When Australian manager Ange Postecoglou was hired by Scottish football giant Celtic last year, the decision was met with plenty of trepidation and criticism from fans and pundits alike. Many felt that his success in the J-League, A-League and at international level didn’t justify his appointment – with his accomplishments often being portrayed as less than compared to the more prestigious European titles.
They were proven wrong. Postecoglou steered the famous club to an incredible Scottish League Cup/Scottish Premiership double with a win that saw his team overcome a 12-point deficit on the league table to bitter rivals Rangers.
Although Celtic have won nine of the previous ten league championships, it would be harsh to say that Postecoglou’s win was purely as a result of the enviable system that exists at Celtic. With shrewd transfers at opportune times along with his promotion of an offensive brand of football, the Australian manager well and truly stamped his authority on the 2021-22 season. That bodes well for the upcoming season, and if the sports betting exchange odds are anything to go – Celtic could be specials to repeat.
However, with great success comes even greater expectation, and if he is intent on repeating his efforts this season, he’ll need to display the same level of courage and brash confidence that has defined his managerial career to date. For those who still don’t know too much about the blunt and oftentimes abrasive Postecoglou, let’s take a look at his past experience as a manger in the top-flight and how that ultimately aided his hiring at the Glaswegian club.
Brisbane Roar
The A-League isn’t exactly known for its world-class standard or starpower, however, Postecgolou’s achievements in the premier football competition in Australia are not to be dismissed. Starting as manager at the Brisbane Roar in 2009, Postecoglou achieved glory just a few years later as he secured back-to-back titles with the club in 2011 and 2012. Most impressively, their two titles coincided with a record breaking 36-game unbeaten streak – eclipsing the previous Australian record across any sport that was set 74 years prior.
Socceroos
Following his success with the Brisbane Roar, the natural progression for Postecoglou was as the manager for the national team, the Socceroos. After a less-than-stellar 2010 FIFA World Cup, there was plenty of pressure on Postecoglou to emulate the Round of 16 result Australia achieved in 2006.
Yet, without a crop of elite players such as Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka and Mark Schwartzer at his disposal for the 2014 campaign, repeating the national team’s efforts in Germany in 06’ was always going to be a tall task. Although the Socceroos showed some bright spots throughout the tournament, they ultimately didn’t make it out of the group stages. That failed to deter Postecoglou however, who put any of the World Cup disappointment behind him to lead Australia to their first ever Asian Cup just a year later.
Postecoglou proceeded to manage the Socceroos for another two years, before announcing that he would be resigning from the job prior to the 2018 World Cup.
Yokohama F. Marinos
Another managerial role, another title. That appears to be a reoccurring theme in Postecoglu’s coaching career. Hired in 2017, the Australian guided the Japanese outfit to a title two years later, marking the first time Yokohama F. Marinos had won the J-League in 15 years.