The Celtic Star

Former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou is on the verge of redemption with Spurs after reaching the Europa League Final. The Australian manager has been slagged off all campaign after his comments that he always wins things in his second season and now, he is within 90 minutes of ending Spurs’ trophy hoodoo.

With a 5-1 aggregate win over Bodo/Glimt, Spurs are headed to Bilbao to face off against Manchester United for the Europa League.

Ange and Spurs have struggled domestically and the league form has certainly suffered for their European adventures. As the Spurs boss pointed out, no one will remember their league form if they were to win a trophy.

Celtic fans will want Ange to win, even if the Spurs fans do not deserve a manager like Ange. Celtic hired Ange from Yokohama F Marinos in the summer of 2021 with a massive rebuilding mission after the COVID season. After just one season, Celtic were back on top and had the League Cup in the bag with an exciting style of football. This was backed up in the second campaign, with a Treble following.

Such were the displays with Celtic and the dominance that season that Spurs came calling. There were a number of candidates considered but Daniel Levy identified Ange resulting in the move to North London.

Spurs enjoyed the benefits of Ange’s football this year but have struggled with injuries and consistencies this year. This has resulted in a lot of the blame being left at Ange’s door, even if it is clear that the manager needs a certain type of player to carry out his instructions.

Hopefully Ange can get the trophy that he deserves and the recognition of his football with Spurs, even if he leaves the club at the end of the season.

It’s hard to imagine Ange Postecoglou could actually be further away from his home city of Melbourne than where he is at the moment, preparing his Tottenham side in the hours leading up to the Europa League semi-final against Bodo Glimt at the Aspmyra Stadion in Bodo in the North of Norway, which is located inside the Arctic Circle…

The weather of course will be warmer and it will also be much lighter than on his last visit back in February 2022 when his Celtic side suffered a 5-1 aggregate defeat in the UEFA Conference League.

That would send a shiver down the spine of the former Celtic manager

Memories of that would send a shiver down the spine of the former Celtic manager who aims to negotiate tonight’s tricky tie on a plastic pitch to book a place in the final in the beautiful Basque City of Bilbao where almost certainly Manchester United lay in wait.

Man United take on finalist hosts Athletic Club this evening in the second leg of the other semi-final. The conquerers of theRangers tonight who are 3-0 down from the first leg. It’s not impossible and Celtic of course once lost a semi-final in the Cup Winners Cup (the fore-runner of the Europa League) after winning the first leg 3-0. It happens, but not very often.

Ange at the start if the season noted that he always wins a trophy in his second season aat a club and like Eddie Howe at Newcastle who won the League Cup, Ange Postecoglou should be hailed to the rooftops by Tottenham fans if he delivers them a trophy. Instead he’ll probably get the sack and a better club to manager.

Celtic are used to winning trophies and know a winner when we see one

Ange Postecoglou hasn’t had his sorrows to seek in his post-Celtic related travails this season…

With a raft of injuries hampering his team’s progress this year in the English Premier League, after showing some signs of early promise, that decimation of his playing squad and a general inability to change tact at times has cost him and Tottenham dearly.

Ange Postecoglou could lose his job at the end of season

So much so, that many have questioned whether or not the Greek-Aussie will still be in charge of the North London club come next season. With them languishing in a really poor 18th in the Premier League table at this current moment in time, it’s obvious that it isn’t acceptable for a club size and stature of Tottenham and if it weren’t for the former Hoops man leading them to the Europa League Semi-finals, he would have most likely been dismissed already.

Even if he delivers a Europa Cup win, Ange is set to stand down

Even if he does win the Europa League this year with Spurs, it’s rumoured he will step down at the end of May after a torrid time recently, which has included fighting with the fanbase and several journalists almost on a regular basis.

Micah Richards was talking about Ange and his team on The Rest is Football Podcast and delivered an ominous take, saying: “I gave my opinion last week, and the manager is getting involved in press conferences. Not being himself. Biting back, and all that. But actually, if you look on the field. Forget off the field, for a moment. They are a shadow of the team that they were.

Chris Sutton was talking about Ange Postecoglou BEFORE he was appointed Celtic manager

“I have been a big admirer of Ange for a while now, and that was because of Chris Sutton. This was before he was even at Celtic. Chris talked about him when he was in Japan. So, I studied him. I studied his style of play. It was aggressive. It was forward-thinking. It was taking risks. Okay, they take risks when they are conceding goals, but they aren’t finishing their chances.”

If Ange Postecoglou does depart Tottenham Hotspur, he will be yet another ex-Celtic associated footballer or manager who has found out that the grass isn’t always greener away from Paradise. Ange enjoyed some wonderful years at Celtic Park and could have had more if he wanted, with Dermot Desmond ready to deal him in after another Treble winning season in 2023. It wasn’t to be and Ange took his chance at the big time.

Maybe he’d already found his perfect club in Celtic but just didn’t realise it at the time

Ange is likely to secure another decent job and at Tottenham he got the chance to manage in the Premier League which was hustled ultimate ambition. Tottenham’s loss could be another club’s gain. But maybe, just maybe he’d already found his perfect club in Celtic but just didn’t realise it at the time.

Paul Gillespie

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Former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou took a subtle dig at Tottenham Hotspur ahead of this evening’s UEFA Europa League clash with Eintracht Frankfurt. The Australian is under real pressure and is reportedly nearing the North London exit.

However, Ange appears to be continuing to fight against the mindset ingrained at Spurs. In a TNT Sport interview, Ange appeared to take a jab at the club’s continued lack of silverware in recent years.

Ange and the Spurs support appear to be at loggerheads. The manager fell out with the fans with comments last season before a game against Man City, which their fans wanted to lose. Since then, they struggled along and the UEL has remained the goal for Ange.

The comments echo those by Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho, who had similar concerns about the mindset within the club and their support. Both are renowned managers who have enjoyed success throughout their careers wherever they have gone; however, they found to be the most difficult challenge of their respective careers.

The presentation of Ange paints a bleak comparison with the confident Aussie who watched on as Celtic completed the Treble before his exit was announced. No one faulted his ambition but it was always seen that Spurs were a poisoned chalice.

Former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur future is in “serious doubt beyond the summer” according to a report…

It is reported that senior Spurs executives have already compiled a list of potential replacements for Ange Postecoglou if they choose to part ways with the ex-Celtic boss.

Europa League glory could get save Ange

Spurs are currently in 14th place in the English Premier League, having earned 10 wins, four draws, and suffered 15 losses this season. Postecoglou’s men exited both cup competitions but remain in the Europa League.

The Athletic states that Spurs officials are focused on ending the season on a high note, though doubts remain about Postecoglou’s future beyond the summer. The 59-year-old has one year remaining on his contract this summer, with Spurs holding an option to extend it for another year. However, it is believed that Postecoglou’s role is facing intense scrutiny.

Andoni Iraola is the leading candidate for the Spurs job

Reports suggest that Bournemouth boss and former Celtic managerial candidate Andoni Iraola is the leading candidate for the Spurs job if they decide to sack Postecoglou. Securing Iraola from his current position could require a £10m fee, with his team currently sitting ten points ahead of Spurs in 10th place in the league.

Fulham’s Marco Silva and Brentford’s Thomas Frank have also been mentioned as potential candidates for the Spurs job.

Conor Spence

Celtic appear to have been beaten to the signature of Mason Melia by Tottenham Hotspur. Ange Postecoglou’s side will sign the player next January in a deal worth over £1.6m.

According to The Sun’s Tom Barclay, Spurs have agreed a deal to sign the talented striker despite the Irishman visiting Celtic’s facilities at the beginning of January.

Understand Tottenham are set to sign Irish wonderkid Mason Melia, 17, in a £1.6m deal plus add-ons from St Pat’s. Cos of Brexit rules, can’t sign until Jan 2026 (1st window after his 18th birthday). Believe it makes him 1st million-pound player to be signed from Ireland #thfc

— Tom Barclay (@TomBarclay_) February 4, 2025

The striker netted 10 goals and assisted 3 in 54 senior appearances for his club, prompting interest from Celtic and Premier League clubs. However, due to Brexit rules, the successful team cannot sign Meila until he turns 18 in September, meaning he can continue plying his trade and developing with St Pat’s.

Melia earned the PFA Ireland Young Player of the Year award and the Pat’s Young Player of the Year award after an impressive campaign.

Melia has been capped up to Under-19 level for Ireland and was called up to the Under-21s, where he’ll likely continue as he continues to make his way in the game. Celtic had shown interest in the player but you can imagine the lure of English football and the associated riches was tough to turn down.

Former Celtic boss, Ange Postecoglou is hanging on to his job at the moment following his team’s 2-1 loss to relegation-battling Leicester City…

The Aussie has been under pressure for some time now and the club heirarchy has thought to be losing patience with his reluctance to change or adapt during games this season.

Daniel Levy brought big Ange to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium back in the summer of 2023, after the ex-Australia manager won a domestic Treble with Scottish Premiership side.. It was a crushing blow to the club as he had brought us back from the doldrums in the aftermath of that horrific Covid season when there were no spectators allowed into the games.

Ange has a never-say-die attitude

He brought a never-say-die attitude back into the DNA of Celtic and built a team that the fans could be proud of once again. With players like Kyogo, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Daizen Maeda and Jota, the big man helped to not only rebuild something special, but ensured that the future of Celtic was more secure by having assets that would appreciate in value the better they became as players.

Dream is is fast becoming a nightmare

Now though, his dream move to manage in the English Premier League is fast becoming a nightmare and after today’s terrible result, he will be hanging onto his job. With Spurs in real danger now of slipping into a battle to stay in the Premier League, it remains to be seen if Ange Postecoglou can survive this one. It would be a real shame if it were to end like this for Ange, as there are obvious mitigating circumstances that coincide with this recent form and injuries to key players.

Ange Postecoglou says he can’t ask any more of his players after Tottenham’s defeat to Leicester. 🗣#TOTLEI #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/5hXLhhqMuY

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) January 26, 2025

🚨🤯 One point in the last 7 PL games for Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham! 😳

❌ 6-3 loss vs Liverpool

❌ 1-0 loss vs Nottingham Forest

⚖️ 2-2 draw vs Wolves

❌ 2-1 loss vs Newcastle

❌ 2-1 loss vs Arsenal

❌ 3-2 loss vs Everton

❌ 2-1 loss vs Leicester City pic.twitter.com/OivCM2aKXr

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 26, 2025

🚨🗣️ “Will you still be Spurs manager when all the injured players come back?”.

Postecoglou: “Who knows? I’m sure there will be a fair chunk that say no. But I don’t feel isolated as the players are giving everything for this club and l’ve got great staff also doing the same”. pic.twitter.com/wGkIbPXh72

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 26, 2025

Paul Gillespie

Highly experienced David Pleat is a good addition to the Celtic scouting staff…

New head of football operations Paul Tisdale has added a well respected and experienced member to his scouting team in the shape of David Pleat who will focus on our recruitment down south for Celtic.

A wealth of experience

The 80 year old has a wealth of experience in the game in a career that’s spanned over 60 years. Having managed clubs such as Spurs, Luton Leicester and Sheffield Wednesday he will have a wealth of knowledge of the English game, not to mention numerous contacts that can be only be used to our advantage.

David has also had advisory roles with Nottingham Forest, West Brom and Portsmouth, as well as working for the premier league as an analyst for youth games and advising on academies.

A consultant scout at Tottenham

For the past 14 years he’s been employed by Spurs as a consultant scout, and he’s said to have been influential in the signings of players such as Jan Vertonghen, Dele Alli, and Ben Davies.

David may be well in his advancing years, but a man who is the longest serving manager on the league managers association board and management committee, as well as an inductee in the LMA hall of fame alongside the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, Fabio Capello, Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, and Jurgen Klopp can only be beneficial to our much criticised scouting department.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

Paul Merson reckons Ange Postecoglou’s swashbuckling approach at Celtic doesn’t work in the English Premier League…

The Sky Sports pundit lamented the former Celtic manager’s tactical decision-making as Tottenham who despite being 2-0 up against London rivals Chelsea, collapsed and lost 4-3 to Enzo Maresca’s high-flying Blues.

Ange is back at Ibrox on Thursday night

Under huge pressure heading into Spurs’ Europa League clash with theRangers at Ibrox on Thursday night, Postecoglou is receiving criticism from all quarters having lost 19 of his last 40 matches in charge.

As usual, the 59 year-old experienced manager’s gung-ho, all out attack approach has been lambasted in the media with fans rapidly running out of patience.

Prominent Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson used the Hoops as a comparison of why Postecoglou’s current Tottenham players cannot play the same way as his Celtic team so often performed to perfection in the Scottish Premiership.

The ex-Treble winning Celtic manager

Since day one at Tottenham, Ange has been consistently questioned about his tactical outlook, and with results not going his way just now, it remains to be seen whether impatient owner Daniel Levy will keep the ex-Treble winning Celtic manager in the dugout for the foreseeable future in North London.

“Like they’re playing against Kilmarnock or St Mirren”

Speaking to Sky Sports post-match, Paul Merson alongside a panel of Jamie Carragher and Jamie Redknapp said, “I don’t want to have a go because I like Ange and I like watching Tottenham play. But I’m watching the game and it’s like: ‘We’re 2-0 up against Chelsea, let’s just keep on going.’ It’s like they’re playing against Kilmarnock or St Mirren and ‘I’m the Celtic manager and I’ve got the best players.”

“I haven’t got the best players at Tottenham. I haven’t got the best players, so I have to change. I’m not Man City when I can go: ‘You have a shot, we have a shot and we will destroy you,’ like they have over the years.”

“You’ve got to be cute. you’ve got to say: ‘Right, we’re 2-0 up here. Sit back and let’s counterattack.’ Solanke was ruining the centre halves, holding it up and bringing people in. They couldn’t live with him.”

“I don’t want to have a go at Ange because I do like him”

Merson added, “but then they were charging all over the place and all of a sudden Lavia, the ball comes in and he just put it round the corner to Enzo Fernandez or Palmer and then they’re running the defenders. It’s so naive.”

“I don’t want to have a go at Ange because I do like him. But it was too easy for Chelsea and that’s why I said at half-time that there was no doubt that Chelsea with this football match becauseI just know what Tottenham are going to do.”

Hopefully the Tottenham players can turn things around for Ange in their next game by hitting thei opponents hard with a thumping Spurs victory.

Conor Spence

Ange Postecoglou was on the receiving end of some toxic abuse from the Tottenham Hotspur support. The North London side fell to a 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth, which sparked some abuse from the away end.

Spurs, who have been through top managers such as Conte and Mourinho, appear to have turned on yet another manager, who would set them up for success. Weeks after beating Man City, Ange was taking abuse from the away fans and he appeared to be aggrieved at the comments.

The End 👋🏼 pic.twitter.com/mIGmvNOnUI

— Matt (@the_jobber) December 5, 2024

Ange was a huge success in his two seasons at Celtic, rebuilding and developing a successful, attractive style of play. The opportunity to go to Spurs after winning five trophies appeared to be the next step in the Aussie’s managerial career; although, it appeared that Spurs was a poisoned chalice.

Meanwhile, back at Celtic, Brendan Rodgers is living life as his side compete on all fronts. The Scottish Champions had a difficult start to life post-Ange; however, the Irishman quietly went about doing his work and Celtic completed the season with a Double. In the next couple of weeks, Celtic can secure the League Cup while taking a big step towards the UCL next phase as well as continuing their fine form in the league.