Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

New Celtic boss Postecoglou liked by Guardiola and Rodgers but not everyone is convinced

talksport.com, 10 June 2021, 08:38
Newly appointed Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has been hailed by Pep Guardiola and Brendan Rodgers, swears by his all-out attacking style of play and has 'delivered wherever he has been'.

But Celtic fans will be forgiven for reacting like talkSPORT host Alan Brazil to news of his move to Glasgow, upon hearing he does not have the right coaching qualifications to hold a job in Europe.

Postecoglou, 55, has been officially named as the new Celtic head coach on a rolling 12-month contract, after a deal for first choice Eddie Howe collapsed.

News of the club's move for Postecoglou - who has left Japanese club Yokohama F. Marinos to take over in Glasgow - has not gone down well with supporters, who were hoping for the appointment of an established coach to lead their rebuild after last season's disaster under Neil Lennon.

There are also concerns over reports he may not hold the necessary qualifications to take up the post.

UEFA require any manager in the top flight of a European league to hold UEFA A and B coaching licenses and for a coach to at least begin the most advance course - the UEFA Pro license.

Postecoglou does not hold them, but Celtic confirmed he has been given the green light to take over after the Aussie 'successfully achieved UEFA recognition and endorsement in relation to his pro-Licence issued by Football Australia'.

Postecoglou boasts a successful CV after 25 years in management, which includes numerous trophies in Australia and Japan and success with the Australia national team.

talkSPORT has been told the Parkhead faithful should be excited about the Australian's move to Glasgow, but that was of no comfort to Celtic supporter, former Scotland striker and talkSPORT host, Mr Brazil.

Responding to news of Celtic initial approach for the former Socceroos manager, the talkSPORT Breakfast presenter said: "I'm not sure I want to read this out, to be honest. Is this a wind-up?

"No pro license? Oh, this had got to be a wind-up, no! Yokohama? They make motorcycles!

"Ange Postecoglou? Dear, oh dear. He'll be a great manager… where do they come up with these guys?"

"Honestly, I shouldn't wallow in your despair," replied Rangers legend Ally McCoist with a cheeky grin, "but I'm loving every minute of it, it's fantastic!

"He's not bad actually, the guy is not bad. He's one of Australia's top coaches."

Ally was not wrong and, actually, there are plenty of reasons Celtic fans should be excited about Australia's number one football coach getting his first big break in European football.

After all, former Celtic manager Rodgers is a big fan.

Ange Postecoglou's CV

South Melbourne - 1999-2000: NSL Premiership, NSL Championship x2, Oceania Club Championship

Australia U17 - 2000-2005: OFC U-17 Championship x3

Australia U20 - 2000-2007: OFC U-20 Championship x3, AFF U-19 Youth Championship

Panachaiki - 2008

Brisbane Roar - 2009-2012: A-League Premiership, A-League Championship x2, Longest undefeated streak in Australian sporting history: 36 games (2011-12)

Melbourne Victory - 2012-2013

Australia - 2013-2017: AFC Asian Cup: 2015

Yokohama F. Marinos - 2018-2021: J1 League

Individual awards: National Soccer League Coach of the Year, Australian PFA Manager of the Year, A-League Coach of the Year, Australian PFA Manager of the Decade, AFC Coach of the Year

Australian football writer Tom Smithies also joined talkSPORT last week to bring us all the background on the little-known coach, and said he would be a 'fascinating' appointment.

Postecoglou has lifted the J-League title during his three years in charge of City Group-owned Japanese side Yokohama F. Marinos, adding to his A-League title in charge of Brisbane Roar, Asian Cup victory as manager of the Australia national team as well as guiding the Socceroos to the 2018 World Cup.

"If there's one word I'd use to describe him, it would be uncompromising," Smithies told White and Jordan.

"He's a fascinating character, very successful but also very uncompromising. He was scarred by an experience early in his career and ever since then he's done it his way.

"He plays a very proactive, very attacking style of football, he has absolute belief in his own methods, absolute belief in his ability to make his players play in that way and he's delivered wherever he has been given time.

"He's won championships in Australia, he won the Asian Cup with Australia - our equivalent of the Euros - and then he qualified for a World Cup and then walked away before the World Cup began because he decided he didn't have the support of the Australian football public, he thought they didn't appreciate his methods.

"He then went to Japan and has won the J-League playing this fantastic style of football.

"They played a friendly against Manchester City last year and he got absolutely rave review from Pep Guardiola about the way he was playing."

Rodgers was also highly complimentary of Postecoglou after facing his Melbourne Victory side during the Northern Irishman's career as Liverpool manager.

After a pre-season friendly in Australia, the current Leicester City and former Celtic boss said: "Their coach is outstanding. I've had a couple of chats with him, and to see his team play, he's very similar to myself and he believes the game should be played in a certain way.

"You can see the team is very well coached, so we knew it was going to be a tough game for us."

Smithies added: "If he moves to Celtic, it will be entertaining for good reasons and bad.

"He doesn't love criticism, he's got a bit of a chip on his shoulder about Australians being recognised and thinks if he's been coaching a European team he'd get more kudos.

"But equally, he's a very civilised guy, he's not a screamer and a shouter, he likes to have a chat and will always engage.

"I've written critical things about him in the past and we've always had a good engagement afterwards.

"But he will now bow to anybody, he will do things his way and it doesn't matter if he's not getting results, he won't change his style of play.

"We all know the cauldron he'll be going into if he gets the job at Celtic, if results don't come quickly he won't change, but it'll be fascinating to see how much Celtic will hold their nerve - there are already question marks from the Celtic faithful over his appointment.

"I think he deserves this chance. He's a terrific thinker about the game.

"Whether Celtic are prepared to give him the time it might take for his methods to be implemented in that team, that's a different question."

Top News

22 November 2024 talksport.com Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has confirmed defender Ben White will be sidelined for months after undergoing knee surgery. 22 November 2024 talksport.com The Premier League have announced that their partnership with IMG will end after 20 years for a new media operation. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has provided a fresh update on the fitness of his squad ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City midfielder James McAtee has reportedly been the subject of an "audacious" bid from Leeds United. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams enjoying some superb form will meet at Stadio Olimpico on Sunday, as Lazio and Bologna both aim to extend winning streaks in Serie A. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Erling Haaland sent out a warning shot to the Premier League as Manchester City aim to end their four match losing streak. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Enzo Maresca's King Power Stadium reunion takes place on Saturday lunchtime, as Leicester City and Chelsea prepare for battle in the Premier League's first game back after the international break. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The final standings in the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League groups have now been confirmed, and attention will now begin to switch to the knockout stage and playoff formats of the competition. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have suffered a defeat in their long-running legal battle with the Premier League, who have seen proposed changes to Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules approved by a majority of teams. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides battling against relegation from Ligue 1 are set to come together on Sunday afternoon when Nantes host Le Havre at Stade de la Beaujoire. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Leganes head coach Borja Jimenez will have to make two changes to his starting XI for Sunday's La Liga clash with Real Madrid. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Raul Asencio is in line to make his full debut for Real Madrid in Sunday's La Liga clash with Leganes. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Michail Antonio's professional career has had plenty of unexpected twists and turns. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea star Cole Palmer will be bidding to add to an incredible Premier League record when he lines up against Leicester City on Saturday afternoon. 22 November 2024 talksport.com The Premier League is back and that can only mean one thing. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Manchester City are confident of agreeing a lucrative new contract with Erling Haaland after Pep Guardiola agreed to stay, talkSPORT understands. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will be aiming to build on their impressive win over Osasuna before the international break when they resume their domestic campaign with a clash against Leganes on Sunday evening. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool manager Arne Slot has delivered a mixed injury update ahead of the Reds' imminent showdowns with Southampton in the Premier League and Real Madrid in the Champions League. 22 November 2024 talksport.com The January transfer window is an opportunity for teams to fix their summer spending on the cheap, or in these cases, for free. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Kai Havertz may have transformed himself at Arsenal - but he's not on the level of his Premier League rivals. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea defender Reece James has suggested that he is remaining upbeat over his latest hamstring injury. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Mohamed Salah is one of the world's best players and he has become one of the top five Liverpool goalscorers ever. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Phil Foden is a superstar for Manchester City, but he still opts to wear an unconventional number at his boyhood club. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The latest instalment of the Basque derby will take place at San Mames on Sunday night, with Athletic Bilbao welcoming rivals Real Sociedad for what should be a highly-charged affair. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa will be looking to extend a Premier League feat when they face Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Having entered the international break with a run of three straight defeats, both Torino and Monza will try to stop the rot on Sunday, when they lock horns in Turin. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Third kits in the Premier League have caught the eye this season and you will certainly notice a unique difference from typical strips… 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal's Premier League home clash with Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon is their "biggest game of the season" so far, according to Gunners expert Charles Watts. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sevilla will attempt to bounce back from successive defeats in La Liga when they continue their campaign with a fixture against Rayo Vallecano at Estadio Ramon on Sunday afternoon. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool will endeavour to maintain or increase their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table when they pit their wits against Southampton on Sunday at St Mary's.