Celtic’s semi-final win over Rangers on Sunday sets up a Scottish Cup Final against Championship side Inverness Caledonian Thistle. A win in that fixture on June 3rd would see Ange Postecoglou’s all-conquering Hoops secure a rare treble, with the league all but secured and the League Cup already sitting in the foyer at Parkhead.
SPL Manager of the Year in 2021/22, Manager of the Month on seven occasions since his arrival at the start of last season (one wonders why there have not been more) and a win in the upcoming final will see Australia’s greatest ever football coach having claimed five major trophies from a possible six across just two seasons at the helm.
We all knew Postecoglou was a handy manager back in his South Melbourne days, let alone during his time at Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory. He took things to another level at Yokohama F. Marinos and whilst at the helm of the Socceroos, as our national team took possession of the Asian Cup.
However, this Scottish adventure that began amongst some ridicule and plenty of scepticism has been of stratospheric proportions in terms of silverware and sustained success.
Now, the pertinent question is, just what lies ahead for the 57-year-old and how big he is dreaming?
There has always been a coyness about Postecoglou, as well as a little arrogance and an embedded faith in his abilities that make him seemingly disinterested in criticism and uninformed opinion. In a nutshell, Postecoglou has always believed he is a world-class manager, despite what the Alan Brazils and Craig Fosters of the world might think.
His resume now validates that self-confidence in spades and it is best to ignore any commentary around the quality of the players at his disposal in Glasgow and the money that has been spent to strengthen what was a squad well off the pace of Rangers just a few short years ago.
If some people – and there are the odd few – are still unable to see his ability to impose a culture, build a football machine and demand the autonomy, freedom and ultimate responsibility to do so, then they never will.
Perhaps Postecoglou has his sights on a few more Scottish trophies. Maybe the lifestyle up north is suiting him well and there is simply no intention to depart at this stage of the rebuild of Celtic. Most concerning would be a few more seasons in Scotland, retirement from the coaching ranks and a move into the administrative side of the game or technical directing.
(Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Let’s face it, Postecoglou has little financial need beyond the riches that have come his way in recent seasons and is a committed family man.
Yet should the lure of an English Premier League gig keeps him up at night; the final frontier for a coach and one destined to provide ultimate personal validation in professional life, the man affectionately known as ‘Big Ange’ could have one further destination in mind.
There are numerous Premier League clubs in need of change and rejuvenation. The question is, do they have the guts and foresight to do what Yokohama and Celtic did and back in the man whose name many were whispering in their ears?
Jurgen Klopp has become a grumpy man and after climbing the mountain and possessing the fourth most valuable Premier League squad, he is overseeing a Liverpool team that looks stale and flat. There is a lovely connection between the Reds and Australia and the more you think about it, Postecoglou at Anfield might be a cosy fit. West Ham might have similar claims to Celtic’s manager, with many an Australian having ventured through Upton Park in days gone by and David Moyes is simply incapable of getting the best out of a group of perennial and expensive under-achievers.
One wonders what Postecoglou’s reaction would be should a call come through from the head office of Chelsea FC, a team worth plenty and desperately in need of a decent manager, or Tottenham, another team treading water as we speak and well off the pace of Manchester City and Arsenal this season and many others prior.
Sadly, there might just be a little too much arrogance and pride in those old English clubs, to lower themselves to seek the services of Postecoglou to right their ships and potentially prove to the football world once and for all, that he is as good as anyone in the business.
Yokohama and Celtic had the vision and guts required and were rewarded, and Postecoglou is no doubt equipped to take the next step should the opportunity arise.
Whether the England-based clubs have the same fortitude and Postecoglou is even willing to consider an offer is unknown. Yet after reading his coaching resume, how could anyone still be in doubt?
AGO74
Roar Rookie
I can only think he will go to EPL next despite some suggestions of going to Italy or Spain – Germany is maybe the only league where I think he’d go outside England. Personally, I think he’d be better off going to a club like Leicester or West Ham (assuming they stay up) who tend to be clubs that have patietce and give managers opportunity to make appropriate changes. This component of time to implement change has been critical to Ange’s success. Pretty sure at Celtic he lost more games in his first couple of months than he did in the next two years. Slightly off topic but for mine Ange’s top 3 managerial achievements are: 1) Yokohama F Marinos – taking a team which hadn’t won for almost 20 years and were non-competitive from a title perspective when he arrived. He turned them around and won the title in a highly competitive league. 2) Socceroos 2015 Asian Cup – re-building a team following the golden generation and introducing new players and tactics culminating with beating Korea in the 2015 final. 3) Celtic – yes, they only have to turn up and they will win 90% of their games but he has utterly destroyed the competition there at a time when Celtic had slipped behind Rangers and has done this in a manner which Celtic fans are waxing lyrical on the football played.
AGO74
Roar Rookie
Yokohama F Marinos anyone? Yes its not as advanced as Italy but it is on a far superior level to Scotland.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Levy is the Spurs owner, not Chelsea. Ange will be great wherever he ends up.
Grem
Roar Rookie
And Grand Final / Championship tickets are on sale through Ticketek for Commbank on June 3. I bought mine yesterday. I don’t support this concept, but I do support the A Leagues. Perhaps this is a good concept, perhaps not - let’s find out. If another state government had bought the grand final and supported football then I’d be buying airline tickets as well to be there.
NoMates
Roar Rookie
Why not? Ange is a fantastic coach and given the right resources he can achieve anything... just a worry thoue as the EPL is so cut throat he might not be given a chance to build what he needs.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Sorry are you saying Gasperini is moving on you just think he should?
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Well the longer you stay at a club, the more likely that you'll end up experiencing failure and that's no good for self belief and coaching saleability and marketability. I guess it's good to know when to get out - usually on a high, and not to stay around for the inevitable low. I think Ange has organised his career moves with dexterity. In Oz, setting up Roar with silverware then moving on to the bigger club Victory, then seeking out opportunities in Japan rather than trying for a Euro league. Success in Japan put him in the shop window for Europe. Scotland was a good stepping stone and Celtic had the financial wherewithal for him to bring in the players that he wanted. It worked a treat but now where to from here? I don't think the big EPL clubs would punt for him but a stint in the Championship might be attractive. Anyway, it's a fantastic achievement so far.
Simoc
Roar Rookie
The problem with Chelsea is that Chair, Levy, brought in the highly successful Brighton coach then sacked him a few months later. He is still credited with Brightons great season in EPL. Levy is the constant in all the failures and still at Chelsea. So don't go there Ange. I reckon another season in Scotland and Man City coach Guardiola may have had enough of success and gift Ange the job. He is a big Ange fan. But you don't see highly successful coaches say "I've had enough of winning" so I doubt that dream. So stay with Celtic until a job at one of the top 6 EPL clubs comes. M City, Man U, Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs, Liverpool, if it does.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
I would suggest you are correct in saying he wants to excel in Champions League. It's something Celtic have not done well for quite some time. I would also suggest that with the new players he has brought in, the first time round was to expose the lads to CL. Second time around, potentially different story. It's one thing to boss the SPL, but to go on and do it in the continental comp is a completely different ball game. I really hope they get somewhere in that regard. Not just for Ange's sake, but I've spent time in Scotland and the people were bloody marvellous, so for them too.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
7-8 years is a long time at a club (especially in one of the best leagues in the world) - im not certain he can take the atalanta any further then he already has. if juve can somehow find the money to bump allegri, then they should bring gasperini back to the club where his career started (rather than putting all there eggs in an expensive zidane sized basket) at the end of the day gasperini is content being in bergamo and given his age (late 60's) does he really want to rebuild a fallen giant? probably not he had a chance to walk away a couple season ago, but was persuaded by percassi (doesnt matter if its npl level, a league or in europe - its crucial that the manager and owner have a good relationship) to stay and help build a new side.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Roma is the toughest place to coach as far as I am concerned. They expect to win playing magic football. Roma is not the finished article and need to rebuild to a certain degree. Gasperini is not moving on as far as I know
Rellum
Roar Guru
He has talked about moving to the Portugal job
Paddy
Roar Rookie
Postecoglou loves Celtic. He is a brilliant fit for them and them for him. That said, I have no doubt that the lure of Celtic for the time being is the potential for him to make a big statement in Europe. For mine, he has one - maybe two seasons - left in Scotland and he will use Celtic's domestic domination as a stepping stone to make that statement and then move on to the EPL with a team that competes in Europe, or on the cusp of competing in Europe. He is a champion coach and any team would be lucky to have him. He will not go to a team of also rans.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
roma job is a poisioned chalice because of the boardroom and the fans - its an extremely high pressure position. (not that ange couldnt handle it) you have to remember ange is a 'builder', he wont get time to build if he goes to roma. atlanta makes perfect sense especially since gasperini has been there a while and they need to make the jump up to the next phase of thier evolution - rather than continually finishing just in or just outside the champions league places people forget that gasperini had a terrible start initially with atalanta, it was only after he had a sit down with the presidenet (percassi), that together they mapped out how they wanted to move the club forward he promoted academy players, recruited shrewdly from europe/south america and improved already existing players (sounds very ange like) gasperini completely changed the playing style to become more possession based and went from a back 4 to a back 3 (sounds very ange like) also factor in adelaide city is their australian feeder club and not much is expected of atalanta each season - a move to a side like this makes sense. their budget isnt huge either, it would be interesting to ange wheeling and dealing in the transfer market
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
Mike, "I wonder what effect a language barrier would have in other markets," What about the language barrier in Scotland??? :laughing: :laughing:
Sheffield WesDay
Roar Rookie
I agree in that a top 4 club in the EPL may not be the best move, as the will want immediate success. Ange has always taken some time to get the culture and ethos correct as well as bring in the key players he needs to complete the puzzle. I am not sure "the big four" will really allow him the time.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Should have specified “champions league” that is the barometer of where you are on a European basis. I’d say globally but someone will get offended at the idea.
Haydaze
Roar Rookie
If I was Angie I'd angle for a gig in the middle east and line my pockets
Mike Meehall Wood
Editor
Few points, Stu: 1 - Get my manager's name out of your god-damn mouth! Ange stays at Celtic forever :laughing: 2 - He's only interested in the UCL, for my money, and would only leave Celtic for a club that he realistically thought could offer him that in the near-term. A Big 6 PL club would be too arrogant and I wonder what effect a language barrier would have in other markets, so it'd have to be a Brighton/Villa/WHU type who are big-but-not-that-big in England. 3 - I like that you call them 'rare trebles' when Celtic have won four of them (going on five) in the last eight years. 4 - At the risk of winding up the entire comments section, you understandably see this through an Aussie lens, but literally nobody in Liverpool would think they have an Aussie connection. They've had three Australian players, ever, and one was a reserve keeper. They've had more from Finland, but I don't think they have a connection. They probably have more fans in Finland too.
Mike Meehall Wood
Editor
Much as I hate them, Rangers got to a European Final literally last year so hardly regular failures - and Celtic were good enough to defeat those European Finallists on multiple occasions pretty handily.