Once Eddie Howe had slipped through their fingers, the Celtic hierarchy had to scramble as quickly as possible to try and install a manager in time to rebuild a squad that can deliver success in the rapidly approaching new season.
The name that appeared at the top of the wish list is the Australian, Ange Postecoglou. His is not a name that will be instantly recognisable to fans of Scottish or European football tips, having plied his trade on the other side of the planet for most of his career.
Therefore, here are some of the most important things to know about this trailblazing manager who many are touting as Australia’s answer to Jürgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola.
He Was Big in Japan
The last club that was under the guidance of Postecoglou were Japanese outfit Yokohama F. Marinos, which he guided to an incredible league title in 2019 in only his second season in charge. This certainly flew in the face of football betting tips that had expected him to fail after an inconsistent first season in the J. League.
This title success ended a 15-year drought for Yokohama F. Marinos and also raised eyebrows because of the free-flowing nature of the football that his team demonstrated. The feat only bolstered a reputation that is huge in Asia and Australasia, and which is already garnering respect among Celtic fans who are looking to the betting odds and licking their lips at the value offered by bookmakers for Celtic to overhaul Rangers this season.
One thing that is for sure is that Postecoglou will have the Hoops playing in a similarly expansive style as Brendan Rodgers did, which no Celtic fan will complain about.
He Was Wanted by the Greek National Side
As his name suggests, although Postecoglou has Australian nationality he was in fact born in Greece, and the country has certainly not forgotten about its footballing son. This was evidenced by the Greek national side trying to tempt Postecoglou to take the reins in Athens.
Such an approach from the 2004 European champions shows just how highly regarded his managerial abilities are in certain quarters. It is also flattering for Celtic that he views the Glasgow club as a more attractive challenge than the one posed by the Greek national setup.
He Brings Attacking and Flowing Football
While winning is always the key metric used to measure the success of a manager, fans also expect a certain style of play from their team, so that they are kept entertained whether they be watching a high-profile European tie or a wind swept away day in the Scottish Highlands.
Most players who have plied their trade under the watchful eye of Postecoglou all concur that he likes his teams to attack and press high up the pitch. This was evidenced most clearly in his time at Yokohama F. Marinos where, in his first season in charge, his team scored more goals than any other, while also conceding the third highest number of goals in the league.
This means that while inconsistency could be an issue going forward, Celtic fans can at least expect some fun twists and turns on a Postecoglou-led journey. He will also make accurate football tips and predictions hard to come by.
He Established Australia as A Major Global Power
Although Postecoglou was most recently in Japan, it is in Australia where his influence has been most keenly felt. He has played a huge role in not only turning Australian club football into a serious proposition for fans to enjoy, but likewise the Australian national team, which he led from 2013 through till 2017, ultimately helping them qualify for World Cup 2018.
This shows that far from being a manager who specialises in delivering fleeting success, he is capable of building strong foundations from which a footballing dynasty can thrive. Nowhere in the footballing world is that more needed than in the green half of Glasgow, with Hoops fans desperate to see a major shift in power after Rangers’ SPFL triumph last season.
With his Greek roots, Postecoglou will only be too aware of the ins and outs of fierce football rivalries such as Panathinaikos vs. Olympiakos. He will certainly provide an intriguing counterpoint to Steven Gerrard’s all-action style of management. Hopefully the Celtic board will give him the time and financial backing he will need to do his job properly.