I was a joke when I was appointed- Watch as emotional Ange fires back at his media critics

Putting on a professional face to the same jaded media reporters and questions most be about the biggest drawback to managing Celtic.

When Ange Postecoglou was introduced as Neil Lennon’s successor the contempt was audible as a complete outsider was drafted in on his own to rebuild a club that had finished 25 points behind in a two horsed race.

Absolutely. Not. Good. Enough. was the verdict of the veteran reporter Hugh Keevins in the pages of the Sunday Mail with that message repeated regularly on Radio Clyde.

?? “Let’s not beat around the bush, I was a joke when I was appointed.”

Ange Postecoglou shares how much he appreciates the support he has received from Celtic fans since the beginning of his appointment ? pic.twitter.com/R70ZKSZyEX

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) June 3, 2023

Without beating about the bush I was a joke. A lot of people made fun of me. But the supporters, for their own reasons, put their collective arm around me and said: ‘No, he’s one of ours’.

It was up to me to repay that faith. The reason they feel so close to this team and so close to me is because, while others may have mocked, they stood behind me.

I think they deserve a lot of credit for what has happened because it would have been easy for our supporters to have been just as sceptical, given the reaction to my appointment.

That would have made my job a lot tougher, especially in that early period when results weren’t there. I think they feel part of my journey here.

They deserve to feel good about the fact that, while a lot of people ridiculed it, they stood by the person who was representing their football club. That’s what makes them special as supporters.

For me, I have tried to repay that in my own way by hopefully producing a team that has brought success and one they are going to be proud of. That has always been the most important thing

Over the course of two years Postecoglou has driven Celtic to five trophies out of six and consecutive Champions League campaigns.

There has been a grudging acceptance that Postecoglou is actually a highly talented coach, mixing old school management techniques with the knowledge that he has picked up in over 25 years in management across three continents.

Whether there will be further media conferences as Celtic manager is far from certain but on and off the park he has made an incredible impression over two memorable seasons.