Tottenham & Newcastle to play in Melbourne double header on May 22

May’s match will be the second Spurs match played in Australia since Postecoglou took over the club last year.  

The A-League and Football Australia have announced a historic double header featuring Tottenham vs. Newcastle and Arsenal Women vs. the A-League Women All Star team. These matches will be played on May 22, 2024 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as a part of the A-League’s ‘Global Football Week.’  
 
The big event will also be a homecoming for Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou, who is a proud South Melbourne native. The 58-year-old manager famously led Australia to an Asian Cup victory on home soil in 2015. 

Big Ange returns to Melbourne

As exciting as any Premier League coming to town is, it’s going to be an extra special occasion for Melbourne on May 22. This is because the city will get to see one of their own front and centre at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Ange Postecoglou.  
 
Big Ange got his start at semi-pro club South Melbourne FC. The 68-year old, who is of Greek origin, supported the club as a boy, as many Australian-Greeks do. He played for them as a child and later made nearly 200 league appearances for the semi-pro side. Postecoglou’s first position in management was with South Melbourne as well.  
 
Now, Postecoglou manages one of the biggest soccer clubs in the world, and he’s bringing them to his hometown. 
 
The Tottenham vs. Newcastle match in Melbourne will be the second Spurs match played in Australia since Postecoglou took over at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at the end of last season. The Lilywhites previously played in Perth as a part of their preseason tour through Asia last year. 
 
Scott Munn, Tottenham Hotspur Chief Football Officer, said in the club’s announcement of the friendly match that “We are delighted to be heading to Melbourne for a post-season fixture against Newcastle United.” 
 
“Being able to take our team overseas is always a huge honour. We have amazing global support and to have the opportunity to connect with those fans who may be based thousands of miles away but are fanatical about the Club is truly special.” 
 
“When we visited Perth last summer we were blown away by the warmth shown to us by our Australian fans, and I know it will be the same in Melbourne.” 

Arsenal’s trio of Matildas to take on A-League All-Stars

The opening match of the May 22 double-header will feature Arsenal Women vs. A-League Women All Stars.  
 
The Gunners have three Matildas stars on their side – Veteran defender Steph Catley, midfielder Kyra Cooney-Cross, and star attacker Caitlin Foord. All three are expected to headline the event for Arsenal on their return to their home country this may.  

Tickets for the big double-header will be available from 9am on Monday 25 March. Prices start at $59. The matches are expected to be sold out along with other Global Football Week events being held by the A-League.