Why Ange Postecoglou Could Be The Perfect Manager For Tottenham

Tottenham Hotspur's long search for a manager is over with the appointment of Ange Postecoglou. But after a tumultuous few months for the club, could both his style and his personality be the perfect fit for them?

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[FrankSerpico]

As a Spurs fan, the fact that he gets rid of half the team, at his previous jobs, sounds like music to my ears

[bhasty]

I wish him the best. That man is truly a story of working his way to the top.

[sugarman]

Ange's system is heavily reliant on hard working wingers. Maeda is three players in one. His workrate is just ridiculous. He plays as a winger but closes down & chases players all over the park to win the ball back. Very important to have players willing to put in the miles at pace. Players half assing it will be out the door. There are no superstars just one team. If Spurs are going to be successfull the players need to buy in or move on.

[CerebralThinking]

With Ange to come in, Spurs will have a bona fide giant similar to the effect that the great Jock Stein had when being interviewed.  No doubt about that.  The Spurs fans, media, and the players themselves, will see a man not simply walk in front of the press and dressing room -- his sheer presence (aura) makes it feel like he explodes into the room. Articulate, concise and sharp in his thinking.

This is a man with huge personality (all the best managers have this) and a great football brain -- and woe betide any player who thinks he can do as he wants; for that player's career at Spurs will end abruptly. 

This is the measure of a unique man; he has an acute understanding that success begins with complete control of the dressing room.  Even the media, bar none, were shit scared of Ange in Scotland, and asked their questions with obvious trepidation. That said, they all respected him.

But first let's deal with the myths and the simple stats: Celtic, had a solid defence and stats to match their attacking prowess, and real defensive consistency:  conceding a goal every 101 minutes -- or see it as 34 goals conceded in 38 matches (0.89 goals conceded) per match.  Therefore, it is merely a myth that they concede almost as many as they score. It was similar to this in Japan and Australia.

Second, Ange Postecoglou is a force of nature!  Spurs fans will recognise this after the first several press conferences.  However, he has the football brain to back up what he says -- including a steel-like personality who commands absolute respect from his players, opposing managers and CEO's. Significantly, he wins the loyalty and affection of the players. 

Third, I have, for at least a year, become convinced that Ange could easily have taken Celtic through to the knockout stages of the Champions league --  and beyond --  if given the financial resources his ambition craved for; a quarter of the Spurs player budget would have been enough to obtain European progress in the CL. 

Fourth: he'll have that money if joining Spurs; and he won't have to spend obscene amounts to get the players he wants.  His hit rate for buying the right players ("personalities", as he puts it) is phenomenal!  And as much as I don't like saying it, as a Celtic fan, if you can get hold of our two Japanese stars: Reo Hatate & Kyogo Furuhashi, and they follow Ange to London -- you'll have players to light up the English premiership. He has a brilliant eye for the right player to fit into his football "jigsaw" while he goes about doing what he loves -- and is best at -- building succesful teams.  His 25 year record testifies to this abilty.

Fifth: Ange is thee prime motivator of players, and leaves them with an unshakeable belief that they can beat the best -- and do it in a style of football that is beautiful to watch!  The Celtic players adore him!  As do the fans.  There are many reasons for this adoration. It was the same in  Australia, and in Japan, when he took a club that had underperformed and quickly made them Japanese champions.

Unfortunately, we Celtic fans now find ourselves in the same position as the Japanese fans when Ange left their country to come to Glasgow Celtic: lamenting his loss to another team who see his potential.  This begs the question:  when will the Spurs fans be mourning the same loss, and to whom will they lose him?  As Ange said when arriving at Celtic two years ago: "enjoy the ride" while you can.  You have, I kid you not, a potential CL winner in your midst if, and only if, Levy and his board do not interfere with this man who had a Fergie-like grip on Celtic while he was here in Scotland.  You're all extremely lucky to have him! 

After all, despite Celtic losing that tie against Real Madrid last year (the superior players like Luka Modrić eventually being the difference that pots of money can buy) Celtic were, for about sixty minutes, clearly the better team on the night in Glasgow. 

Who knows what would have happened after 30 minutes of the first half when our Captain hit the post from 20 yards.  For Madrid simply could not get out of their own box!  A testament to Ange's high octane, high press style of relentlessly hunting in packs until they recover the ball.  Then recycle and attack. 

If he is allowed the time, Spurs fans will watch beautiful, fast and relentless attacking football; lots of goals.  Your lucky number has finally came up after years of disappointment.  But he will need time to get the player balance right, and the football style ingrained into the minds of the players.

[andrewmather]

I'm a Rangers fan but agree with a lot of what's being said.
Where Rangers got pumped in our Champion's League games, Celtic looked strong and even in the opening Madrid game could've been 1 or 2 infront at half time if it wasn't for the post and some good saves from Courtois.
Personally I'm thrilled to see him leave Scotland for the Prem as he's transformed Celtic from a team that lost the league by 25 points to a team that's won it at a canter this year and had incredible domestic success in winning the cups also.
He's undoubtedly a great manager and I hope he represents Scottish football well in the Prem when he takes over Tottenham - I think he's got a better skillset than Gerrard had when he took over Villa at any rate

[tomwalmsley]

really warm to this bloke. spurs have hooked a live one here

[danieloverton]

This is the first time in years I’ve been happy and have genuinely smiled about spurs. Very excited just hope he gets backed and supported

[QPRTokyo]

He made Yokohama F Marinos J League Champions. Reminds me of another former J League manager who went to another north London club. 😀 He is just what Spurs need.

[scott]

Anges 2 seasons have been my best so far as a 34 year old celtic fan. The football has been absolutely incredible and has had me grinning the full time. I hope ange smashes it in england, he is definitely a force of nature

[Mr.Korzack]

I wish him well at a club which badly needs someone to come in and shake it to its core... Something tells me the Spurs players do not know what they're about to get themselves into

[irishmaninporto]

Can't believe that you missed out his Asian Cup trophy win

[lukemorrisha]

My favourite Ange story is in the Australian team. When a wing back made three costly turnovers, at half time Ange when up to the player in front of the whole team, and said "You're the bravest player in our team. Even when others were out of position, you kept doing the job I gave you." And that is why players love him. If you back Ange, he will back you.

[MrAsimomytis]

All the best Ange from Greece. After 2 or 3 PL and Ch. L titles we are waiting for you in your beloved AEK Athens!

[Autonova]

Just had a look, Ange’s league wins in Japan and Australia were with teams that had the 12th and 10th biggest wage bills

[joshmore]

Ange is a good manager and the way he can revitalise a team is legendary.

Even as a non celtic fan im sad to see him leave, the guy just understands football and he understands what it means to love a football club. His teams play excellent football and his players never stop running. The fitness he demands from his players is phenomenal

[eyeball_paul]

i dread eric dier playing any part of a system like he had with celtic, terrified we're being linked with harry maguire again

[YUTUBEADMIN]

Pochettino, Mourinho or Conte cant down a VB in one go...nuff said!

[DavidBoyd-yx]

Just hope he gets rid of Dier and hojberg

[carlosciudadreal]

"Ange Postecoglou's tactics for Celtic is to literally put a pillow over the face of their opposition and hold it there until their legs stop kicking"
Yep that pretty much sums up the way he plays. Its why that legendary Brisbane Roar team got the name "Roarcelona" in salary capped league where the teams are just about even he did the same thing he did with Celtic. He dominated A-league and it was quite frustrating to watch when your the opposition because your literally camped in your own half for 90 minutes and you can't get out.

He did the same thing in Asian cup with the Socceroos literally ran all the teams to the ground bar South Korea and even then their legs were done by 90 minutes even Son had got that equaliser and our boys were still ready for more in extra time. When he was at Yokohama it was so different that it took J-league by storm because they are usually quite conservative where as Ange just didn't let any other team rest. 1st season defensively frail 2nd season was total domination with Kawasaki on their toes the whole season.

[iliasmastoris]

The back story to Ange is that he played under Ferenc Puskas at South Melbourne Hellas, the same team that Ange went on to coach and win the national title