Rookie Ange to face up to UEFA’s Coach of the Year with 100 Champions League victories over 25 years!

Just over a year after joining Celtic Ange Postecoglou is about to pitch his plans against the greatest coach in world football- Carlo Ancelloti.

Soon after today’s Champions League draw was completed the Real Madrid boss was announced as UEFA’s coach of the year. Ancelotti polled more votes than Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola combined with the EPL duo finishing in second and third places.

Billy McNeill was the last Celtic manager to take a side to the Bernabeu Stadium, since that March day in 1980 trips to the Nou Camp and San Siro have been fairly frequent but the ultimate venue in European football has been elusive for generations of players and managers.

That opportunity could be as little as a fortnight away with September 6 and 7 set aside for Matchday One as Celtic return to the big time after a five year break.

Although Real won the Champions League by beating Liverpool in the Paris final they were shocked at home on Matchday 2 when they were beaten 2-1 by Moldovan champions Sheriff. That group also contained Inter Milan and Shakhtar Donetsk.

Announcing the latest award of Ancelotti’s incredible career UEFA stated:

The top six

1 Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid) – 526 points
2 Jürgen Klopp (Liverpool) – 210 points
3 Josep Guardiola (Manchester City) – 108 points
4 Oliver Glasner (Eintracht Frankfurt) – 75 points
5 Unai Emery (Villarreal) – 74 points
6 José Mourinho (Roma) – 51 points

Why did Ancelotti win the award?

The Italian returned to the club last summer and won the Spanish Liga before becoming the first coach to win the European Cup/Champions League for a fourth time after leading Madrid to glory in the 2022 final in Paris.

What is the UEFA Men’s Coach of the Year award?

For this award, coaches in Europe, irrespective of nationality, have been judged in regard to their impact over the whole season in all competitions – both domestically and internationally – at either club, or national team level.

How was he chosen?

An initial shortlist of six coaches was selected by UEFA’s technical study group.

The top three nominees were voted by a jury comprising the following:

• The clubs that participated in the group stages of the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League

• A group of journalists selected by the European Sports Media (ESM)

Jury members chose their top three coaches, with the first receiving five points, the second three and the third one. Coaches were not allowed to vote for themselves.

The win over Liverpool was the 100^th Champions League victory of Ancelotti’s career, from 179 matches stretching back to season 97/98 with Parma.

CLICK HERE for Ancelotti’s European record at six different clubs.