ANGE POSTECOGLOU brought his two seasons at Celtic to a triumphant conclusion when he guided the team to a 3-1 Scottish Cup Final victory over Inverness Caley Thistle at Hampden on Saturday June 3 2023.
The win completed the domestic clean sweep and earned the Hoops an eighth treble – a world record – in their history.
Three days later, Postecoglou was announced as the new manager of Spurs.
Exactly two years later, the Greek-Aussie gaffer was ruthlessly sacked by the London club.
Not even a Europa League success, beating Manchester United 1-0 in the Final in Bilbao on May 21, could save Postecoglou, who still had two years to run on a lucrative contract, from the axe.
THE LAST HURRAH…Ange Postecoglou proudly holds aloft the newly-won Europa League trophy on May 21 in Bilbao.
The popular former Celtic team chief hit the ground running in the English top flight and, after a three-game unbeaten start to the campaign, he picked up the Premier League Manager of the Month award for August.
Amazingly, he lifted the same honour the following month to become the first manager to win the award in each of his first two months in the competition.
Postecoglou propelled Spurs to seven wins in his first nine league games, breaking the record for a boss earning most points in his first outings over that period.
He continued on the glory trail with the London club hitting pole position in October and, remarkably, he won his third successive Manager of the Month award. It seemed he could do no wrong, but he suffered defeat for the first time in November when his nine-man side, with two players red-carded, slumping to a 4-1 home loss to Chelsea.
The reverse marked the beginning of a five-game winless streak for the club, where they would draw one match and lose the rest, dropping their league position from first to fifth.
THUMB’S UP…a happy Ange Postecoglou – for the time being.
Spurs were unable to recapture their early season form and a 4–2 defeat against Liverpool in early May marked the club’s first four-game league losing streak in 20 years.
The former Australian international chief and his players would have to settle for a fifth-place finish, qualifying for the following season’s Europa League.
Just before the 2024–25 term, Postecoglou mentioned in an interview that he usually won things in his second year. Spurs kicked off in poor form and won only one of their first four games. On September 15, after a 1–0 loss to Arsenal, the bullish boss clarified his pre-season statement.
He said: “I’ll correct myself – I don’t usually win things, I always win things in my second year. Nothing’s changed. I’ve said it now. I don’t say things unless I believe them.”
The campaign was hit by injuries to several key players and Spurs endured their worst-ever Premier League crusade to finish 17th, one spot above the relegation zone. The club suffered their most defeats and lowest-ever points tally in a single season.
Already there was talk of Postecoglou being sacked.
Mr ANGRY…Ange Postecoglou forcibly makes a point.
The 59-year-old boss plotted the Europa League success over his Old Trafford rivals for Spurs’ first trophy in 17 years – but chairman Daniel Levy, not noted for his patience as far as managers are concerned, wielded the axe on June 6.
Over a tumultuous four years, Postecoglou hit the highs in Glasgow to the lows in London as he rode football’s wayward rollercoaster.
From a Celtic perspective, we can only offer our thanks for what he achieved at a club that was on its knees when he took over in the summer of 2021.
Postecoglou brought smiles back to Paradise during his all-too-brief two-year tenure and for that we will be eternally grateful.
Good luck on your managerial travels, Ange.
