Brennan Johnson’s scrappy first-half strike secured a landmark 1-0 victory for Tottenham Hotspur over Manchester United in the Europa League final on Wednesday night in Bilbao, Spain—ending the North London club’s 17-year wait for a major trophy.
The triumph marked Tottenham’s first piece of silverware since winning the League Cup in 2008 and their first European success since lifting the UEFA Cup in the 1983–84 season.
The long-awaited victory sparked euphoric celebrations among players and fans alike, as Spurs finally broke free from their reputation as perennial underachievers.
Johnson scored the decisive goal in the 42nd minute, turning in a loose ball that had deflected off United defender Luke Shaw.
In a nervy second half, Tottenham were forced to defend resolutely, with Micky van de Ven producing a crucial clearance off the line to deny Rasmus Højlund a late equalizer.
Captain Son Heung-min had the honour of lifting the trophy—becoming the first Spurs skipper to do so since Ledley King in 2008.
The win also guarantees Tottenham a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League.
For Manchester United, it was a night of bitter disappointment. The defeat not only cost them the chance at European silverware, but it also confirmed they will miss out on European football entirely next season—something they haven’t experienced since the 2014–15 campaign.
The result capped off a dismal domestic season that saw them finish with their lowest Premier League position ever.
United’s attempts to rally in the closing stages, through substitutes Alejandro Garnacho and Joshua Zirkzee, came to nothing as they fell to a fourth defeat to Spurs this season.
Manager Rúben Amorim admitted after the match that, while a trophy wouldn’t have fixed all of the club’s problems, it could have been a critical stepping stone toward rebuilding.
Instead, United leave Bilbao empty-handed, marking their worst campaign since their relegation from the old First Division in 1974.
The final, featuring two underperforming teams who ended their Premier League campaigns in 16th and 17th place respectively, was played at a high tempo but was marred by a lack of confidence—highlighting just how much was on the line.
But for Tottenham, the night belonged to them. After nearly two decades of frustration and near-misses, Spurs are champions of Europe once more.
