Ange Postecoglou Celtic: Former Socceroos manager linked with job at Scottish giants

Former Socceroos boss Ange Postecoglou is on the verge of landing one of the biggest jobs in world football.

Yokohama F. Marinos coach Ange Postecoglou lifts the J1 League trophy in 2019. Picture: Masashi Hara/Getty Images

Glasgow-based former Socceroos and Rangers star Craig Moore has applauded Scottish giants Celtic for “looking outside the box” by chasing the services of Ange Postecoglou.

Ex-Socceroos mentor Postecoglou, currently coaching Japanese club Yokohama F. Marinos, is the favourite in British betting markets to be named Celtic’s new boss after expected appointment, ex-Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe, pulled out of the race.

The Scottish Sun has reported that Postecoglou is “well known” to Celtic officials due to “close links” the club has with Yokohama F. Marinos’ owners, the City Group.

However, with Postecoglou being an unknown name to several Celtic fans, the news of his potential appointment hasn’t been met with unanimous approval.

But Moore, who played under Postecoglou at Brisbane Roar as well as being part of Postecoglou’s support staff during his stint as Socceroos coach, said his former coach could “improve Celtic significantly”.

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“A lot of people in Scotland and the UK, they follow what happens here, and because Ange has been coaching elsewhere, he potentially comes in slightly unknown,” Moore said.

“It’s an enormous job. The pressures in Glasgow are daily in terms of the media and the buzz around Rangers and Celtic, that’s a daily occurrence.

“But if they do make the decision that Ange Postecoglou is the next Celtic manager I think you’ve got to applaud Celtic for looking outside the box, which is not something that happens a lot over here.”

The Celtic job is vacant after the late-season departure of Neil Lennon, with the Hoops’ run of nine successive Scottish Premier League titles having been brought to an end by their Glasgow rivals Rangers.

“Celtic looked like a team struggling with belief and confidence,” Moore said.

“I have no doubt that someone like Ange could improve Celtic significantly.

“We know Ange very well with his pro-active, entertaining brand of football. He likes to dominate possession. He plays a very attractive brand of football.

“Ange would be fearless. He’s always had that desire to be the very best and continue to work at the highest possible level.”

Ange Postecoglou with former Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak.

Postecoglou, 55, led the Roar to back-to-back A-League titles in 2011 and 2012, took Yokohama F. Marinos to Japanese glory in 2019, and guided the Socceroos to Asian Cup success in 2015.

“He’s had a great journey so far. He’s a winner. He’s won trophies in whatever roles he has been in,” Moore said.

“He also would inherit a playing roster that’s in the top two in Scotland. That’s going to put him in a far more advanced position that potentially he’s ever been in when starting at other clubs.”

Celtic players celebrate a goal during the SPL campaign.

#Celtic in advanced talks with Ange Postecoglou and are tonight close to appointing him as manager. Postecoglou, 55, has been working in Japan with Yokohoma F. Marinos

— John Percy (@JPercyTelegraph) May 28, 2021

Absolutely loving it that Celtic fans have no idea who Ange Postecoglou is. He's gonna rock their world.

— Mike Wise (@wisey_9) May 28, 2021

Genuine excitement about Ange Postecoglou closing in on the Celtic job. They have to be in it for the long haul though. You sign Ange, you must go all in on everything - a total commitment to the philosophy. It doesn’t happen overnight but it delivers every time if you trust him.

— Sebastian Hassett (@sebth) May 29, 2021