Tottenham Hotspur’s 17-year wait for silverware came to a jubilant end on Wednesday night in Bilbao, as the North London club secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League final. The match’s decisive moment came just before halftime, when winger Brennan Johnson bundled in a scrappy goal, credited to him despite a possible final touch from United’s Luke Shaw. The victory marked Tottenham’s first major trophy since the 2008 League Cup and their first European title since 1984, sparking scenes of euphoria among players and fans alike. For Johnson, the triumph was more than just a trophy—it was a chance to silence the critics and lift the spirits of a fanbase that has endured years of relentless scrutiny.
Johnson, who has emerged as a key figure for Spurs this season with 17 goals and seven assists, spoke candidly about the significance of the win. “I’m so happy right now. This season hasn’t been good at all, but not one of us players care about that now,” the Welsh winger told TNT Sports after the match. “This club hasn’t won a trophy for 17 years, it means so much. All the fans get battered, we get battered, for not winning anything, but we had to get the first one in a while today.” His words captured the weight of expectation that has hung over Tottenham, a club often labeled as perennial underachievers despite their talent and ambition. The victory, Johnson said, was proof that Spurs could “get it done,” shedding the “serial losers” tag that has haunted them for years.
The final itself was far from a spectacle, with both teams—languishing at 17th and 16th in the Premier League—producing a cagey, low-quality affair at San Mames Stadium. Tottenham’s lone shot on target, Johnson’s scrappy effort from a corner, was enough to secure the win, as Spurs adopted a resolute defensive approach in the second half to fend off United’s pressure. The result was a testament to manager Ange Postecoglou’s pragmatism, a departure from his usual “Ange Ball” philosophy of attacking football. Postecoglou, who had vowed to deliver a trophy in his second season, as he has at every club he’s managed, celebrated the victory as a vindication of his vision. “We got to the end of the January window and assessed it, and I made the decision this was the trophy to go for,” he said, reflecting on his strategic focus on the Europa League.
For Tottenham’s fans, the win was a cathartic release after years of near-misses and heartbreak. The club’s last trophy, the 2008 League Cup, had faded into distant memory, and their “Spursy” reputation for crumbling under pressure had become a source of mockery. Thousands of supporters, some of whom traveled grueling routes and slept in cars to attend the final, erupted in celebration as captain Son Heung-min, who came off the bench, lifted the trophy. “This is what it’s all about,” Johnson said, emphasizing the emotional weight of the moment for the fans. “Ever since I came here, it’s been ‘Tottenham are a good team, but they can’t get it done.’ We got it done.”
The victory also secured Tottenham’s return to the UEFA Champions League next season, a bright spot in an otherwise dismal domestic campaign. Johnson, who faced fitness doubts after a training ground collision with teammate Sergio Reguilon, emerged as the unlikely hero, his work rate and determination embodying the grit Spurs showed in Bilbao. “It’s been a real positive drive for us,” Johnson said of the team’s European run. “The fans have been so good, home and away, and they had the edge over the United fans.”