Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says ‘exceptional’ Ange Postecoglou will shine at Spurs

Ange Postecoglou’s move to Tottenham has been applauded by one of the greatest managers in world football.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has tipped Ange Postecoglou to do an “incredible job” at Tottenham.

Postecoglou’s move from Scottish giants Celtic to the English Premier League was confirmed on Tuesday night, with the 57-year-old former Socceroos coach signing a four-year deal with Spurs.

“Another exceptional manager is coming,” Guardiola said ahead of City’s UEFA Champions League final against Inter Milan.

“I have a good relationship with the owner of Celtic. He did an incredible job (at Celtic) and he will do an incredible job for Spurs.”

Guardiola’s City played a Postecoglou-coached side – Japanese outfit Yokohama F. Marinos – in July 2019.

City won the friendly 3-1 but Guardiola was impressed by what Postecoglou offered as a coach and a person.

“I was lucky to meet him in Tokyo years ago when he was manager at Yokohama, one of our clubs in the City Football Group, and it was an interesting chat,” Guardiola said.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola tips Ange Postecoglou to succeed at Spurs. Picture: Paul Ellis / AFP

Postecoglou, who led Celtic to five trophies in two years at the club, starts work at Spurs on July 1.

Less than three weeks later he will be in Perth for Tottenham’s friendly match against Premier League rivals West Ham at Optus Stadium.

Celtic under-18 team coach, Queensland-raised former Brisbane Roar and Perth Glory defender Stuart McLaren, said Postecoglou stood “a very strong chance” of tasting success with Spurs, who haven’t lifted a trophy since winning the 2007-08 English League Cup.

“I don’t think he needs much luck,” McLaren said.

“From our perspective at Celtic, we’re disappointed to lose him because everybody’s well aware of the impact he’s had on the club, not only with the trophies that the first team have won, but the impact he’s had on a number of staff and the supporters … but he’s going with everyone’s best wishes.

“They realise what a tremendous opportunity he’s got there with Tottenham.”

McLaren said Postecoglou was “absolutely adored” at Celtic.

“Celtic have got a strong tradition of not only success but also winning games by playing a certain style, and Ange certainly brought that,” he said.

“The fans loved seeing the team play .., and it was also how Ange spoke. The messages that he gave when he spoke publicly really endeared him to the fans for the way he handled himself and represented them.

“He had everybody at the club, all the stakeholders, eating out the palm of his hand.”

McLaren said Postecoglou would be aiming high in his first season in charge of Spurs, who finished the 2022-23 campaign in eighth place on the ladder.

“Knowing Ange the same as everybody else know him, he’ll have his sights set on not necessarily just finishing in the top four and qualifying for the Champions League – he’ll go all out,” he said.

“He’ll want to turn Spurs into a team that can challenge and try to win trophies, be that the league title, be that the FA Cup, be that competing well in the Champions League – that’s what his aspirations are.”

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