Ally McCoist has leapt to the defence of Ange Postecoglou amid mounting speculation that the former Celtic boss could be sacked by Tottenham Hotspur—despite delivering European silverware.
Postecoglou’s second season in North London brought a mixed bag. Spurs slumped to a dismal 17th-place finish in the Premier League, but crucially, they lifted the Europa League title—ending a 17-year wait for a major trophy and sealing a return to the Champions League.
Reports in England have suggested that might not be enough to spare Postecoglou, with Daniel Levy said to be weighing up the Australian’s future. But McCoist, never shy about his Rangers loyalties, set those aside as he launched a scathing defence of the man who dominated Scottish football during his two-year spell at Celtic.
He said: (talkSPORT),”It’s probably the only profession on the planet where we sit and talk about someone new coming into a job, when the current person is still in a job, and has been incredibly successful in that job over the past three or four weeks.
“The irony isn’t lost on me. I think it would be remarkably harsh. You’re talking about someone who’s got the club Champions League football and their first trophy in 17-odd years.
“Yes, we all know the league position was shocking, but you could almost see him throw all his eggs in one basket towards the end of the season.
“I don’t care what anyone says; if someone had said ‘We’ll give you the Europa League and Champions League football’ to any Spurs fan at the start of the season, they are biting your hand off. And that’s it.
“So for me, if he loses the job – and by the way, knowing that club, and knowing the way it’s run, that’s absolutely possible – then that’s just the world we live in. It’s just the world Tottenham live in, to tell you the truth.”
Postecoglou is still held in high regard by Celtic fans after winning five trophies in two seasons, including a treble.
McCoist famously joked he’d carry Ange down south himself if it meant him leaving Celtic. But now, with Postecoglou under pressure, the Ibrox icon has shown genuine respect for his former rival.