Australian Ange Postecoglou, manager of Scottish champions Celtic, has opened up on his incredible time at the club – and what comes next.
Postecoglou broke records in Australia with Brisbane Roar, led the Socceroos to the 2014 World Cup and a first Asian Cup in 2015, before an incredible league title with Yokohoma F Marinos in Japan. This led to the Scottish giants signing the Australian mastermind – a move that surprised many pundits and fans given his lack of managerial experience in Europe.
The Aussie toppled the struggling side and led them to a league and domestic cup double in his debut campaign, with the club currently leading Old Firm arch-rivals Rangers in the Scottish Premiership race of this year.
But he’s had little time to reflect on his impressive accomplishments so far.
Postecoglou told foxsports.com.au: “Somehow, especially here, the world of football moves quite quickly, so you don’t have a lot of time to think.
“But for me the main thing is that I wanted to come here and kind of have an impact from a football perspective, in terms of getting the team to play in a certain way and getting the fans excited about football. that we’re going to play. And I think we’ve started that process. And certainly, the last 15-16 months that I’ve been here, we’ve established ourselves as a football team that plays in a certain way and that, I think, resonates well with the fans of this football club.
“And for me, that’s always going to be the key driver to keep improving that, to keep building on that. And I hope you create things that the fans can be proud of.
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Ange reveals ‘key’ to World Cup success – and why Socceroos can ‘make an impact’ in Qatar
Postecoglou are renowned for their high-pressure attacking tactics and defences, with their teams teeming with opponents without possession – and often tearing down their defenses when they have the ball. It’s an approach that demands a lot of its players, and many believed it wouldn’t stand up to scrutiny in Scotland.
But the Australian tactician never wavered in his belief that his methods could work, despite the legacy of a side that had struggled the previous season, falling short of the title chase by a whopping 25 points.
“A lot of those things, I was well aware of what I was getting into. It’s not like it was totally unfamiliar to me, what I was getting into at the club level I was taking, the size of the club, the expectations around the club. And from my perspective, every time I’ve taken on a challenge, it’s been about making sure that (I stay true to my ideals). I’m confident in my ability to produce football teams that play a certain way.
“It was just (about) what was the process that was going to get us there? Again, I had a pretty clear idea of what I was getting into, and from my perspective, it’s actually that I thought it would work out well, because I kind of realized that the passion people for football here was exactly what I was looking for. ”
Celtic’s brilliant performances – and their attractive brand of football – have prompted strong reports of interest from several Premier League clubs. Postecoglou brushed off those rumors, which is no surprise given his dedication to the ongoing project.
When asked if he had ever taken calls from Premier League clubs, Postecoglou laughed it off.
“It doesn’t work like that mate, I don’t answer calls!” I have a rather private number. And people go through different channels for that. But that doesn’t come on my radar.
“Right now, I’m really focused. I have a huge job. And like I said, we’re just building a side here. And I never looked too far ahead. If you look at my career, it’s kind of gone to places where I’ve always been challenged, and right now the challenge is there. And I appreciate that, we’re always building something here.
“I don’t change that focus from whatever outside noise there may be about me. It’s no different from being a player. If you do well, of course, you attract attention. But none of that happens unless you do the job that you do very well.
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This season, Celtic are taking part in the Champions League proper for the first time in 2016-17. They have failed to hit their stride so far in Europe’s top tournament – but Postecoglou provided a hallmark response when asked about his continental campaign.
“Yeah no, I wasn’t going to win the Champions League in my first year. So, you know, I think it’s one thing to say we’ve had success (domestically), but success can be measured in many ways, and for us it’s about how we play our football and, you know, this year’s Champions League is our first time in five years. games, were really competitive. We tried to play the way I want us to play. And, you know, I’m really proud of that.
“We failed, it’s something we need to improve. And the areas where we miss, it is especially in the last third that we did not try our luck. But from my perspective, it’s about building a football team that plays a certain way. And, you know, this is sort of our first foray into Europe and into the Champions League, the toughest competition in the world. We’ve shown that’s the approach we’re going to take and for me that’s the main thing.
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Postecoglou is the first Australian to succeed in the men’s competition, but he’s not focused on that special achievement.
“For me, that’s part of what I do as a manager,” he said. “What’s most important is that the club is at this level, because I represent a huge football club that has a great history and a great tradition and an incredible fan base, and that’s the level. they want to compete in. This is where my responsibility comes into play.
“You know, all the experiences I’ve had in my managerial career, whether it’s World Cups or domestic leagues around the world, and the success I’ve had, are things I will reflect on. at the end of my career. But the greatest pride I feel right now, what is special is that I brought this football club back to the level it wants to be. Now my role is to continue to ensure that we are competitive at this level.
The Premier League can wait.
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Ange reveals ‘key’ to World Cup success – and why Socceroos can ‘make an impact’ in Qatar
Postecoglou will also share his journey with Australian fans at two special events next month, “An Evening with Ange Postecoglou – The Journey So Far” presented by TEG Live. Tickets for events in Sydney and Melbourne are available now from this link.
