Picture by Greg Smith
UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL
(at San Mames Stadium, Bilbao)
WEDNESDAY 21ST MAY, 2025
(8PM)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1(1) MANCHESTER UNITED 0(0)
Spurs scorer:-
Johnson, 42
Attendance:- 49,924
Referee:- Felix Zwayer (Germany)
Assistants:- Robert Kempter and Christian Dietz (both Germany)
Fourth Official:- Maurizio Mariani (Italy)
Reserve AR:- Daniele Bindoni (Italy)
VAR:- Bastian Dankert (Germany)
Assistant VAR:- Benjamin Brand (Germany)
VAR Support:- Carlos del Cerro Grande (Spain)
Teams:-
Spurs (4-3-3):- 1. Vicario; 23. Pedro Porro, 17. Romero (Capt.), 37. Van de Ven, 13. Udogie (sub 24. Spence, 90); 8. Bissouma, 30. Bentancur, 29. Sarr (sub 14. Gray, 90); 22. Johnson (sub 4. Danso, 79), 19. Solanke, 9. Richarlison (sub 7. Son, 67)
(Son took the captain's armband)
Subs not used:- 40. Austin, 41. Whiteman; 33. Davies; 28. Odobert, 44. Scarlett, 47. Moore; 11. Tel, 63. Ajayi
Booked:- Van de Ven (foul on Hojlund), Richarlison (foul on Mazraoui), Bissouma (delaying free kick after foul)
Man Utd (3-4-3):- 24. Onana; 15. Yoro, 5. Maguire, 23. Shaw; 3. Mazraoui (sub 20. Dalot, 85), 18. Casemiro, 8. Fernandes (Capt.), 13. Dorgu (sub 37. Mainoo, 90); 16. Diallo, 9. Hojlund (sub 11. Zirkzee, 71), 7. Mount (sub 17. Garnacho, 71)
Subs not used:- 1. Bayindir ; 2. Lindelof, 26. Heaven, 35. Evans, 41.Amass; 14. Eriksen, 25. Ugarte, 43. Collyer
Booked:- Diallo (foul on Udogie), Zirkzee (foul on Udogie), Maguire (foul on Romero), Evans (dissent from the bench)
Glory at last!
Picture by Eugene Gasper
Spurs' 17-year wait for a trophy is over! With all due respect to the 1999 and 2008 League Cup wins, this is our best trophy win since the 1991 FA Cup. This was also our fourth European trophy win and our first since the 1984 UEFA Cup at White Hart Lane. Brennan Johnson's 42nd minute winner was our first goal in a European final since legend Graham Roberts' 84th minute equaliser in that 1984 final.
Thus, it is Spurs who have the glory, the Europa League trophy and entry to next season's Champions League. Ange Postecoglou got his famed "second-season trophy," in his 100th game in charge of Spurs. Whether he leads us next season remains to be seen, but for the moment, he, his team and of course we fans can soak up the unadulterated joy of this dramatic win.
Spurs have beaten United for the fourth time this season. They've beaten them away, at home twice and now far away in Spain! United haven't lost four games in any season to the same team for some 40 years. It is they who have to contemplate a season out of Europe next term.
Picture by Eugene Gasper
Some 15,000 ticket-holding Spurs fans made it to the San Mames stadium along with countless other travellers who just wanted to savour the Bilbao atmosphere. Ex-players, legends, and the full Spurs squad attended. Sandro played guitar and sang at the Spurs fan zone. Ledley King, Gary Mabbutt and Ossie Ardiles were there. The great Cliff Jones celebrated at home. Basque-born Fernando Llorente joined the Spurs squad yesterday. He had been instrumental in our path to our last European final, the ill-fated loss to Liverpool, also in Spain, in 2019.
Spurs made 10 changes to the team which had started at Villa Park. Captain Son was held on the bench, and without a playmaker, Ange opted for a solid midfield trio and played Richarlison to the left of Solanke. Every Spurs player gave their heart and soul to the task, defending as one.
Apart from the goal there were memorable moments such as Micky van de Ven's miraculous and acrobatic goal-line clearance from Hojlund's header and two very good saves by Vicario.
In truth, the game lacked quality, but no Spurs fan cares about that now, and will not remember in years to come.
The sea of white was serenaded by "Oh when the Spurs..." ten minutes before kick-off. The teams switched ends so that Spurs kicked off and played towards their fans in the first half. That army must have sucked in Brennan Johnson's goal, and they certainly roared on their stalwart defenders in the second half.
Spurs won an early corner, but German referee Felix Zwayer spotted a foul against Harry Maguire. Herr Zwayer soon gave a free kick in our half for a foul by the combative Romero on Hojlund. Udogie conceded a corner. Spurs were a little nervy at the back in those early stages and a shot by Fernandes actually hit Mason Mount.
Mazraoui headed a Pedro Porro cross clear with Richarlison waiting to pounce. After a United error, Johnson got into the box. His cross was blocked, and the ball fell to Sarr, whose shot was also blocked. Richarlison also had a shot diverted for a corner after a Spurs free kick on the left.
Romero conceded a corner after Dorgu got into the Spurs box and crossed from the left. Vicario patted away the corner and Maguire fed Amad Diallo, whose shot passed wide across the goal. Vicario held a Fernandes shot after another United attack.
Onana and Dorgu were confused when Udogie crossed and Spurs had a corner, but nothing came of that. Diallo turned Udogie inside out and got into the box, but Spurs cleared for a throw. Udogie soon went into attack mode and seemed to be fouled, but the referee was hard to convince all night regarding any foul.
There were free kicks at either end and a shot by Diallo was easily picked up by Vicario. Spurs' goal followed a good move down the left win which ended with an excellent whipped cross by Pape Sarr. There was confusion regarding the scorer with Johnson getting an initial touch then Shaw involuntarily kicking the ball towards his own goal, but ultimately the goal was awarded to Johnson who got the final touch at very close range. It was Brennan's 18th goal of the season and his fifth in the Europa League, level with Solanke in this competition.
Van de Ven made a vital block from Fernandes' shot after Casemiro's pass.
There were no changes for the second half and United kicked off, playing towards the Spurs fans. Hojlund's attempt at a header was way off target from a cross by Diallo. Van de Ven and Richarlison took early bookings and after a Fernandes free kick, Vicario dived forward to thwart 19-year-old Lenny Yoro.
Mason Mount tried to feed Hojlund, but Vicario claimed the ball. United were dominating possession and with an hour on the clock it seemed that Spurs were going to happily sit back and defend their slender lead. That was not comfortable to watch, but we were ultimately successful.
Udogie pounced on a Diallo shot then raced forward all the way to the United area. He crossed for Solanke who had kept pace with our left back, but Dominic could not quite get his feet right to deal with the pass and a great goal opportunity.
Richarlison, who had given his all, was replaced by Son, who was making his 454th club appearance and his 71st appearance for Spurs in European games. Son is third now behind Kane who made 76 European appearances and Ben Davies, who has 73.
Vicario failed to hold a Fernandes free kick and Hojlund's header was goal-bound if not for Van de Ven's simply miraculous clearance just in front off his goal line. Micky as off the ground and somehow managed to boot the ball clear. For that moment alone he gets my man of the match award. By such moments and narrow margins, trophies are won.
Garnacho was one of two substitutions now made by Amorim and he was a constant threat. It wasn't too long before Postecoglou reinforced the defence by adding Kevin Danso (who has played a solid part in the second half of our season).
Spurs were not winning second balls when they cleared their lines. Fernandes headed wide from Mazraoui's cross, and a Garnacho shot was well saved by Vicario. Pedro Porro seemed to have been fouled by Shaw on the edge of the United box, but no foul was given.
Danso was part of a Spurs back five but at the other end he so nearly reached a Son free kick at the back post. Vicario held a Casemiro header, but there had been an offside anyway. We had seven minutes of added time to negotiate. Archie Gray and Djed Spence were introduced to Spurs' defensive shield.
United connections might have wanted more added time and unused sub Jonny Evans was shown a yellow card for his dissent.
Danso headed clear a cross by Diallo. Yoro fired over after 94 minutes. Vicario made a great save from a header by Shaw and Casemiro hooked a shot wide from an angle.
With 97 minutes on the clock, United had a corner which was cleared and finally the referee blew the final whistle cueing almighty roars in the crowd and celebrations on the pitch.
Postecoglou graciously commiserated with United players and the Spurs squad gave a guard of honour to their vanquished opponents when they collected their runners-up medals.
The whole Spurs squad was included in the presentation including the injured Dragusin, Maddison, Bergvall and Kulusevski on crutches. Players who had been registered in the first half of this campaign such as Forster and Werner were involved and somehow even Sergio Reguilon (who was never registered and never made aa Europa League appearance) collected a medal!
Sonny lifted the trophy and there were tears and cheers all round and through the night.
Picture by Gary Smith
Postecoglou's family joined him on the pitch for emotional scenes. Whatever happens to him, he joins previous Spurs European trophy winners Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw in the Tottenham Hotspur Hall of Fame, along with his players.
My son - Greg Smith
There will be a parade in Tottenham tomorrow (Friday) and a party on Sunday when we host Brighton!
My good friends Gary Smith, Cassim Patel, Andy Park and Chris Fincham before kick-off
Picture courtesy of Gary Smith
. Derek Ridgers Europa League Final Gallery
. Squad numbers,appearances,bookings & goalscorers
. Read the preview for this game.
. All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here! THFC6061 Sports Stats
