Jubilant Tottenham fans storm pitch and take to the streets to celebrate Europa League win before lucky few in Bilbao join heartbroken Manchester United supporters slumbering in bus stations and hotel lobbies

Spurs fans have partied wildly through the night in Spain and in the UK after winning the Europa League. 

In Bilbao supporters collapsed on floors, benches and even in hotel lobbies in Bilbao surrounded by miserable Manchester United fans after their 1-0 victory.

Tens of thousands of Tottenham supporters are heading back to the UK after the club won its first major trophy in 17 years and its first European trophy in 41 years.

But there were few problems for police, with just seven arrests in total related to the final despite the drunken partying in Bilbao.

Back in North London there was also pandemonium.

The streets were full of partying Spurs supporters, many of whom invaded the pitch at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where the club put up giant screens to watch the final.

The match with Manchester United was a largely dismal affair but there were wild scenes inside the San Mamés Stadium at full time last night as players and fans celebrated the win.

And it was vindication for Ange Postecoglou, who had insisted he would win a trophy this year, although there is still a possibility that he will be sacked because of the team’s terrible performance in the Premier League this season.

There was partying in bars and the streets afterwards before many collapsed to grab some sleep in Bilbao’s bus station, airport or even on park benches and the street.

However, Uefa has been accused of presiding over a ‘s***show’ with fans complaining of little or no buses, taxis and trains after the game making it difficult to get to hotels or the airport.

Many fans had booked flights back to the UK from as early as 7am, meaning most were bleary-eyed and some were still on the beers.

Spurs, who held off the Red Devils after taking the lead through Brennan Johnson just before half time, finally called an end to their 17-year trophy drought – and fans back at home needed no second invitation to celebrate the remarkable feat.

As Ange Postecoglou‘s heroes broke out on to the pitch at the San Mames stadium, Spurs fans who were watching from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London did the same, invading the field in their droves to toast the club’s first honour since winning the League Cup back in 2008.

In addition to winning their first European trophy since 1984, Tottenham will now compete in next season’s Champions League after a disastrous Premier League campaign that sees them sit in 17th place heading into the final domestic weekend.

Spurs’ ground rocked as fans wildly celebrated their team’s Europa League final triumph over Manchester United in Bilbao. 

As as sea of white shirts descended on to the pitch in north London, several fans broke down in tears of joy while others wildly threw beer and items of clothing into the air.

For those not fortunate enough to acquire tickets to watch the final at the San Mames stadium, the club opened its gates in north London for a live screening of the contest, erecting 10 large screens around the pitch.

But for the thousands who remained in the English capital to watch the final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, fans were able to purchase tickets at a cost of £10 for adults and £5 for anyone under the age of 18. 

As the wild and chaotic celebrations broke out at full-time, with thousands of supporters leaping the barriers in an effort to get on to the pitch, a few could be seen standing atop the giant screens, surrounded by the legions of flag-waving fans below them.

The jubilation then spilled out on to the streets of North London.

In the stadium James Maddison was seen kissing his girlfriend Kennedy Alexa on the pitch as Tottenham stars felt the love from family and friends after winning the Europa League final.

After lifting the famous trophy at the San Mames stadium, Tottenham players were joined on the pitch by their family and friends to soak in the celebrations.

Maddison, who was unable to feature in the final due to injury, shared kiss with Kennedy on the pitch.

The Tottenham and England star has been together with Kennedy since 2020, with the couple having three children together – Leo Cruz in 2021, and twins Rome and Delilah.

Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma was seen on the pitch with his girlfriend Aline, who he has been with since 2019, and daughter.

The couple posed for a joint picture with the Europa League trophy, with Aline sharing the image on social media amid the celebrations. 

Bissouma, who had been one of Tottenham’s star men on the night, also brought family members onto the pitch to share in the moment.

Long-serving stars Son Heung-min and Ben Davies were among the stars to embrace ending the club’s trophy drought with family.

Club captain Son, fresh from lifting the trophy, went over to his greet his parents in the stands.

Son, 32, shared a hug with his father Son Woong-jung and his mother Eun Ja Kil having led the club to success.

The South Korean star was also seen with the family on team-mate Davies, with the pair having forged a close friendship during over a decade at the club.

Davies, who has been at Tottenham since 2014, shared a hug with his wife Emily on the pitch.

Full back Djed Spence, who came on in the closing stages of the final, was joined by family members including his sister in the post-match celebrations.

Fellow defender Cristian Romero, who was named man of the match in the the final, was seen walking around the playing surface with his two children.

The Argentine, who was involved in a confrontation with Man United star Harry Maguire after the final whistle, could be seen carrying his son on his shoulders.

Romero had produced a fine defensive performance on the night, with the star adding to his World Cup and two Copa America triumphs with Argentina by landing a first club trophy.

Arguably the most emotional scenes involved Postecoglou, with the Tottenham boss embraced by his wife Georgia and two of his sons.

Georgia and sons James, Max and Alexi have a low public profile, but Postecoglou opened up on the toll his role takes on them, after he had been heavily criticised during a dismal domestic season.

‘It’s hard because I’m big enough and ugly enough to take whatever comes my way, but they get hurt when people come at me and they pay the price, particularly those closest to me, my beautiful family and my friends,’ he said.

‘The want to defend me and I keep telling them, it’s a small price to pay when you have nights like this.

‘Just seeing them tonight, and I know everyone in Australia… it’s another special night we share together.

‘Because I’m kind of the front man, it’s easy for me to take on the responsibility, but they’ve got no choice but to come along for the ride.

‘Just seeing them out there now on the pitch, smiling faces, I couldn’t be happier.’

Ange Postecoglou made good on his promise to lead Tottenham to glory in his second year with the club as they beat Manchester United in the Europa League final – then revealed how his love for his late father helped spur him on to the biggest win of his career.

The 59-year-old’s dad Jim died in 2018, when the Australian was coaching Japanese side Yokohama F. Marinos – but he was with him in spirit in Spain on Wednesday night. 

‘Finally, to my beautiful wife, my boys, my family my friends… you know, they’re all my inspiration,’ an emotional Postecoglou said in his post-match press conference.

Asked about his father, he replied, ‘He’s still with me, mate. His voice is in my head all the time.

‘As I get older I look in the mirror and see his face sometimes, which is frightening. 

‘He’s with me all the time. 

‘My dear mum is in Greece with my sister and my nephews, I’m sure they’re over the moon.

‘It’s massive in Australia and in Greece. I’ve got family in both countries, friends in both countries, and they’ve been along for the journey the whole way.’

Postecoglou – whose wife Georgia and sons James, Max and Alexi have a low public profile – then opened up about how criticism of him over the club’s well-noted struggles in the Premier League this season have hit home. 

‘It’s hard because I’m big enough and ugly enough to take whatever comes my way, but they get hurt when people come at me and they pay the price, particularly those closest to me, my beautiful family and my friends,’ he said.

‘The want to defend me and I keep telling them, it’s a small price to pay when you have nights like this.

‘Just seeing them tonight, and I know everyone in Australia … it’s another special night we share together.

‘Because I’m kind of the front man, it’s easy for me to take on the responsibility, but they’ve got no choice but to come along for the ride.

‘Just seeing them out there now on the pitch, smiling faces, I couldn’t be happier.’

Postecoglou also spoke out about his father shortly after he got the Tottenham job in 2023.

He told his wife that the had ‘finally made it’ when he was recruited to lead Celtic, but would have loved to share that moment with his dad.

‘He was a man of his generation, but he mellowed as he got older and I took so long to get here but I would have loved for him just to have seen this, to get a glimpse of it,’ Postecoglou told Mail Sport. 

‘All those sacrifices he made, just to have one night to see his son on the touchline. Al that stuff we used to watch together in the middle of the night. Father and son. So just to see me out there. 

Postecoglou says he carries the teachings his father gave him with him through his life as he spoke of the huge influence he had on him – which included tough love and ensuring he always had something to strive for.

‘Yeah, he would be proud but he would have been giving me clips round the ear, mate, for doing things wrong because that was his way of complimenting me,’ he added. ‘You have done well but you could have made a couple of substitutions or you could have played this way. That was just the relationship we had. Its not lost.

‘One of my best mates lost his dad a couple of weeks ago. We are at that age now. The only words of comfort I can give those guys is that I see him in me. I look in the mirror and see him.

‘That’s his expression or I say something and I know it’s him talking. We carry them with us. I have no doubt about that. He’s on the journey but it would have been nice to give him a bit of a glimpse of what his boy became.’