Tottenham Hotspur ended a 17-year wait for silverware with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League final, but their historic night in Bilbao was partly overshadowed by an unexpected blunder during the medal ceremony.
UEFA, responsible for organizing the event, had only 30 winners’ medals available for the stage ceremony. With more players and staff heading up than expected, several key figures including club captain Son Heung-min, Cristian Romero, and Rodrigo Bentancur, were left empty-handed during the official presentation.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin was reportedly caught off guard by the situation, and the organization has since promised to distribute the remaining medals to players and staff in the coming days.
Ange Postecoglou breaks trophy curse
For manager Ange Postecoglou, the triumph marked a major milestone in just his second season in charge. Under pressure due to a poor domestic run that left Spurs languishing in 17th place in the Premier League, the Australian coach silenced critics by delivering European success and revitalizing belief among fans.
Back in London, thousands of supporters gathered at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to watch the final and joined in jubilant celebrations after the final whistle. The long-awaited trophy brought joy to a fanbase starved of success
Brennan Johnson becomes hero for Tottenham
Brennan Johnson was the hero at San Mamés Stadium, scoring the decisive goal in the 42nd minute to clinch Spurs’ first major title since 2008. The win not only delivered long-awaited glory but also secured Tottenham a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League a significant financial and sporting boost after a disappointing Premier League campaign.
Son Heung Min also made history becoming the first Korean player to lift a UEFA competition trophy as captain. While other Korean players like Cha Bum Kun (two-time UEFA Cup winner), Park Ji Sung (UEFA Champions League winner), Kim Dong Jin, and Lee Ho have previously won UEFA-organized competitions, none had done so as team captain.
