How a neglected Ange Postecoglou took over the EPL and reinvented the Spurs
Ahead of Ange Postecoglou’s much anticipated return home, DAVID DAVUTOVIC takes a look at how the star manager went from not wanted to the Tottenham Hotspurs’ hero.
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When Ange Postecoglou last coached in Melbourne in 2017 the prospect of managing a leading English Premier League club appeared a pipedream, as influential Aussie media identities called for his Socceroos head.
Seven years on Postecoglou returns as one of the most esteemed managers in English, European and world football, having simultaneously smashed Euro stereotypes towards Australians and our own inferiority complex.
On Wednesday night, a 90,000-plus MCG crowd will watch local hero Postecoglou lead Premier League Tottenham Hotspur in action against Newcastle United, unveiling the latest version of offensive “Ange-ball” that’s created waves in the UK and beyond.
Recency bias has quelled the early-season UK Postecoglou love-in after he joined Pep Guardiola, Juergen Klopp and Antonio Conte as the only managers to claim three consecutive EPL manager of the month awards.
But a mere point away to Sheffield United in Monday morning’s final match of the EPL season will stitch up fifth spot and a $5.5m Europa League bounty, ensuring a positive finish.
While it’s short of Aston Villa’s $25m UEFA Champions League purse for finishing fourth, it’s three places and streets ahead of the toxicity that permeated Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last season.
“He’s a top manager. What makes him special is that he knows what he wants and what is best for his teams,” Tottenham’s defensive revelation Micky van de Ven said.
“If we have an off game, we can bounce back because there is a clear focus. He’s like a father figure, but he pushes us hard when we have to get down to business.”
Polarising Postecoglou opinions are par for the course and embraced in the Greek-born Aussie’s way of having made a pact to stay true to his ultra-attacking, at times seemingly reckless attacking, philosophy since being “unemployable” in 2009, when the only job he could land was with Victorian State League battlers Whittlesea Zebras.
Spurs and English fans got their first taste of “stubborn Ange’ when his team was down to nine men against English giant Chelsea in a heated 4-1 London derby loss in November. The game concluded in almost farcical fashion as Spurs continued to attack despite being undermanned.
“It is just who we are, mate, it is who we are and who we will be for as long as I am here. If we go down to five men we will have a go,” Postecoglou said.
The approach resonated with fans.
“The brand of football is massive for fans. It’s been attacking, positive, distinct – there is a clear vision. The Chelsea game, everyone stayed ’til the end and they were clapping, which was unheard of, I’d never seen it,” Australian-born Spurs season ticket holder Jordi Sinclair said.
SCENIC ROUTE TO NORTH LONDON
While the Spurs opportunity came as a shock and in some ways suddenly, his managerial journey started in earnest in 1996 when, having retired prematurely due to injuries, he took charge of his beloved NSL club South Melbourne at age 31.
But even after his sustained success across 25 years, headlined by the 2015 Asian Cup crown and the J1 League title with unfancied Yokohama F. Marinos, Postecoglou struggled to land a European gig.
Missing out on the senior job at Greek club AEK Athens in 2021 left him in limbo.
He has Eddie Howe to thank for his opportunity, for the Newcastle United manager he lines up against at the MCG pulled out of the Celtic running, which paved the way for an 11th- hour call to the Australian.
“There wasn’t many doors opening for us in Europe, which was the ultimate goal. I wasn’t disheartened, I just felt with everything I’ve done in my career it was (still) either going to be somebody taking a real gamble on this side of the world or having stars align for me,” Postecoglou said.
“It didn’t work out with Eddie Howe at Celtic. I was the next cab off the rank, then it happened quickly.”
His stunning and instant success at Celtic, winning five of a possible six titles, led to EPL interest from the likes of Brighton and Wolves.
But Postecoglou, who struggled to get interviews with Championship clubs a few years earlier, waited patiently before an opportunity presented itself – an almighty one at that. A sleeping giant that has not won a title since 1961 or a trophy since 2008.
While an Australian passport deterred many clubs from having him as No.1 on their hit-list, he was appearing on an increasing number of shortlists. The Spurs opportunity became a possibility after Italian Antonio Conte imploded and a probability when their preferred target, Feyenoord boss Arne Slot – who is now joining Liverpool – ruled himself out.
The change has been seismic.
“The way he speaks, my heart is bouncing. I just want to go out there and play for him” Tottenham skipper Son Heung-min said.
DEBUT SPURS IMPACT
Postecoglou’s debut season was normal, albeit back-to-front, if looking at the bulk of his previous experiences.
With South Melbourne, Brisbane Roar, the Socceroos, Marinos and Celtic, a slow start was followed by turbocharged improvement.
At Spurs, Postecoglou got off to a flyer – becoming the first manager to win three successive manager of the month awards en route to top place – before fading late.
The fast start was unforeseen, particularly when factoring in the loss of club great and three-time Premier League golden boot winner Harry Kane on the eve of the season.
The lack of context has clouded the crowded UK media market, where some recent criticism has ensued off the back of five losses in six games.
Spurs are the sixth-biggest spenders in terms of players wages – with $223m annual wage bill – behind Manchester United ($390m), Manchester City ($380m), Arsenal ($315m), Chelsea ($295m) and Liverpool ($258m), and equal with Aston Villa.
TOTTENHAM TOXICITY
Beyond the financial context, most Spurs fans and pundits would not have tipped Spurs to finish fifth – ahead of Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle United.
The final game of last season resembled a wake, with Spurs fans letting off black balloons and calling for chairman Daniel Levy to quit, amid an unclear plan and having fallen out with “trophy managers” Jose Mourinho and Conte.
“After a couple years of defensive-minded coaches that were playing very tight football, fans were waiting for this style of play,” Spurs great Glenn Hoddle said.
The mood had swung so much, Levy was inspired to make a rare appearance at the club’s fan forum.
“We wanted a coach who understood what we wanted as a club, which was attacking football, to enable everyone to enjoy coming to a match and be entertained,” Levy said.
While the season hasn’t ended as strongly, a Europa League berth and a solid season has renewed hope with Spurs.
Never one to look in the rear vision mirror, Postecoglou will have an eye on next season in the MCG match, with fans set to get a glimpse into Spurs’ exciting future which includes 16-year-old Mikey Moore.
A trophy will be on the agenda for Postecoglou next year, and MCG fans will get an insight into what the Aussie-made, and now globally-renowned, manager is plotting.
David Davutovic is a former chief soccer writer at the Herald Sun and is now managing director of Bruce Media.
Tickets for Tottenham Hotspur vs Newcastle United are still available via Ticketek
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