It’s been a long time coming, but on Wednesday night, Tottenham Hotspur finally ended a 17-year wait for silverware.
The atmosphere was electric not just in Bilbao’s San Mamés Stadium but also thousands of miles away at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London, where fans erupted in pure joy after their team beat Manchester United in the Europa League final.
A Historic Win to End the Trophy Drought
Spurs took the lead just before halftime thanks to a clever finish by Brennan Johnson.
That goal proved to be the difference as the team held firm against a persistent Manchester United side.
This victory means so much more than just a trophy — it ends Tottenham’s long drought since their last major honour, the League Cup in 2008.
For fans, it was a moment worth every bit of celebration.
Fans Celebrate Loud and Proud Back Home
While the players celebrated on the pitch in Spain, Tottenham supporters back in London couldn’t contain their excitement.
The club opened its gates and set up a massive live screening of the match with 10 giant screens around the stadium pitch, welcoming around 80,000 fans.
The crowd was a sea of white shirts and waving flags, with many fans bursting into tears of happiness and others throwing beers and shirts into the air in celebration.
The Match Wasn’t Perfect But The Win Was What Mattered
Though the game itself was criticized by many for lacking flow and quality, that hardly dampened the spirits of Spurs fans.
Both teams struggled to create clear chances, but Tottenham’s defense stood tall.
A standout moment was when defender Micky van de Ven made a spectacular clearance off the line to keep Manchester United from equalizing late in the second half.
That save helped secure the slim lead until the final whistle.
The English Take Over Bilbao With Passion and Some Chaos
The final in Bilbao attracted tens of thousands of English fans from both clubs, turning the Basque city into what some called an ‘English invasion.’
Locals were surprised—and at times frustrated—by the rowdy and intoxicated supporters, with reports of minor clashes and vandalism ahead of kickoff.
Despite the chaos, the focus remained on the football and the celebration of a European title.
Manager Postecoglou Reflects on What the Win Means
Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou, who faced criticism earlier in the season after a shaky Premier League campaign, was proud of his young squad’s resilience.
“I am still trying to take it all in,” he told TNT Sports. “This means so much to the club.
The longer you go without winning, the harder it gets to break that cycle.”
He emphasized the importance of knockout football and organization.
“We knew it would come down to moments. Our defense with Romero and Van de Ven made the difference,” he added.
“I hope this win changes how this group feels about themselves.”
Manchester United Left Reeling After Another Blow
Meanwhile, Manchester United’s fans were left heartbroken and frustrated in their fan zones both in Bilbao and back in England.
With their poor Premier League form continuing, the Red Devils have now missed the chance to secure Champions League football next season.
Legendary former player Roy Keane was scathing in his post-match criticism, calling the performance “dismal” and highlighting the team’s season-long struggles.
Keane said, “It’s been the story all year—easy to beat, no quality, no options.
Depending on Harry Maguire to save you is a problem.”
His words summed up the bleak mood among United supporters after what was supposed to be a chance to salvage their season.