We are UEFA Europa League winners!

It was 'Johnson again', but on the biggest of stages as we achieved UEFA Europa League glory on a wonderful night in Bilbao on Wednesday.

Our Wales international forward Brennan Johnson wrote his name into Club folklore with the winning goal three minutes before half-time as we defeated Manchester United 1-0 in the showpiece final to claim our first European title in 41 years and our first major trophy since 2008.

Some of the heroes of that famous night against Anderlecht in 1984 watched proudly on from the stands at San Mames Stadium as Ange Postecoglou's men became legends in their own right, putting to one side a disappointing domestic season to complete a fantastic European campaign on the highest of highs.

We had to defend resolutely to see out the win, as we have done before in this run, Micky van de Ven producing an incredible goal-line clearance from Rasmus Hojlund in the second half which was as good as a goal while his centre-back comrade Cristian Romero, captain from the start with Heung-Min Son on the bench, was named Player of the Match by UEFA.

Guglielmo Vicario's excellent saves from United substitute Alejandro Garnacho and Luke Shaw late in the game typified our resilience as we stood firm to register our fourth win over the Red Devils this term - this one by far the most important as it led to a trophy and a coveted place in next season's UEFA Champions League.

In truth, we didn't create a lot in the forward areas although Dominic Solanke's tireless running was as always a key part of our game with Richarlison also a useful outlet on the left. He'd got the nod to start as we made one enforced change from the second leg of the semi-final at Bodo/Glimt as Pape Matar Sarr - who provided the cross for Johnson's goal - replaced the injured Dejan Kulusevski.

Pedro Porro almost found the Brazil international with a delicious early cross but Noussair Mazraoui intervened with a fine defensive header to deny us. Moments later, Johnson broke in behind after latching onto a loose ball out wide and after his low drive across from the right was parried out by Andre Onana, Sarr's shot was blocked by Harry Maguire.

United's best chance of the first half fell to Amad Diallo on 16 minutes after Vicario had swiped away a corner, but he fired across goal and wide from a tight angle. There was a stop-start nature to the game at times as a couple of players found themselves on the deck and you sensed it would take something out of the ordinary to break the deadlock.

That duly happened on 42 minutes as Richarlison's clever pass in to Rodrigo Bentancur saw the midfield lay the ball out wide to the left for Sarr, his cross was met by a glancing touch from Johnson, the ball then hit Luke Shaw and Johnson was able to stick out a flailing leg to scoop it inside the post, despite Onana's efforts to keep it out. The young man's face said it all as he wheeled away to celebrate in front of our delirious supporters.

United were more of a threat after the break and caused us a few problems, but we always found an answer. Rasmus Hojlund's stooping header sailed wide, Vicario spilled Bruno Fernandes' free-kick but saw Solanke hook away the danger and Diallo was denied by a superb tackle in the box from the outstanding Yves Bissouma. We broke away on the counter after that and ended up with two against two, but Solanke couldn't quite bring Destiny Udogie's square ball under control and the chance slipped away.

United had a key chance on 68 minutes when Vicario fumbled a long ball and Hojlund sent a header looping over him towards goal from a central position, but van de Ven was there with an acrobatic, heroic goal-line clearance to preserve our advantage. United skipper Fernandes subsequently steered a stooping header wide before Garnacho burst in from the left and fired towards the far post, only for Vicario to turn his shot away brilliantly down to his left.

We brought on defender Kevin Danso for Johnson to further shore things up, although he almost made an impact at the other end with five minutes to go, hurling himself at a free-kick delivered by captain Heung-Min Son, who had earlier replaced Richarlison, but he couldn't guide the ball on target from a tricky position.

United threw everything at us in the closing stages. Joshua Zirkzee's shot was blocked by Bissouma, Danso crucially got his head to Diallo's dangerous cross and Shaw sent a header towards goal from the centre of the box in another big chance, but again Vicario was there to keep it out. In the final seconds, Bissouma glanced a corner away and Garnacho fired into the side-netting - and that was that!

Match data

Goal: Spurs - Johnson 42.

Yellow cards: Spurs - van de Ven 49, Richarlison 57, Bissouma 68; Manchester United - Amad Diallo 35, Zirkzee 84, Maguire 88.

Referee: Felix Zwayer (Ger).

Venue: San Mames Stadium, Bilbao.

Weather: Light cloud, gentle breeze, light rain, 16 degrees.

Attendance: 49,224.