New Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou promises to impress

The former Australia head coach arrived in Glasgow on Wednesday following a quarantine period.

Ange Postecoglou
Author: Alison ConroyPublished 25th Jun 2021
Last updated 25th Jun 2021

Ange Postecoglou is promising to deliever an exiting Celtic team the fans will be proud of after admitting he was aware of the "mixed response'' to his appointment as manager.

The Australian was facing the media for the first time since being appointed as manager, four months after Neil Lennon left the role.

Celtic had looked set to appoint Eddie Howe following the end of the season but the former Bournemouth manager stunned Hoops fans by pulling out of a move north.

Postecoglou quickly emerged as the new front-runner and the Athens-born Australian dismissed any concerns about not being the first choice after arriving from Yokohama F Marinos.

You're assuming I was second choice, I might have been fifth choice, you never know,'' he said at a media conference.

It doesn't really bother me. What's important is that I have been given the responsibility and opportunity. Just that fact alone shows that the people who made this decision have faith in me.

That's all I need. From then on it's up to me to get down to working the way I want to and try to bring success to this club.

Look, I gather there was a little bit of a mixed response when I got announced as the Celtic manager.

But what I do know is 100 per cent of Celtic supporters will want me to be successful because nothing is more important to them than this football club, and if I am successful then it means this club is successful. I just can't wait to see them back in here.

My role is to try and provide a club they are going to be proud of, a team they are going to look forward to watching every week, and a team that everyone is talking about.

If I can achieve those things, and obviously success follows that, then hopefully I have honoured the role I am in.

The 55-year-old has a reputation for attacking football with his previous teams and said he was committed to a certain type of play, one that he thinks is part of the reason he was offered the job.

“I guess what I bring is maybe a different perspective,” Postecoglou said.

“I’ve had a different journey from many others. Most of my career has been spent on the other side of the world and in internationals.

“Every team I’ve coached has had a very clear identity. I think it fits nicely with the traditions and expectations of this club.

“I think that was one of the reasons I was chosen. In my 25 years in coaching, my teams have always played a certain way.”