Celtic were aware Ange was interested in the Tottenham job for at least two weeks. The writing was on the wall before his agent travelled to Glasgow for the final league game of the season. A rear-guard action continued to no avail.
What’s more, attempts to sign him up on a long-term contract were rebuffed for a year. Ange was always ‘happy’ with the way things were. With a manager rejects more pay on the basis that he is happy, it is a bit like your significant other telling you they are ‘fine’. You might not know what’s coming your way, but when it does, it will not be a surprise.
Despite knowing he preferred to reject more money on the basis it would inhibit his exit options, Celtic hoped to resolve the situation. This was on the basis on Ange’ age and profile. At 57, he was on the circuit for a long time without troubling clubs with bigger budgets.
English clubs often have a snobbery for achievements in Scotland, especially when they are not replicated in Europe, where over two years, Ange bettered only Ferencvaros, Midtjylland, Alkmaar, Jablonec. The negative column has Leverkusen, Real Betis, Real Madrid, Leipzig, Shakhtar Donetsk and most painfully, a preseason Bodo/Glimt.
Until he was able to move the dial in Europe, Celtic hoped Ange would sail below the radar of most in England, and definitely thought that a ‘big six’ club out his reach. All that changed when Tottenham recruited Scott Munn as chief football officer. Australian Munn goes way back with Ange and was his backstage pass to the top tier.
Despite that European record, I cherished our former manager. He was personable, understood and shared our club’s values and played attractive, successful football. In London, he replaces a permanent manager who was on £15m a year, I expect he’ll be on a salary of around £10m – for half that, I’d knock out Tottenham Quick News.
This is the football business, we did not miss a beat when he left Yokohama midseason. If you take umbridge at a manager who left one club to come here, then left us at a more appropriate moment, football is not a sport for you to follow.
The Third Season Problem
What do Jose Mourinho and Ange Postecoglou have in common? All their successes come in the first two seasons in the job. Neither has won a league title in a third or later season. This glass ceiling is echoed in Ange’s four-year tenure as Australia manager, where he won the Asian Cup in his second year but did little to trouble his memoirs afterwards.
Ange and Jose are both impact managers. Both will transform your club, but equally struggle to reinvent themselves in the Alex Ferguson manner. A friend (And CQN’er) has long expressed a concern that this is because opponents eventually figure Ange out, and that he is unable or unwilling to pivot.
It is moot now. No matter who follows, our expectations of another treble next season under Ange are forever fixed, but let’s be clear, we have lost Ange Postecoglou (57), not the reincarnation of Jock Stein. He is replaceable and although there are huge risks with any appointment, there are reasons to be hopeful.
Brendan
Let’s say the obvious. If he gets the job, we get behind the manager and move on, bigger picture, and all that. For now, he’s not for me. I am troubled by his recruitment record (Dembele was on the slate before he arrived and Sinclair had already played for him) and by his credentials as a team player (I have just deleted a lengthy explanation of this as it might make backing him near impossible). The manner of his exit is of less consequence.
Who next?
Celtic thought they had the managerial recruitment game mastered when Brendan Rogers arrived in 2016. When they returned to the market in 2019, the rules had changed, there were no candidates of Rogers’ quality, indeed, there were no new candidates who inspired confidence they could succeed in bossing Glasgow’s unique challenges, a scenario Neil Lennon coped with.
Ange Postecoglou was plucked from obscurity because Celtic were determined never again to be left without options they could get behind. He was a Mark Lawwell nominee, even before Mark joined to become head of recruitment and scouting. We will explore what’s needed in the position in more detail in the days to come, but for now, I am happy to find another manager with a low profile in the UK, on the ground experience in a value market and a desire for a crack at the Champions League.
We move on.
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It looks like the player model of buying cheap and selling high is now replicated across management level.
The only consistent in the future will be the fans.
The only request I have is to retain the back room applications tracking various aspects of the players’ health and fitness.
DON’T CRY BECAUSE IT’S OVER
SMILE 🙂
BECAUSE IT HAPPENED
Good article, Paul…..
He’s gone. Of his own volition. I bear him no ill will, he did well with/for us. That being said, I wish him no goodwill. He’s someone else’s manager in a league that has gorged itself on billions of pounds, much of which Sky has shovelled out of other countries into england.
All we can do, or our masters should do, is learn from this. If we are going to go after good, largely untested coaches, then we need to be prepared for this kind of 2 year turnover. To protect the club from the downside of that, we need a DOF. Someone who ensures that we maintain our standards, hire someone who will fit our model, and keep things ticking over in periods such as now, when the Head Coach’s chair is empty.
And it’s not another Ange that we need. We need an upgrade. Someone who cares about or understands, defending.
Through all of this, I think there is a worry amongst our support. We have limited confidence in DD and PL to reach for the best we can afford. Paul skipped this uncomfortable truth in his 2nd last paragraph of an otherwise excellent article….
Bear in mind that, for every excellent recruitment decision DD and PL have made, there has been a Lennon appointment. Three of them.
And finally…would people stop talking about spurs as a ‘top 6’ team?? They were lucky to make the top 8, FGS….
67 EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS
I suspect the reason PL was included in today’s statement was because he was instrumental in the recruitment process that brought Ange to Celtic. Nothing more sinister than that.
We need to all stop being scared of bogey men under our beds.
One plus on the blog over the past 24 hrs has been the variety of voices and opinions. All different, though all welcome.
Hopefully, we can continue to disagree as the year unfolds. More dissenting and discerning voices please.
I was largely slated for requesting less use of the ‘in Ange we trust’ sign off. Clearly, we’re not immune to the chest thumping rhetoric and other empty gestures we now criticise.
Managerial change every 2 or 3 years may need to be planned for.
This could be an exciting opportunity for us to recalibrate and go again.
Chairbhoy
Interesting that Brendan Rodgers is being mentioned.
After the character assassination by Celtic you’d think he’d have had enough of paradise.
In the summer of 2018 DD had a choice, back his Manager or CEO, he choose the CEO – big mistake as it happened but what would change his view now?
————————————————————
Brendan has always said he would be prepared to come back to Celtic. I took it that he was projecting 15 years in tot eh future when he could wind-down with us after a strenuous period of EPL big team success and vindication for his Liverpool slip up.
He has reappeared again in the period when the club was aware that Ange was flashing his knickers down south.
Either that was because he was willing to be used as a pawn by DD as a potential candidate for replacing Ange OR he is genuinely interested in coming back or being an interim manager, till someone more permanent frees themselves from current commitments.
According to the so-called “informed” Mr. McGowan of the Daily Mail, Brendan is not interested in a return to Celtic anytime soon. I have no insider contacts to clarify this but I remain sceptical that a this is anything other than a pretend front and that Brendan believes he can still land a decent EPL gig.
I could be and have been wrong before but I would be surprised to see Brendan “settle” for Celtic at this stage in his life.
The timeline is pretty straightforward….Conte was sacked in March ….Spurs sounded out at least two other managers and it looked like Slot was a certainty after clinching Dutch league….but he decided no… this was only two weeks ago….anyone who says they wanted Ange before Slot is telling lies ……Ange probably couldn’t believe what Trimboli was telling him !!!….the stars had aligned …the EPL beckons a league that Aussies think its God’s gift to the game…then there’s London…..then there’s spurs a project
We’ve been just a little unlucky in all these stars aligning…..we need a big personality…not a shrinking violet…..all our successful managers have had big personalities and mastered the press ….in our wee country it’s probably as important as spotting a player!
After the angst niggling away at me watching Celtic from Feb 19 to Feb 2021, I publicly stated I would be happy with whoever came in and be supportive
I have had a great time watching Celtic the last 2 years, with no brakes on my emotion.
I’ll say the same for next season and hopefully enjoy some good Scotland performances before Celtic come back from holibags
Hail hail
Paul67
Nice slot on Radio Scotland this morning.
By the way, it’s Brendan Rodgers, not Rogers.
I’m going in for a refund if they give it to insert your worst fear here
Crystal Palace are the only EPL team looking for a manager , possibly Wolves soon.
I expect Rodgers to go to Palace. Probably gutted he never got Chelsea
The next big one is possibly City if Pep wins the CL on Sat. Perfect time for him to take a break
Another poor season and Klopp could be out next year.
Those jobs are for the big, big boys
SFtBs @ 1:36 PM,
Yes, think you are right, you can never say never but it’s no secret BR fell out with Board and we have the same Board.
My recollection, and maybe he’s said something since, was talk of coming back in the future and unfinished business was made immediately on leaving Celtic.
The smsm, social media and fan backlash hadn’t occurred, that seemed like a game changer for me.
Hail Hail
I remember The Chuckle Brothers with Rod Stewart back in the ole Burn’s Howff
Just want to check something – Leicester we’re relegated, right?
So while Ange was knocking back contract extensions, he was showing JJ and GG the door because they hadn’t signed theirs ?
Ange is clearly a good manager. He’s also clearly a hypocrite.
Only upside with Ange going is that we may not get pumped as much in the CL , although that is dependent on whether he comes back for some of our players.
Really pissed at these characters taking the piss
Angeball did not work in Europe, at least not with our players, and that is not revisionism. Quite a few on here, including me, said it was questionable at best to go for all out attack in the CL and the other tournaments that we left without a whimper. Sure it was entertaining in a few games, but then the inevitable happened. We were easily dismantled. Gaping holes in midfield, defenders way out of position and a goalkeeper whose best days have long gone.
Ange said he wouldn’t change his style and quite a few on here backed him. Fair enough, it is all about opinions. He believed the players would benefit from it. Was he right? We will not find out now as he left before it could be put to the test.
Just as worryingly, despite winning games against Sevco, we did not look any better than them in most games this season. Thankfully they had an exceptionally generous defence and we had an exceptionally ruthless front line. I would say Beale knows how to play against Angeball. Shut down Calmac and put an extra man in midfield. We have superior players for sure, but tactically we were one dimensional in the last three games against them.
History books will show he won the treble, for that I will be forever grateful. At times the football was beautiful, scintilating. And he knew how to bitch slap the media. But he is in no way irreplaceable.
CONEYBHOY on 6TH JUNE 2023 1:55 PM
Crystal Palace are the only EPL team looking for a manager , possibly Wolves soon.
I expect Rodgers to go to Palace. Probably gutted he never got Chelsea
The next big one is possibly City if Pep wins the CL on Sat. Perfect time for him to take a break
Another poor season and Klopp could be out next year.
Those jobs are for the big, big boys
___________________________________________________________________________
On the face of it yes. But this the English Premier League we’re talking about, there could be 3 or 4 other moves during the close season and also 2 or 3 very quickly in September, then at Christmas, early Spring and then near the beginning of April and then it all starts again!
Just had a wee swatch at the contract end dates
Hart, Bain, Mooy, Turnbull and Soro all out of contract next year. Not too bad in terms of average contract length in the squad.
Could be crucial what happens at No1 in the summer. Barkas coming back too
I think Mooy could be let go next year, we will likely try to sell Soro this summer as the 2019/20 players got high salaries so unlikely to want to buy them out.
Big question for me is Turnbull. He brings something different to midfield (individual creativity) and may suit the new manager’s style.
McPhail Bhoy
😎
https://youtu.be/AkGZmmrLFAU
BOURNESOUPRECIPE @ 2:01 PM,
Now that does sound like a classic
EKBHOY @ 2:10 PM,
A head coach with a proven track record in Europe would definitely be my preference
Hail Hail
Paul 67, it’s ‘umbrage’, not ‘umbridge’.
The Archers live in Ambridge, I think Umbridge is just down the road from there :)
Good afternoon all,
Just read that Ange is gone. What a bummer, I loved the style of footie he promoted as I’m sure every Celtic supporter did.
Couldn’t believe more best wishes coming in this morning from EK to down under. What a place this is, fantastic. Once again THANK YOU ALL. HH
Coneybhoy
Thankfully we dont have to add Barkas coming back to our list of worries. His contract has been mutually terminated.
Well he’s gone then.
The board have two choices, a significant upgrade or not, I know what I would bet on, the latter and this from Paul confirms it for me…….
“but for now, I am happy to find another manager with a low profile in the UK, on the ground experience in a value market and a desire for a crack at the Champions League”
TET – “on the ground experience in a value market and a desire for a crack at the CL” suggests Knudsen to me.
Coneybhoy,
Bain is here forever. If ETims are to be believed, over the head of Ange because he’s a right good team mate.
HH
Ange played Bain once after he got his 3-year extension and he quickly showed why he would not be playing again.
and a desire for a crack at the Champions League
—
I’d hope so.
I think Ange expected to do another year with us and then look to move off to the EPL – probably toward the bottom half of the table where he’d do a couple of years and hope to work his way up to the bigger jobs. That was brought forward when the stars aligned as Vinniethedog suggests – Slot knocked back Spurs, Spurs want that style of play and Munn (Ange’s old mate) suggested Ange and he was presented with an offer he never expected to get at this stage. Combined with the money, chance to work with the highest quality of player he’s ever done in his career and test his system at the highest level, it was a no brainer.
I’ll be sad to see him go, but want him to do well – if only to shut up the EPL fanboys who go on about “my gran could win the league”, etc. It’s also good for our profile if we can point to our two biggest departures going to the EPL and succeeding (albeit Rodgers was largely responsible for relegation this year).
In the meantime, a big decision for the Board – like the Board, I didn’t think I’d need to brush up on how my last batch of candidates have been getting on!
According to Phil Mac, Ange was asked multiple times to sign an extended 4 year contract with us in the last year.
I reckon he knew about the big sell from Trimboli after Conte got the push. Might have been loaded with a few ifs and buts but certainly not a recent thing. Munn was appointed 7th April FGS. Another close Aussie advocate.
Our esteemed manager playing the long game behind our back might shock a few who bought the big Ange persona literally but really, that should put it (for him and all others) to bed.
HH
Has John Kennedy and young Strachan left Celtic already ?
HH
BIG WAVY on 6TH JUNE 2023 2:32 PM
Coneybhoy,
Bain is here forever. If ETims are to be believed, over the head of Ange because he’s a right good team mate.
….
Complete nonsense from Etims …. Made up pish is their catchphrase
EKbhoy,
Yep. Could be but I’d love to know the plausible theory for why a pretty useless 3rd choice keeper got an extension.
Help me mke sense of that one?
HH
IF anyone on here ( For ANY Reason ), is possibly thinking about giving up their Season Book for next Season please give me a shout on here. I would prefer the MAIN Stand or Lower North Stand if possible.
Likewise, IF anyone on here decides to ask Celtic for a REFUND on their Season Book, maybe because they do NOT like who the ” New Manager” may be, then please give me a shout on here, and I will REFUND your money in Cash ?
The Season Book will of course REMAIN in YOUR Name etc. I KNOW that Celtic frown upon such things….but they never need to know.
HH.
Very well written article Paul but not one of my favourites TBH.
Appreciate your efforts in looking at the bright side.
Laudable when many of us are feeling glum four days after winning the treble.
PS
“we did not miss a beat when he left Yokohama mid season. If you take umbridge at a manager who left one club to come here, then left us at a more appropriate moment, football is not a sport for you to follow”
Respectfully Paul …
I watch football.
I follow Celtic.
BIG WAVY on 6TH JUNE 2023 2:57 PM
EKbhoy,
Yep. Could be but I’d love to know the plausible theory for why a pretty useless 3rd choice keeper got an extension.
Help me mke sense of that one?
…..
Try signing a 3rd choice keeper who has actually played for a 1st team , to suggest that the Board foisted Bain on Ange is laughable , a more plausible theory is that Bain has some 1st team experience and is Scottish and counts towards the home quota … sods law kicked in when he tossed a goal in against Hibs
Neil Lennon won 10 trophies at Celtic.
5 in each spell.
He had a 70% win rate.
His teams beat Barcelona and Lazio in Europe.
and yet still ………..
I maintan Bodo Glimt is a cowboy