Postecoglou deserves another crack if he wins Europa League says 1984 UEFA Cup hero Hazard

LONDON - The last time Tottenham Hotspur won a European trophy it proved to be manager Keith Burkinshaw’s last game in charge and as the club arrive in Bilbao for May 21’s Europa League final against Manchester United, history could be repeating itself.

Burkinshaw is regarded as one of the clubs greatest managers, taking the north London club to back-to-back FA Cup triumphs and then the 1984 Uefa Cup after a memorable two-legged final decided on penalties at White Hart Lane.

Shortly after that epic night, Burkinshaw parted company with Spurs over disagreements with the board and as local legend would have it, his parting words as he walked away were there used to be a football club over there.

Forty-one years and countless managers later, Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou faces a game that could well be his last - win or lose against United in northern Spain.

Tottenham have suffered their worst ever Premier League season with 21 defeats, the same number Burkinshaws side lost in 1976-77 when they were relegated to the old second division.

Burkinshaw survived, led the club back after one season and blazed an audacious trail by signing Argentina World Cup winners Osvaldo Ardiles and Ricky Villa for the club.

While 17th-placed Tottenham have avoided relegation, Postecoglous demeanour as the Premier League losses racked up has been that of a man who knows his time might be up.

Former Tottenham great Micky Hazard, part of the 1981-82 FA Cup final team and who famously lost a contact lens in the mud after scoring in the 1983-84 Uefa Cup semi-final win against Hajduk Split, says Burkinshaws departure cost the club the chance of winning more silverware.

He strongly believes that Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy should stick with Postecoglou if the Australian delivers the Europa League and