Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou will always ‘cherish’ his time with Brisbane Roar

He’s now in charge of “one of the biggest clubs in the world”, but Ange Postecoglou will always treasure his time with Brisbane Roar.

Ange Postecoglou is excited to bring his Celtic team to Australia in November. Picture: Brendon Thorne / Getty Images for Bursty

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou believes Brisbane Roar’s remarkable achievements during his time in charge of the A-League club are yet to receive “rightful recognition”.

Postecoglou has returned to Australia this week as part of a Celtic contingent planning for the Scottish champions’ Sydney tour in November, when they will meet English Premier League club Everton and Sydney FC.

A 2-0 weekend loss to St Mirren ended a 38-match unbeaten Scottish Premiership run which Postecoglou and Celtic had enjoyed since September last year.

The undefeated stretch brought back memories of a similar unbeaten run the Roar managed under Postecoglou, when his Brisbane team transformed Australian football with a brand and style of play never previously seen in the A-League.

From September 2010 to November 2011, the Roar went 36 matches unbeaten in the A-League in what was the longest undefeated streak in top-level Australian sport.

The record-breaking run was the cornerstone of the Roar’s back-to-back championship success under Postecoglou.

Ange Postecoglou is all smiles after Brisbane Roar’s A-League grand final win over Perth Glory in 2012. Picture: AAP / Dave Hunt

“It was a great time at the football club – we did some extraordinary things,” said Postecoglou, whose coaching resurgence started at the Roar.

“I still don’t think they get the rightful recognition they deserve. Not just the way we won both grand finals, which were pretty extraordinary events with 50,000 people at Suncorp Stadium, but the 36-game unbeaten run; people still don’t realise the significance of it.”

The former Socceroos coach said the salary-capped nature of Australian sport meant clubs were “not supposed” to have such runs.

“Sport in Australia has got rules so that things like that don’t happen – everything’s equalised,” he said.

“It was such a special time. There were some fantastic players and people who were involved in the football club.

“It’s stuff I’ll always cherish. They are great memories.”

Following Postecoglou’s departure from the Roar after the club’s 2012 2-1 grand final win over Perth Glory, Brisbane won another championship in 2014 – under Mike Mulvey – but since then has been without silverware.

“Hopefully they can get the club back up to where it once was,” Postecoglou said.

“It doesn’t change my feelings for the club. It’s just football. Every club has its ups and downs.

“That’s the challenge for every football club. You go through successful periods and unsuccessful periods. You’ve just got to get your way back up to where you once where.”

Postecoglou was thrilled to be bringing “one of the biggest clubs in the world back to my home country” in November.

“We’ll come over here with a strong squad – the games will be good,” Postecoglou promised.

Originally published as Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou will always ‘cherish’ his time with Brisbane Roar