Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic revolution continues to impress. After a shaky start to life at Parkhead last season (Celtic lost three of their first six league games), pressure begun to mount on the new Hoops manager.
However, soon after, Postecoglou’s aggressive and full throttle game style came to fruition. The Bhoys did not lose another league game all season, leading to Celtic being crowned Scottish champions in his first season as manager.
Postecoglou’s second season in charge has seen even greater domestic dominance by Celtic. With ten games of their 38-game season remaining, Celtic have lost just once, to St. Mirren in September. They sit nine points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a goal difference of +70.
Postecoglou’s team also recently won back-to-back Scottish League Cups. If the Scottish Cup is won in June, Postecoglou’s team will have won the domestic treble in just his second year in charge.
Postecoglou’s attractive, high possession game style is both effective and enjoyable to watch. His Celtic team is abundant with technical players who are attacking minded, allowing Celtic to hold the ball for long periods in the opposition’s half.
Postecoglou has been masterfully shrewd in the transfer market to further solidify Celtic’s position at the top of the Scottish football tree. His experience managing in the J-League saw him able to attract savvy signings such as Japanese internationals Kyogo Furuhasi, Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate to Glasgow. Postecoglou has also used his experience with the Socceroos to sign fellow Aussie Aaron Mooy on a free transfer from Chinese Super League side Shanghai Port.
Aaron Mooy has joined Postecoglou at Celtic. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Despite possessing a lesser transfer budget than other European heavyweights, Postecoglou has also permanently secured the likes of Filipe Jota from Benfica to further strengthen his squad’s depth.
Despite Celtic’s domestic dominance, the club struggled in this season’s Champions League. Celtic finished bottom of Group F and was unable to win any of their six group matches, losing four and drawing two. Whilst positive glimpses were shown, they were ultimately outclassed by more experienced European opposition.
With domestic dominance firmly entrenched at Celtic, what does Postecoglou’s managerial future contain for next season and beyond? He has been the subject of the Premier League manager rumour mill this season. EPL strugglers Leeds and West Ham are reportedly interested in acquiring his services.
Would current opportunities to manage in the Premier League entice Postecoglou to leave Glasgow? It seems unlikely in the short term.
At Celtic Park, Postecoglou currently has the stability that football manager’s dream of. He is winning trophies regularly, has a Board of Directors that endorses his position unequivocally and a fanatical fanbase that adores him.
Ange Postecoglou is the taste of Glasgow. (Photo by Rob Casey/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Celtic have also demonstrated that they are willing to provide Postecoglou with the financial ammunition to enhance his squad to Champions League standard. The appeal of competing in the Champions League next season with Celtic is also a key advantage that few other European clubs can offer the Australian.
Postecoglou has reaffirmed this position at Celtic, stating recently that he “couldn’t be happier” in Glasgow. He is obviously keen to continue to ride the winning wave at Celtic, with Champions League competitiveness next season a key priority. Longer-term, a future in the Premier League may await for the ex-Socceroos manager, particularly if qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League occurs next year for Celtic.
stu
Guest
Historically Ange is a 'Plan A' type coach only. That has worked in a low technical league such as the aleague and seems to be working in the SPL. However, introduce Champions or Europa league, or for that matter the EPL which has been mentioned here, and in that I think he will struggle. I can't see evidence of his ability to be flexible in his coaching. Flexibility did not happen in the aleague and fortunately it took some time for the others to work it out, and with Celtic he has the cash to simply buy much better players than the others causing an immediate imbalance. The top level in European football demands the ability to read the signs for change during the game, one trait I don't think Ange can possess.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Hope Ange goes or does well at his next club who ever that is...
dennis
Guest
Reckon he will need to prove himself in the Championship first. I don't think that Rangers nor Celtic would make it out of the Championship. They are both middle table teams. So Ange for an EPL top four team (whoever that might be ?) I don't think so.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
Whatever else he does Ange has had a magic effect on Aaron Mooy, who has lost weight and gained pace and is playing brilliantly.
Aiden
Guest
I think he’d struggle with a lower mid table side for sure. He might move them up a few positions and then get frustrated. With backing and a budget, I think he’d do well at Spurs. I think he’s proven he can improve a team with an already good squad and a few astute singings. He can be stubborn true. He’s been slightly more pragmatic than he was as Socceroos coach, but he was found at at CL level as his players just were not good enough to execute at that higher level. However, at Spurs say … I think he’d get them purring.
The Ball Bobbled
Roar Rookie
A good tactician and motivator however huge difference between the two team Scottish premiership and the EPL- I think he could do wonders with the Socceroos but cant see him coming back - pity
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
Spurs are a club who pride themselves on playing a certain way which involves free flowing attacking football. No doubt Ange fits that criteria more than Conte. The question is if Ange is ready to lead a big club who are desperate for some kind of silverware. For me, you can’t say he has the required experience at that top level. Tactically, there’s still a few question marks due to his stubborn approach when his in a situation where a game is crying out for changes. Although Conte hasn’t got the results he hoped for so far, he’s a results driven manager more than the type of football that is displayed, which to be fair still sees them 4th in the EPL. When things start to go wrong, that’s when Ange could find himself in a bit of trouble
Marcel
Guest
Celtic's budget might by small by European standards but it's extravagant compared to the teams it actually plays against.. currently more than x20 the lowest in the SPL. Ange to the EPL ? The man doesn't seem to have the temperament for a mid table struggle or relegation battle. His time at Celtic has been as close to perfect as possible...but he has still managed a couple of bristling interviews on the rare occasions things haven't gone exactly his way. We are also talking about a coach who said no to the WC in order to protect his personal brand...So no, you can expect to see him in a lower tier mugging kids...He will mostly stay in the type of league where having no Plan B is not terminal...and that's his greatest shortcoming. It would be a very brave move for someone like Spurs to appoint him...but I'd be excited by the possibilities....it could be spectacular, or just as easily go spectacularly wrong....but it would be compulsive viewing.!
Brendan
Roar Pro
Prior to Ange going to Celtic FC, I had no affinity with the Scottish Premiership. However, now I’m hooked. Postecoglou could easily carve out a glorious existence at The Hoops, comfortable for years, but the EPL is calling. Honestly, I could only see him going to a Big Four club.