Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou said last month he "always" wins a trophy in his second season in charge. After a successful first campaign in north London in which the Australian guided Spurs to a fifth-place finish in the Premier League, fans' expectations of winning a first trophy in 17 years has increased - expectation which Postecoglou fuelled . Spurs' last piece of silverware came in the 2008 EFL Cup under Juande Ramos - the only competition they have won in the 21st Century.
They have the opportunity to outline their trophy-winning credentials on Wednesday when they host Manchester City in the Carabao Cup last 16 (20:15 GMT). Tottenham also remain one of the favourites to win the Europa League with three wins from three so far. But is second-season success really a given for Postecoglou's Spurs? How often does a manager go without a trophy in their first campaign, then win silverware in their second? And how have previous Spurs managers fared during their second season? Postecoglou is not wrong to highlight the pattern of his successes - as he recently said, it is a "fact" he has always won a trophy in his second season in charge.
The 59-year-old won the Australian title with both South Melbourne and Brisbane Roar, and the Japanese league with Yokohama F Marinos - all in his second season or second full season. He also won the Asian Cup two years after becoming Australia manager, and the Scottish Premiership in both seasons with Celtic. There are three clubs he fail.
