There have been some contrasting reactions between Australia and England to the news that Ange Postecoglou has signed on as manager of Premier League giants Tottenham.
Postecoglou ended his time in the east end of Glasgow the same way he started – with a trophy.
Having collected the Scottish title and League Cup in his first season in charge of Old Firm giants Celtic, the former Socceroos manager went one better and claimed a deserved treble when Celtic added the Scottish Cup to a clean sweep of domestic trophies this time around.
As expected, Celtic eased to a 3-1 win over second-tier Highland outfit Inverness Caledonian Thistle last weekend, with Japanese star Kyogo Furuhashi bagging his 34th goal in all competitions to open the scoring and send the Hoops on their way to another title.
Postecoglou made the former Vissel Kobe star his key signing in Glasgow, and the fleet-footed front man has responded by scoring 54 goals in just 83 appearances so far.
Then, just as quickly as Postecoglou arrived at Parkhead, he was off.
The rumour mill had already lurched into overdrive even before Celtic lifted the Scottish Cup, with Postecoglou playing a typically Aussie straight bat to the pre-game suggestion he was set to join Tottenham.
But to anyone who knows anything about him, it was no huge surprise when he did.
Postecoglou has spent his whole life working towards an opportunity like this – and it’s not like the chance to manage a club like Spurs comes along every day.
After multiple trophies in Glasgow, Ange has a new challenge (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
And with former Melbourne Heart and long-time City Football Group executive Scott Munn starting in a new chief football officer role on July 1, Postecoglou will know at least one familiar face around Hotspur Way.
Munn once tried to lure Postecoglou to AAMI Park during his tenure at Melbourne Heart, and more recently he’s been running the City Football Group’s operations in China.
The English press has predictably honed in on the fact that both men are Aussies, and just as when he signed for Celtic, Postecoglou will once again have to win over a sceptical fan-base.
For a certain type of supporter, winning two Scottish premierships isn’t enough – let alone the J. League, the A-League, the National Soccer League, and an Asian Cup in charge of Australia.
It’s one of the most tiresome elements of modern football – this ‘always on’, forever complaining class of digital addicts who seem to spend 24 hours a day bemoaning every single decision a club makes.
One fan on Twitter even started a ‘No To Postecoglou’ social media campaign – presumably because the erstwhile Celtic manager isn’t as big a celebrity as the likes of German coach Julian Nagelsmann and Spanish tactician Luis Enrique.
But that won’t bother Ange. In an era when so many spend all their time talking, Postecoglou has simply gone about the business of winning trophies.
And in the process, he’s shattered the notion that Australians don’t belong at the elite level.
He’s done so while remaining true to his philosophy of playing attacking, entertaining football.
And as the Athens-born son of a Greek migrant in Melbourne, he knows all about what it means to be an outsider.
None of which is to suggest that Postecoglou will find things straightforward in North London. There are no easy games in the Premier League, and Spurs fans are some of the most passionate around.
With star striker Harry Kane in Real Madrid’s sights, it wouldn’t be a big surprise to see Postecoglou convince Kyogo to join him on a new adventure down south.
And in a week in which Australian football lost a legend with the passing of former Socceroos manager Rale Rasic, it’s humbling to see one of our own carry the torch.
If anyone understands the ups and downs of Australian football, it’s Ange Postecoglou.
Perhaps the reason we’re so proud to see him named Tottenham manager is simply because he’s one of us.
Grem
Roar Rookie
It appears he will be staying on. I haven’t heard about any change.
At work
Roar Rookie
We've definitely got different types of twitter extremes from Aus to Europe.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Australias twitter scene is another level of hysteria over Europe, the difference is the Australian twitter scene like Ange especially now he is not in the A-league, in Europe they bash each others teams and leagues on club and national lines, in Australia its bash the A-leagues first and foremost Euro worship the bum out of everyone there and pretend the NSL used to be great. The journos in Europe dont back their twitter crazies up with articles, here the journos actually worship and copy them.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Spurs fans in UK, not Australians
Garry
Roar Rookie
"Patrick Kisnorbo was appointed by Troyes in November with the aim of keeping the club in the top tier of French football, but after a 4-0 loss to Rennes on Sunday night AEST, the first Aussie to ever coach in Europe’s top five leagues has succumbed to relegation."
Para+Ten ISUZU Subway support Australian Football
Roar Rookie
FiL - Fantastic result.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Do you honestly think Scott Munn is going to risk his position and reputation on a decision that was deemed a long shot. Not bloody likely.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
and the lads beat the Mexicans in Toulouse. Go the Olyroos
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Son, definitely not, not sure about Kane
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
you bet he will, and I have this theory that he puts it to them straight. You either want to be successful and put the team first, or it's about you being a special person. You make the choice, one means you stay, one means you go. And I don't think he would sugar coat it. That's why he works so well with the Japanese, they are loyal no end, they have the work ethic of ten men and they want to be respected, so they have no fear, they go hard. If you haven't had a look at the J-League, your missing out.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Love your work Stevo. If you didnt find the GF to be quality football, you know nothing about football I would suggest. I had two Eurosnobs watching it with me, and the looks on their faces was priceless. Especially with the headed goal from Nkololo in the second half.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
I would suggest that there is one possible patch of common ground. Regardless of who you support other than City, you would be jumping out of your skin if Ange did manage to serve it up to City.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
are those fans Poms or Australians? There were a lot of unhappy Jocks when they announced Ange at Celtic, and the outcome of that was that there was more than one apology issued when they saw the results of Ange’s work. I really hope that is the case this time around. Nothing would make me happier than seeing Ange taking it to “Chequebook Pep”
Nick
Roar Rookie
nope. cutbacks these days, mostly at the back of the plane now....sigh.
Voice of Reason
Roar Rookie
No offence taken! Most of the criticism I have read and listened has come from ignorant numpties with no credibility, who prove it after a few statements. “Look at Steven Gerrard!” Jeez, what a comparison. “Celtic always win in Scotland” – except the year before he arrived, when Rangers won by 25 points. Etc. Let’s listen to the Celtic fans and the players who have played for him – almost universal support. Plus most Spurs fans who have been through “proven winners” like short-term, money-grabbing, not my fault narcissists like Mourinho and Conte, hapless Nuno and poor stopgap Ryan Mason (twice) have been screaming for a long-term strategy, with a plan and a project manager, who plays attractive attacking football. A 4-year contract says that Daniel Levy has listened, this time to the right people rather than the entitled “win a trophy now” crowd.
Aiden
Roar Rookie
France and Ireland are the best in the world at the moment. Rugby is largely about results at international level. Eddie Jones is the only possible comparator, he has won at club and international level although he does not actually have the same level of wins as a Ange. Having said that, context is everything. Just making a 'who even plays the game' comparison as Mike does is silly. For example, within the context of the sport coaching Japan to beat South Africa (which was no fluke, he specifically targeted them) was an incredible achievement ... perhaps like coaching New Zealand to beat Argentina in a FIFA WC, but actually more impressive because of the way rugby is set up (high scoring game, you can't hide by getting a fluke goal and then parking the bus). Still ... no need to run the rule over them both, as a rugby and football fan I am firmly of the view that Ange is our greatest ever coach.
At work
Roar Rookie
People talk about the toxic nature of sokkah twitter in respect to Australia's game, but European football twitter is the worst. It's best to ignore it. Although from what I have seen I feel there's more support then against Ange, with plenty of people online seeing his results and playing style as a good opportunity for Spurs.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
For a Kiwi you know a lot about rugby. Top flight? England rugby league used to be the top flight in the 50's. Rugby union the top flight would be NZ teams followed by South Africa. Kiwis are chokers Australia used to be more competitive when they had less teams. You could say in highest money to lure players and coaches Japan,England, France are the top flight. Thats like saying Saudi Arabia are the top flight because they are paying Ronaldo 8 times what he earnt in Europe. They best and youngest players are in NZ. The Pacific islands are like Africa but even poorer .
chris1
Roar Rookie
I agree. Kane is not going to press like the energetic players Ange insists on having. Will be an interesting off season. If Ange allows Kane to depart it won't sit well with the Spurs fans, but in the long run it would be the smart thing to do.
chris1
Roar Rookie
Interesting point. I'm not sure if Spurs have that in their current squad? The 2 biggest players Kane and Son don't come across as being difficult egos.