Postecoglou calls for united front to ensure Australian football’s ‘new era’ is a success

Celtic manager and former Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou hopes Australian football’s ‘new era’ isn’t butchered from within.

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou hopes Australian football’s ‘new era, is a success. Picture: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

Former Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou says Australian football must remain “united” to ensure its latest “new era” doesn’t meet an ugly demise.

The new A-League season finally starts on Friday night, with the hype building for a long time following the competition’s total split from Football Australia.

A rebranding of the competition has fans both excited and curious about what the season will bring.

Postecoglou, who coached in both the National Soccer League and the A-League, wants to see Australian football thrive domestically.

But the former South Melbourne, Brisbane Roar and Melbourne coach is wary of another false dawn.

“A new era ... we’ve had these before,” said Postecoglou, now the manager of Scottish giants Celtic.

“They usually start with enthusiasm, and the key to that is to make that enthusiasm into something meaningful and tangible, and actually grow the game.

“Inevitably when a new era starts, people, especially in Australian football, love to get right behind it, but it doesn’t take long then for people to pick things apart and almost predict our own demise in many respects.

“I’m hoping this early enthusiasm sticks and people understand that again there’s going to be challenges for the game like there always have been.

“What we do know about Australian football is that the few times Australian football’s been united, it can accomplish great things, but too often it’s divided within itself, which usually ends up with things not progressing as they should.”

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou is excited but also cautious about Australian football’s new era. Picture: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Postecoglou said the length of time between seasons in Australia had him feeling sorry for A-League players, coaches and fans.

“It’s great that football’s starting again (in Australia),” he said.

“We have two weeks of an international break here (in Scotland) and I can tell people are getting a little bit anxious that there’s no football happening, and that’s with Scotland doing really well.”

Postecoglou will watch A-League developments from afar, including the progress of his former assistant coach at Japanese club Yokohama F. Marinos, Arthur Papas, who will coach the Newcastle Jets this season.

Papas has been dubbed a Postecoglou clone but the Celtic boss doesn’t agree.

“I don’t think anyone’s a protege of mine. I’ve given opportunities to guys and the rest is up to them,” Postecoglou said.

“I’ve always encouraged them to think their own way. They’re all pretty clear that they’re not going to be copying what I’m doing because there’s no point in doing that – I’m different to all of them

“It’s great to see him (Papas) get an opportunity in the A-League and I’m sure he’ll do a good job in implementing his own philosophies and his own way of doing things.

“I’m hoping by working alongside the things that rub off on him are being passionate about what you do and having a clear vision.

“It doesn’t have to be my vision. It should be their own vision.

Originally published as Postecoglou calls for united front to ensure Australian football’s ‘new era’ is a success