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Lowest League Finish, Biggest Payday: Win Makes Champions League History

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Andy Hageman | Last updated May 21, 2025 7:09 PM ET

Tottenham Hotspur’s hardly-electrifying Europa League victory today against Manchester United in Bilbao has ignited north London with jubilation, ending a 17-year trophy drought and securing a golden ticket to the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League.

This triumph, unlocks a staggering $130 million revenue boost. As fans revel in this historic moment, the fact remains, Spurs are the lowest-placed team ever to qualify for Europe’s elite competition - per Opta.

This victory marks Tottenham’s first major honor since the 2008 League Cup, a milestone verified by Tottenham’s own historical archives. The Europa League title, a 15kg silver trophy, is Spurs’ first European silverware since the 1984 UEFA Cup, as confirmed by Sky Sports and Opta. For manager Ange Postecoglou, this fulfills his bold claim of always winning in his second season.

Financially, the win is transformative. UEFA’s prize money data shows Tottenham earned $35.4 million from their Europa League campaign, with an additional $28.1 million guaranteed for Champions League qualification. Combined with matchday revenues from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, averaging $7.6 million per game, and potential broadcast bonuses, Opta estimates a $130 million windfall for 2025-26.

In the Premier League, Tottenham’s 17th-place standing as of May 21, 2025, confirmed by premierleague.com makes their Champions League qualification extraordinary. Historically, no team finishing lower than 14th in their domestic league has won a major European trophy, per Opta’s records. Spurs now hold the record as the lowest-placed team to qualify for the Champions League via the Europa League, surpassing West Ham’s 14th-place Conference League win in 2023.

This triumph reshapes Tottenham’s future. The Champions League berth enhances their transfer market appeal, crucial given their $279.3 million net transfer debt, as reported by The Athletic. Postecoglou’s job security, once questioned, now seems bolstered, with fans on X celebrating his tactical shift to a defensive masterclass.

However, challenges loom. Sky Sports notes that balancing Champions League and Premier League demands could strain Spurs’ squad, especially after a dismal domestic campaign. Yet, for now, Tottenham basks in glory, their improbable journey rewriting history and fueling dreams of European dominance.

Next: Man United’s Billion-Dollar Game Why Losing to Spurs Could Bankrupt Them

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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