Ange Postecoglou joining Glasgow giants Celtic would be huge for both club and manager, but the laughable online reaction of their massive fan-base proves just how big a job it will be.
Celtic fans have got it backwards if they think they’re taking a step down by signing Postecoglou.
If anything it’s Postecoglou who’s making the tough choice here. Not only is the J.League a far more technical competition than the Scottish Premier League but it’s also a much tougher league to win.
But what the East End of Glasgow offers that the port city of Yokohama doesn’t is access to one of the biggest and most passionate fan-bases in world football.
And haven’t we seen that in spades across social media over the past 48 hours.
The online reaction of Celtic fans to the news that one of the most closely watched and in-demand coaches in world football is about to join their club has been nothing short of astonishing.
Here’s a club that finished 25 points behind champions Rangers about to appoint their own Marcelo Bielsa, and their fan-base is reacting like Postecoglou is Alan Partridge.
Ange Postecoglou (Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
It’s been hard not to laugh. You’d think Celtic just downed Manchester City to win the UEFA Champions League on the weekend, such are the delusions of grandeur.
Never mind that Postecoglou steered an enthusiastic but limited Socceroos side to Asian Cup glory in 2015, beating Son Heung-Min’s technically excellent South Korean team in the final, to say nothing of the five domestic championships under his belt.
It was the 2019 J.League crown that well and truly put Postecoglou on the map of every serious club in Europe, with Yokohama F. Marinos simply tearing the Japanese top flight to shreds with their high-octane brand of relentless attacking football.
Not only did Postecoglou earn high praise from Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola after his F. Marinos side bossed City in a friendly, but the former Socceroos tactician proved to the City Football Group then that he was ready to take the next step up.
Celtic fans should consider themselves lucky to have even landed their man, because the prevailing wisdom was that Postecoglou might move to another CFG-backed club, with Spanish battlers Girona long considered a potential candidate.
Instead it looks like one of the game’s most fascinating managers is about to join one half of the Old Firm.
We all know Postecoglou loves a challenge, but the move is not without its potential pitfalls. Celtic fans labelling Postecoglou a ‘nobody’ is a reminder of how little fans in Europe value achievements from outside the continent.
And if Postecoglou was aggrieved with the sort of media coverage he received as Socceroos coach, that’s nothing compared to the pressure cooker that is the Scottish tabloid press.
That’s something he hasn’t had to deal with in the J.League, because not speaking Japanese means he’s largely been insulated from a lot of criticism.
He’ll also be moving from a country where players are conditioned to run through walls for their manager to one where Euro-sized egos are in play.
How Postecoglou manages the Celtic dressing room, let alone a multimillion-pound transfer budget, could well determine his fate.
But what he’ll mostly be judged on is results. As Celtic fans have made abundantly clear online, anything less than winning the Scottish Premier League will be considered a failure.
They’ve got the right coach for the job, then. Celtic’s powerbrokers have no doubt done their homework, and if the reports coming out of Japan are correct, they’re about to land their man.
Along with Leipzig’s newly appointed American manager Jesse Marsch, Postecoglou is waving the flag for football’s new world.
Succeed in Glasgow and a job in the English Premier League awaits.
But this is a tough gig with plenty of potential hurdles. Celtic’s unforgiving fan-base will make sure of that.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
Never mind, Corky, we all make mistakes!
Tom
Guest
no they wouldn't, the champions of england man city couldn't beat Celtic home or away
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
That's ok Corky. You're clearly passionate and are welded to the joys of Scottish football. As long as you cheer madly and keep a clean sheet under the tartan you should be fine :D
Corky
Roar Rookie
You've lost me. I'm assuming from the reply, Mr Tuckerman thinks that Yokohama can beat those teams I listed. If he does, I think that's absurd. Unlike Mr Tuckerman, I don't claim to be an expert. I'm a punter who watches football particularly Celtic. Whilst I don't necessarily agree with everything in his article, this Australian journalist gives a far more balanced view of Postecoglu possibly going to Celtic than your expert. https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemeehallwood/2021/05/30/who-is-ange-postecoglou-the-australian-linked-with-the-celtic-managers-job/?sh=64fa415c7ec4 If However Mr Tuckerman's reply is something more subtle then forgive me, I've missed it.
Punter
Roar Rookie
You can also add Neil Lennon to this group despite 5 premierships, never made it to the EPL, but he did have a go at his standard in the Championship. Maybe you & I have different ideas of direct football. Seen a little of Celtic because of Rogic. Not close enough to Ange to advice anything.
Corky
Roar Rookie
You clearly haven't watched Celtic if you think our style is direct. You couldn't accuse Rsngers of that in the past 4 season s either. If its Postecoglu you care about then you should be advising him not to take the job. That backwater as you call it has seen many a manager from abroad crash spectacularly. See Caixinha, Le Guen & Deila. The never made it to the EPL.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Individually, one plays well enough to be kept on for 5 Premierships, while the does well but club doesn't fight to hold him after 1 premiership & allows him to move to a Championship club.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
Individually, not as a team
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
You don't see the irony in your reply?
Punter
Roar Rookie
Rogic 5 premierships to McDonald 1 premiership says differently.
Punter
Roar Rookie
You mistake me in that I'm caring about Celtic, no, I'm interested at how he goes as a coach in this environment & see if he can step onwards to a PL club.
Punter
Roar Rookie
There are clubs all over the world, just ask Eddie or Gil or Kochie.
Corky
Roar Rookie
Ki Seung Yung, Shunske Nakamura, Tom Rogic, Mark Viduka, Bobo Balde. You don't need to tell me that there are literally thousands of footballers outside Europe who are top notch. If it was up to me, the coach I wanted at Celtic - Jesse Marsch - is American. Now I accept that he was never likely to come here (he was always going to a bigger league) but he had proved himself in environments where you think, he can handle the pressure of Glasgow. It is fairly unique. Any top 10 of football rivalries, will have Celtic v Rangers in it. The J League no doubt has some good players but I just don't there is nothing in it or Australian domestic football that sets you up for the intensity of Glasgow. I'm a Celtic fan, if Postecoglu is appointed, I am desperate for him to succeed. But I've watched the likes of Paul Le Guen and Ronnie Deila (who came with their own impressive records domestically) and get engulfed by the city. For me everything points to Ange suffering the same fate
Corky
Roar Rookie
Its not about Celtic's current position. You and the expert Mr Tuckerman say its a good move to hire a guy who takes at least a year (Postecoglu's own words) to get going properly. In the pressure cooker atmosphere of Glasgow you don't get a year. You may think that ridiculous but that is the environment. Celtic cannot just afford to hand Rangers £50M (and that's what winning the title with automatic CL Group stage entry means) Therefore Postecoglu is not the right man for Celtic
Corky
Roar Rookie
Confirms my suspicions that you're not an expert
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
It's an odd one. Kubo is 19 years old and playing La Liga yet couldn't get off the bench for Samurai Blue in last week's World Cup Qualifier. Meanwhile Scotland have one player in their entire squad playing outside of the UK.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
They need to beat Japan in rugby first.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
australian has generational african australian players coming through. I think by world cup 2026 we will see several african australian players in the team.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
rogic hasnt been a success in the slightest, replace his name with scott macdonald who scored goals for fun while at celtic
stu
Guest
I get the placement of the city group, however are we saying that one executive has elevated Ange to the top echelons of football coaching?