melia already has so much experience under his belt, which will be crucial as he looks to break into Tottenham’s senior side.
The centre-forward has represented the Republic of Ireland from under-15 level all the way up to under-21s, where he has scored three goals in six appearances.
Melia is not expected to move straight into the Tottenham first team squad, but will hope to prove himself over the coming months and prepare himself for the Premier League.
Should he do so, it will ensure Ange’s impact at Spurs is felt for a while longer yet.
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