Ange Postecoglou has exceeded all expectations at Celtic and is now within touching distance of achieving legendary status in Glasgow!
The Unlikely Aussie Ready to Lead Celtic to Glory
Before Ange Postecoglou joined Celtic in 2021, many fans and critics were bagging the decision to hire, with people wondering what Australians know about football. However, those who were familiar with Postecoglou were quietly confident that the Aussie would make a big impact in Glasgow.
However, not even Ange’s own family could have imagined the success he would achieve at Celtic. In his two seasons, he has already won the Scottish Premiership twice and is on the cusp of completing the domestic treble, which has been completed 7 times in Celtic’s long history. Ange has secured the Scottish Premiership and the Scottish League Cup. Now the only thing stopping Celtic from the treble is Inverness Caledonian Thistle, who will take on Celtic in the Scottish FA Cup Final on June 4. You can live and bet on the Scottish FA Cup Final at GGBet and enjoy epic odds and welcome bonuses.
Where Did Ange Postecoglou Come From?
The 57-year-old was born in a suburb of Athens, Greece, in 1965, but a few years later, he hopped on a boat with his family and set off for Australia after the family lost their business following a military coup. Ange arrived in Melbourne as a 5-year-old, and it didn’t take long until he joined the local football club, South Melbourne Hellas.
Amazingly, Postecoglou spent his whole football career at South Melbourne, starting off as a 9-year-old before breaking into the first team in 1984 as a 19-year-old. He played 193 games for South Melbourne and won two titles in 1984 and 1991.
Postecoglou was coached by one of the greatest players of all-time Real Madrid star, Ferenc Puskás. Puskás made a big impact on Ange and heavily influenced his eventual coaching style, especially the 4–3–3 formation with rigid full-backs and attacking wingers.
Ange Postecoglou Previous Coaching Experience
After retiring in 1994, he immediately signed on as an assistant coach at South Melbourne before landing the head job in 1996. He quickly led South Melbourne to National League titles in 1998 and 1999, ending a long trophyless streak.
After conquering the national competition, he took over the role as Australia Under 20 and Under 17 coach. He was famed for identifying and nurturing talent, but after failing to qualify for the World Cup, he was fired.
He then spent time bouncing around minor clubs before becoming the head coach of Brisbane Roar. This is where the footballing world started to take notice. During his time in Brisbane, he led them to back-to-back A-League championships, which included a 36-game unbeaten streak.
Ange then took over the national team, where his crowning achievement was Australia’s 2015 victory at the Asian Championships, where Australia beat South Korea in the final. Things only got better for Ange as took over as the boss of Yokohama F. Marinos in 2018. In 2019 he led the Japanese team to their first J-League in almost 20 years!
Postecoglou Arrives in Glasgow
After achieving so much varied success at different clubs, it was no wonder that Celtic’s management thought they had uncovered a hidden gem when Ange took over in 2021. Despite having never coached in Europe before, Ange handled the pressure like a boss and instantly righted the ship. Celtic went from a struggling side to suddenly championship material.
Ange was able to overhaul the culture at Celtic. He brought in some fresh stars, particularly from Japan, and turned Celtic into an aggressive attacking team. The other teams in the Scottish Premier League didn’t know what hit them. In his first season, he led Celtic to the league title, losing only 3 games and recording an impressive 29 wins.
The Aussie manager didn’t rest on his laurels! This season he has again led Celtic to a Premiership title, a Scottish League Cup and now has the opportunity to go down in the history books by securing the Scottish FA Cup Final and the domestic treble.
Ange Postecoglou has done an amazing job turning Celtic around, who looked dismal back in 2020. His ultra-attacking 4-3-3 style featuring high levels of pressing has caused other teams fits. The Aussie also hit the jackpot when he signed Kyogo Furuhashi in 2021. The Japanese star has racked up 42 goals in just 52 appearances for Celtic. Another great Japanese signing was Daizen Maeda, who Ange coached at Yokohama F. Marinos. The winger has really invigorated Celtic’s attack.
Ange Postecoglou has dealt with the pressure incredibly well. He immediately shut the haters up by winning the League Cup even though Celtics were not the favourites, and the Aussie manager has been fearless in playing youngsters. He has backed the Celtic academy and integrated the likes of Anthony Ralston, James Forrest, and Stephen Welsh into his dangerous squad.
Will Postecoglou Stay at Celtic?
After achieving so much success in a short time and his previous nomadic history, it seems likely that Ange will eventually leave Celtic. Insiders are tipping Postecoglou to take over an English Premier club. He is in running the Tottenham job or potentially could take over at Leeds. Brighton, Everton, and Wolverhampton are all apparently interested in the Aussie manager. However, there is still a chance he stays at Celtic and tries to take the Scottish side deep into UEFA Champions League.
Wherever Postecoglou ends up, he is likely to surprise some doubters and find success. Comment below where you think Postecoglou will be coaching next year and how you rate him compared to other great Celtic coaches.
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