Opinion
To the surprise of many, after all the discussion which surrounded the previously vacant position at Tottenham Hotspur, Ange Postecoglou was confirmed as manager last week. The Australian is now eager to prove the doubters wrong on the biggest stage in club football.
While numerous critics in the footballing world may perceive the newly appointed Australian as an ‘inexperienced nobody’, inadequate for the ‘poison chalice’ of a Premier League job, Big Ange’s highly decorated resume in football portrays otherwise.
Prior to his appointment at Spurs, Postecoglou has already had a highly impressive 27 years of managerial experience and achievement.
This includes multiple A-League championships, World Cup qualification and an Asian Cup triumph with the Australian national team, success in Japan at Yokohama, along with a domestic double and treble in Scotland with Celtic FC.
Apart from Ange’s polished background in management, Tottenham Chairman Daniel Levy would have also been attracted to the Aussie’s unique recruitment philosophy and excellent man-management of established players at the clubs he has managed.
These strengths were seen especially through Postecoglou’s most recent stint in Glasgow with Celtic, where he was able to consistently acquire shrewd buys through the Asian market, from his experience working in the J-League in years prior.
In particular, young talents Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and Oh Hyeon-Gyu were able to hit the ground running upon arrival in Scotland, totaling a combination of 27 goals in all competitions, this season.
And who can forget the impact from one of the greatest bargains in SPL history (4.5 million pounds), the 2022/23 golden boot winner Kyogo Furuhashi, who bagged 27 league goals in the league this season?
The prolific Japanese forward also flourished from the get-go, through his impressive off-ball movement and eye for goal, which instantly propelled himself as another controlling component in Postecoglou’s treble-winning side.
Ange’s stint in Scotland also reaped success through increased enhancement of important pieces of Celtic’s XI, specifically club captain, Callum McGregor.
Prior to Postecoglou’s arrival, the Scottish international was already a crucial part of previous sides’ play. However, the midfielder’s role has since been elevated dramatically through the Australian manager’s dominant, possession-based system, thriving as the side’s single, central pivot.
In this role, McGregor worked as the ‘centre-piece’ to a side that managed over 70% on possession on average, through a near-perfect pass completion rate of 92% (whoscored.com), which allowed the veteran skipper to operate as the ‘base’ to all that the Hoops created, during Ange’s rein.
Now, as Postecoglou moves onto his next chapter, fans at his new club may also have reason to be excited for a change of ‘scenery’, footballing rhythm and ideology on the pitch at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, next season.
Whilst Lilywhite supporters have had to settle for consecutive unsuccessful campaigns involving dull, pragmatic and defensive approaches from past managers, ‘Big Ange’ will hope to provide increased optimism to the struggling North London side, through his expansive, intense and high pressing tactical game-plan.
(Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
However, the extent to which Spurs chairman Daniel Levy decides to ‘back’ his newest appointment may have a major impact on the Aussie’s chances of success in the Premier League.
The constant chop and change of managers such as Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, along with the vast amounts of players across the pitch that fail to fit the mould of how Postecoglou would like to play will likely heighten the pressure weighing on the new coach’s shoulders.
It most certainly won’t be an easy task and the Aussie will definitely need some time, but it’s not the first highly pressurised situation Ange has experienced in his career.
From when he came in at Celtic as a perceived nobody, guaranteed to be sacked before Christmas, all the way back to the beginning in Australia. He has had his doubters. Proving critics wrong, every step of the way.
We will see soon enough, how Postecoglou’s newest chapter at Tottenham Hotspur will begin to pan out as his Spurs begin their 2023/24 preseason down-under next month. They play A-League side Perth Glory, on the 18th of July.
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