Ange Postecoglou won’t be hanging around to see if the formality of his Celtic side officially being crowned champions of Scotland happens on Sunday.
Instead, he reckons he’ll be off to the movies with his kids in Glasgow to watch ‘The Bad Guys’ while Rangers embark on a mission impossible at Ibrox to keep their doomed Premiership title hopes somehow still flickering.
Meanwhile, Celtic fans will still be toasting their favourite Australian ‘Good Guy’, who’s restored the feelgood factor at Parkhead by all but sealing Celtic’s 52nd Scottish championship.
Their love affair with Postecoglou was there for all to see on Saturday as he blew kisses towards a sea of green following the 4-1 win over Hearts that, all but mathematically, guarantees the title.
It puts Celtic nine points clear of Rangers, who have three games left but also have a 22-goal deficit to make up.
The title will be officially Celtic’s if Rangers don’t win their match at home to Dundee United.
If they do win, Postecoglou’s men could cement their triumph with a point at Dundee United on Wednesday.
Would Postecoglou be glued to news of the Rangers game?
“As I’ve said before, my boys take charge,” smiled the dad-of-three.
“There’s a new flick out called ‘The Bad Guys’, so that’s on the agenda.”
However Celtic’s victory is concluded, though, Postecoglou recognised it was a day for celebration for the 60,000-strong crowd.
“There is nothing wrong with enjoying the journey,” he said.
“It’s not always just about the destination.
“I thought it was a top performance from the boys and for us that’s the greatest reward you can get – to see the joy it brings other people.
“Whether that’s your own family and the people who love you, or the supporters who love this football club.
“I said to the players there’s many ways to hit a finish line but it’s always nicer if you burst through it, so that’s what we plan to do in the next couple of games.”
The joyous scenes were testament to the remarkable influence former Socceroos boss Postecoglou has had since taking over a demoralised club in June last year.
Celtic had lost their way as Rangers ruled the Scottish roost but Postecoglou, originally perceived at Parkhead as ‘Ange who?’, has become a cult figure after rejuvenating their fortunes.
The 56-year-old has restored the club’s attacking identity while bringing in fresh ideas and personnel as his new-look Celtic have taken two trophies in his opening season following the League Cup success in December.
It felt fitting that Celtic’s victory on Saturday should come courtesy of goals from four of Postecoglou’s inspired signings – Daizen Maeda, Kyogo Furuhashi, Matt O’Riley and Giorgos Giakoumakis.
Hearts had spoiled the party atmosphere early with a third-minute goal from Ellis Sims before Maeda and Furuhashi, both identified by Postecoglou during his successful spell in Japan, hit back before the break.
English-born Denmark Under-21 international O’Riley then fired in the decisive third after the break, before Greek international Giakoumakis sealed the deal in the final minute.
It all enhances Postecoglou’s standing as the most successful manager Australian soccer has ever produced.
He’s coached title-winning teams in his homeland at South Melbourne and Brisbane Roar, in Japan with Yokohama F. Marinos and now Scotland, as well as taking the Socceroos to the World Cup after guiding them to the Asian Cup title.
Not Surprised
Guest
:laughing: :silly: you literally just resorted to your MO in that reply. You're funny dude.
David V
Guest
That's what I meant. Not too long ago the prospects for Scottish football seemed gloomy, they were destined to become also-rans and an irrelevance in European football. There isn't the huge representation of Scots in English football like there used to be, sort of parallels with Australia at that. But players like Andy Robertson have been winning medals with Liverpool in recent times, and he came to them the good old-fashioned way. So yes, there is a case for a more positive narrative around the Scottish game where you have improving results in Europe, coaches like Gerrard and now Ange, and one of the best per capita attendance rates anywhere. It's also relevant to ask how countries like Turkey have slipped down the rankings and nations like Romania and Bulgaria which once produced superb teams are now also-rans. Croatia and Serbia on the other hand continue to deliver.
chris
Guest
But Scottish football is on the up. Obviously not where they were a generation ago, but some signs of life at club level and also national level.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
i'll take a bite, but after this post you’ll get no more replies liberal? last time i checked i wasn’t a lefty :) i wasn’t discrediting the OP in any way shape or form, merely laughing at the claims of Scotland being on the up the OP's last paragraph is jumping between club and country without differentiating the 2 he says UEFA rankings and doesn’t include the word "coefficient" or club side, then he mentions rangers and finally scotland in world cup qualifying. If you went straight to coefficients, well done for you ???? But dont be one of 'those' sensitive sam people that social media is famous for, next thing you'll be going through my spelling and telling me off for not making my I’s or the first letter of a country, a capital lol
Coastyboi
Guest
We like the Secret Scout. He’s information is insightful, & keep in mind, it’s also opinion. Sure we don’t always agree, but he’s input is valid, plus, it spurs conversation. “Not Surprised” is a very random name. You need to post more content & comments online to be taken seriously. Sorry in advance. Your opinion is welcomed. Thank you.
Not surprised
Guest
Again no surprise with your response, can't any you're wrong, provide misleading information and then if alternative information doesn't suit you - discredit it. Are you a scout for the Liberal party? The original comment mentioned UEFA rankings and even mentioned the success of Rangers - so yes, most people would assume the club coefficients. Of course it is easy to jump to the conclusion he meant FIFA world rankings, but you didn't query that you laughed at him and suggested he's drunk. Great contribution.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
My stupidest decision was to take a special 5 year deal to get the SMH delivered almost the second I renewed with 5 year special deal it turned bad.. I suppose it would be losing them lots of money now with delivery costs so not all bad. In the print edition there is nothing on the A-league its like a blanket ban.
At work
Roar Rookie
I wouldn't mind the amount of Ange and Celtic SMH articles in the 'Soccer' section if they were balanced out by A League stories, but you're lucky to get a new a League article every 2-3 days. They also post up more articles about the EPL and UCL (admittedly because they/Ch.9 have the rights to UCL) than Australian content, does my head in.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
"you are absolutely, completely and utterly wrong!" :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: world rankings https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/men?dateId=id13603 uefa rankings https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/men?dateId=id13603 they're very close to also dropping down 3 more spots :laughing: if you're talking club co efficents (which the original poster didnt specify - then you could claim top 10 (and thats only because celtic/rangers alone, can outspend every other secondary european league) russia, serbia, belgium, switzerland, turkey and croatia are far more 'technical' leagues compared to scotland
Not surprised
Guest
God help Australian youth with you as a scout. Once again, as you are in 7 out of 10 comments you make, you are absolutely, completely and utterly wrong!
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
Lol you've been drinking way too much Guinness, Scotland are nowhere near the top 10 in uefa or world rankings. They're barely above Australia, Scottish national team is absolute pants
David V
Guest
I don't think many people here know just how brutal managing Rangers or Celtic can be because it's a two-horse race of one trying to outdo the other. The pressure on managers to deliver is unbelievable. Up until the 80s Scottish football was competitive with nearly every English club side having Scottish players, the national team qualifying for World Cups and Scottish clubs doing well in Europe. It won't be like those heady days again, but Scottish football looks to be on the up again with Scotland now in the top 10 UEFA rankings, Rangers in the Europa final and Scotland in the WC play-offs.
Coastyboi
Guest
Bulldogs to win the NRL grand final? Te-he-he. Ange says hi.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Ange resume very impressive regardless of the SPL duopoly. If people are having a crack at Scotland what about Germany & France. Plenty of pressure in that role and Ange has handled it very well. His next challenge is to get Celtic going in Europe. Do that and the English Clubs will come knocking.
David V
Guest
To be sure, Bodo/Glimt's run was no fluke - Norwegian football has also been enjoying a revival of late.
dennis
Guest
Yep Rangers achievments this year much bigger than Celtic. Winning Europa dwarfs winning SPL but as usual the press here don't see it that way. Pathetic SMH coverage of Ange from a newspaper that gives the A League minimal coverage. Do we continually have to read about "Sam Kerr's" Chelsea or "Rogic's" Celtic ? Do we need an Aussie name to help us identify the team or story. Frankly poor coverage and laughable.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Brilliant. Simply. There is no better than the joy we bring to the faces of others! How true.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The number of Ange articles is ridiculous. Amazingly the SMH have done a big Ange article on top of other Ange articles and have not had an article on the A-league for the whole season. Is this part of a concerted campaign of discriminatory non coverage because the A-league is on Paramount while football on other streaming services get coverage. The other thing about the SMH is there article on Luc Longley claiming he is responsible the for the Sydney Kings success, while not even mentioning the actual coaches name.
Gags
Roar Rookie
The Bhoys!!???? Haters, and losers, going to hate????
Micko
Roar Rookie
Yeah, Scotland is a bit of a joke with the Celtic & Rangers duopoly. I've never seen a different winner of their league. I think it was around 40 years ago since the duopoly was upset?