Brennan Johnson’s first-half strike secured Tottenham Hotspur a 1-0 win over Manchester United in the Europa League final, ending their 17-year trophy drought and clinching a spot in next season’s Champions League.
It marked Spurs’ first silverware since the 2008 League Cup and their first European title since 1984. Remarkably, it was also the first time in the club’s history that they defeated Manchester United four times in a single season.
Johnson netted the decisive goal in the 42nd minute, capitalizing on a defensive error before combining with Luke Shaw to finish clinically.
Johnson scores from Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester United nearly equalized in the second half when Rasmus Højlund had a clear opportunity, but Micky van de Ven’s goal-line clearance denied him. In stoppage time, Guglielmo Vicario produced a crucial save to keep out a Luke Shaw header.
The triumph offers massive relief to Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou, who endured a challenging Premier League campaign, finishing 17th with 21 losses. The Europa League win may solidify the 59-year-old’s position amid uncertainty over his future.
For Manchester United, it was another bitter setback. With the team languishing in 16th place in the Premier League, they now face the possibility of missing out on European football altogether—a major concern for coach Rúben Amorim.