67 Hail Hail

One thing you can’t deny and that’s the fact that Ange Postecoglou provides entertainment wherever he goes.

The Celtic hero brought that in bucketloads during his time in Glasgow, and also in the colours of Tottenham Hotspur.

Even though Spurs won the Europa League last season, their first major trophy in nearly 20 years, Postecoglou was still sacked after a very poor Premier League campaign.

It’s fair to say, that call from Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, divided opinion across the board, as Neil Warnock shared his interesting views on it all.

Neil Warnock on what Ange Postecoglou ‘got away’ with at Celtic after Tottenham sacking

Postecoglou won the Treble in his final season at Celtic, including five trophies in total, as he joined the season after Rangers had stopped the ten.

But, in the famous green and white colours, Warnock thinks Postecoglou ‘got away’ with not having a ‘plan B’, as he told talkSPORT.

Despite the Greek-born Australian putting the defensive brakes on for the most important period of the season, when Spurs were trying to win a trophy, he was still criticised by Warnock for not changing.

“I would have, for six months to a year,” stated Warnock on whether he would have stuck with Ange at Tottenham.

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“I enjoy watching his teams play. I just think the problem with Ange is that, similar to the guy at Man United (Ruben Amorim), they don’t have a plan B. You can’t go into any club, whether it’s non-league or Premier League. You can’t go in and say, ‘I am going to play this way. I am going to play that way.’

“I think, where he has been in the past, he has been able to get away with that. I am not being disrespectful.”

Simon Jordan interrupted: “What at Celtic?”

Before Warnock continued: “Here (in England), you have to have a plan B. I don’t think he had a plan B. You would be winning 2-0, or what have you, and he will still be flying out.

“The top teams, you don’t lose a game when you are winning 2-0, you come out on top, whatever it is, and he never seemed to have that. He didn’t have a look at the other side of the game, and tactically, how he could shut up shop. I thought he did that for the final. I hope he does get another job because he is a character.”

Warnock told Nick Montgomery ‘I hope you get sacked’

As Celtic fans would have seen when Postecoglou arrived in Glasgow, he doesn’t stick with the same coaching staff, and he does chop and change.

At Parkhead, he had the likes of Harry Kewell working beside him, but in London, he brought in former Hibernian coach Nick Montgomery.

Warnock shared what he texted Montgomery, as a joke, as soon as Spurs won the Europa League, which ended up becoming a reality for him and Postecoglou.

“I text Nick Montgomery after they won the Europa League, ‘I hope you get the sack now.’”, said Warnock.

“I said, ‘next season, you lose the first two or three games. You will hell on.’ I said, ‘you will get a good club now. He will get a good club. Give Ange my regards, will you? Well done.’ It just shows you, doesn’t it?! Because that’s what it’s like.”

Ange Postecoglou’s exit from Tottenham Hotspur has been a major talking point.

The Celtic hero was very successful in Glasgow before leaving and joining the London club during the summer of 2023.

The 59-year-old finished fifth in his debut campaign, despite losing star man Harry Kane, and then Tottenham won the Europa League last season.

Despite that success, Daniel Levy sacked Postecoglou, as Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League overall, and it has caused a huge debate.

Martin O’Neill has been in the same shoes as Postecoglou, in regard to being in the Celtic Park dugout, as well as testing himself in the English Premier League, and he wasn’t too fond of what Simon Jordan has been saying.

Martin O’Neill and Simon Jordan clash over Celtic hero Ange Postecoglou’s sacking

Levy is the man making the calls at the top of Spurs house, and in recent years, he has sacked trophy-laden coaches Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.

O’Neill wanted to make the point that ‘the game is about winning’, but Jordan wanted to highlight Ange’s Premier League form rather than what he won, as they told talkSPORT.

Added to that, the former Crystal Palace owner played down the Europa League success and who Spurs had to face during the knockout stages.

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Remember, this is a man who is good friends with Levy, so it’s no wonder he is defending him so much and becoming a Levy apologist.

The man has sacked more trophy-winning coaches (Ange, Conte and Mourinho) to name a few, than Spurs have won trophies (2) since he sat in the boardroom at the start of the century.

“But here, in terms of Daniel Levy speaking about this,” said O’Neill. “This idea about winning. You have to win. The game is about winning. It’s about winning.

As an owner of a football club, what do you want to do? I expect that losing 22 league games is unacceptable absolutely.

“But you have won a trophy that gets you into the Champions League in your second year, so what you are really saying is, you are setting down the lines, the only thing that counts really is the Premier League. It’s the only thing that counts.”

Jordan: “No. You are being a bit binary, and you are beyond that. When somebody shows you themselves believe it. The reality of it is, if you are two years into your job, you have got a Europa competition which you want to win, and it gets a monkey off your back.

“You look forward, like we do know with Rory McIlroy (after winning the Masters). Forget what he has done, look at what he is going to do next. What am I going to do next with Ange? Can this guy continue to evolve this football club? If I have more questions than I have answers, then the answer has to be likely not.”

O’Neill: “Okay, so it’s not about winning.”

Jordan: “Of course it’s about winning. It’s about what you do next after you have won. It’s about winning consistently.”

O’Neill: “Well, let’s see. Let’s go and try and build on this. Now you have done something.”

Jordan: “You got me the win in a competition that had all the advantages. Look at who I played. Look at who the opportunities I had.”

O’Neill: “I don’t think you can look at it like that. When you set off in a competition. You don’t turn around and say, ‘well, I get myself into’. No, sorry. It’s the most important thing. You win the competition.”

Postecoglou’s lucky escape

The Celtic legend should see this as a blessing in disguise, and he should now move to a club that appreciates him more.

With Brendan Rodgers’ contract running down in 2026, the Greek-born Australian is always welcome back at Celtic Park.

But you just know that Postecoglou will continue to win trophies, wherever he goes next, you can’t say the same about Spurs.

Celtic fans would have been keeping an eye on the goings-on at Tottenham Hotspur recently.

That’s because Celtic hero Ange Postecoglou was sacked by Spurs, despite winning the Europa League last month in Bilbao.

Postecoglou is welcome back at Celtic any time of the day, as the London club have now appointed Thomas Frank as their new coach.

The 51-year-old goes to Tottenham from Brentford, and there is a chance he could meet Celtic in the Champions League next season.

But Frank leaves behind a big void at Brentford, and could certain players now follow suit during the 2025 summer transfer window?

Could Kristoffer Ajer return to Celtic after Thomas Frank leaves Brentford and joins Tottenham?

When Kristoffer Ajer left Celtic in 2021 for £13.5 million, he joined Frank’s Brentford after they had just earned promotion to the Premier League.

Ajer has been told to leave Brentford by his international manager, Stale Solbakken, on top of the fact that now the man who brought him in has gone to Spurs.

So, you wonder if that increases Ajer’s chances of leaving even further, and returning to Celtic this summer, especially with the club looking for added quality at the back.

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The Celtic Park faithful would certainly welcome the 27-year-old back, especially after his success when he was at the club.

Ajer’s record at Celtic under Brendan Rodgers

Celtic love a reunion, and there have been plenty of them of late, including the popular return of Kieran Tierney.

Added to that, Rodgers knows Ajer’s game inside out, as well as the Norway star understanding what the Celtic manager wants.

The other thing with Ajer is that if you sign a man of that calibre, then he walks straight back into Celtic’s backline.

Cameron Carter-Vickers is still the main guy, but Auston Trusty and Liam Scales aren’t exactly cementing their place in the team.

For those Celtic fans who tune into talkSPORT, sometimes you hear or listen to a lot of nonsense being spouted.

Not many people have a louder mouth than Jason Cundy, as he appears alongside Jamie O’Hara in his regular evening time slot.

In recent weeks, Celtic fans would have seen the unfortunate sacking of Ange Postecoglou from Tottenham Hotspur.

Despite Postecoglou winning the Europa League, Spurs’ first major trophy in 17 years, and first European honour since 1984, the powers that be at Hotspur Way saw it fit to sack the Celtic hero – the London club finished 17th during the recently concluded Premier League campaign.

Since then, there have been some interesting reactions to Postecoglou being booted out, but in some cases, it has come along with the utter disrespect and disregard of Scotland’s most successful club.

Celtic hero Ange Postecoglou questioned at the ‘top level’ after Tottenham sacking

There aren’t many clubs across the world where the pressure is greater than at Celtic, because you might as well finish bottom than second.

That pressure isn’t easy to deal with, yet Cundy saw it fit to suggest on talkSPORT that Postecoglou is a ‘stupid’ and ‘gullible’ coach who ‘isn’t built for top-level management’, despite proving himself in Glasgow.

Even after winning the Europa League in Bilbao, Cundy dismissed it all as pure ‘luck’ to the dismay of his fellow pundit, O’Hara.

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“No, he’s not,” stated Cundy on Postecoglou not being a good manager. “Thomas Frank (Spurs’ new coach) is not naive. He’s not gullible, and he’s not as stupid (as Postecoglou).

“Another thing that Ange has to look back at himself on is the way he dealt with the media. He’s prickly. Moany. Grumpy. He was terrible in front of the media. Terrible. It was a ridiculous tenure.

“I am going to come onto that (Tottenham still won a trophy). You can win a trophy by playing like that. You can. You aren’t going to do anything in the league. You are going to win a trophy, because you might get lucky one day. Spurs got lucky to win that trophy. They aren’t the second-best side in Europe; that’s what it’s supposed to be.

“Ange isn’t built for top-level management. He’s not. He’s not built.”

O’Hara responded: “Why do you mean ‘top-level management’? He has won the Europa League?! Oh, come on! You can’t say, ‘he’s not built for top-level management.'”

Cundy added: “Roberto Di Matteo won the Champions League. What are you going to tell me now? I am talking top level. Elite. Every single game. Season in, and season out.”

Postecoglou’s record at Celtic

From Australia to England’s capital, Postecoglou hasn’t managed a team with greater expectations than at Celtic.

There is no doubt that the huge amounts of money in England make it a bigger platform, but time and time again, the Treble-winner at Celtic has proven his worth.

And remember, he told the whole world before Christmas, when Spurs were struggling, ‘I always win a trophy in my second season’, and he delivered on one of the coldest quotes in football history.

Ange Postecoglou is a free agent after his Tottenham Hotspur sacking.

The Aussie-Greek manager was brutally dismissed by the Spurs hierarchy last week after the club’s worst ever Premier League finish.

However, Ange won the Europa League final for the club having beaten Manchester United 1-0 in Bilbao to secure the UEFA trophy.

It was Tottenham’s first piece of major silverware since 2008, but that wasn’t enough for chairman Daniel Levy and company.

So what next for Celtic’s Treble-winning manager Postecoglou? Well, could he be on his way to the Saudi Pro League?

Al-Ahli have shortlisted ex-Celtic boss Postecoglou

The Telegraph are sensationally reporting that Postecoglou is being targeted by Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ahli.

But they will only pursue the 59-year-old if Al-Ahli’s current highly-rated manager Matthias Jaissle leaves to return to Europe.

Al-Ahli are the current Asian Champions League holders and boast high-profile stars such as Ivan Toney, Roberto Firmino, Riyad Mahrez and Edouard Mendy.

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The report adds that Postecoglou will be a man in demand this summer with several offers set to be tabled for the ex-Celtic gaffer.

Ange has managed in Asia before, of course, with Yokohama F. Marinos where he guided them to the J. League title before a switch to Paradise in 2021.

Postecoglou’s record at Celtic and Tottenham

Postecoglou was dominant as Celtic manager as he won five out of the six major trophies he competed for between 2021 and 2023.

He won the Treble in 2022/23 and that led him to Tottenham and the Premier League. He finished 5th with Spurs in his first season and thus qualified for the Europa League.

However, his second campaign in North London was rather strange. Despite winning the Europa League, Spurs finished 17th in England’s top-flight as they lost a mammoth 22 games.

Thomas Frank has been appointed Ange’s successor at Tottenham having left Brentford.

Ange Postecoglou was a tremendous success at Celtic.

The former Tottenham boss won five out of six trophies during his time at Celtic and as the fans celebrated, Postecoglou was making his way to Spurs.

But now that Postecoglou’s time at Tottenham is over, it appears that the former Celtic boss’ Premier League return could be close.

However, former Hoops defender Ramon Vega believes that the Aussie has some unfinished business to attend to at Celtic as Postecoglou’s next career move looms.

Ramon Vega believes Ange Postecoglou would bring ‘massive added value’ to Celtic

Postecoglou wiped the floor with Scottish football during his time at Celtic but Vega reckons there is still some work in Europe the Australian would like to finish off.

When asked if he thinks Postecoglou has unfinished business in management, Vega told the Daily Record, “With Celtic, yes. But don’t forget, Celtic is a different ball game from Spurs.

“He went into the Champions League – that’s a completely different tournament. But at the same time, he’s put down a marker now.

“He did a good job for Celtic, and he’s done a really remarkable job winning a trophy with Spurs. If he goes back, he’ll return with serious Premier League experience. That would bring massive added value to Celtic in Europe.

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“Celtic and Champions League nights – they’re among the best in the world. Just Celtic is Celtic.”

Ange Postecoglou’s results with Celtic in Europe

Postecoglou struggled in Europe with Celtic due to a variety of factors. At the beginning of his tenure, much like at Spurs, injury curtailed his progress at Parkhead.

However, Postecoglou’s gung-ho attacking style also caused Celtic problems as the step up in class of player punished the Parkhead club.

Here is how Ange fared in Europe with Celtic:

All fixtures include qualifying rounds but even so, Postecoglou’s record does not make great reading. Fortunately for Celtic, Rodgers has helped restore the club’s reputation on the competition and the fans will be hoping he continues that this season in the Champions League.

Celtic hero Ange Postecoglou’s future could be about to take another twist this week.

Less than a week on from Postecoglou’s dismissal at Spurs, Celtic fans could see the Australian back in the dugout for the start of next season.

Postecoglou’s heroics in Europe appear to have kept the former Celtic manager in the frame for a top job in England.

And it appears another Premier League club could be looking to keep the ex-Celtic man in England’s top flight sooner rather than later.

Mystery Premier League club want former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou

A report in the Daily Mail has said that Postecoglou is already a ‘target’ for another Premier League club less than four days after Spurs sacked the Celtic icon.

The Australian manager’s stock is still high despite Tottenham languishing in 17th place in the league as the Europa League win has clearly impressed a club in England’s top tier.

Quite who that club is is anyone’s guess but should Thomas Frank be named manager of Spurs, the managerial merry-go round that will undoubtedly ensue should give clues as to where Postecoglou could land next.

If it is in the Premier League, then that will set up a couple of blockbuster fixtures if the former Celtic boss manages against his old club in England.

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Possible destinations for Ange Postecoglou in the Premier League

Would Brentford look at Postecoglou as a replacement for Thomas Frank? What a move that would be.

Leicester City, although are relegated, are technically still classed as a Premier League club until the new season begins. As are Ipswich and Southampton.

Or could one of the promoted clubs from the Championship be interested in the former Celtic man?

Other than that, it’s hard to see which other clubs would be keen on Postecoglou unless the chain reaction of Thomas Frank joining Spurs creates surprise openings amongst the clubs in the top-tier.

It’s certainly one for Celtic fans to watch out for this summer.

Celtic will be doing everything they can to keep hold of Daizen Maeda this summer.

The Japan star, whose nation has already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, is having a well-earned rest and isn’t currently on international duty following the conclusion of the 2024/25 season.

Maeda scored 33 goals for Celtic this term, as Brendan Rodgers secured the domestic double, after narrowly missing out on the Treble after losing to Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup final on penalties.

One of the main reasons why Celtic were so successful, as well as making improvements in the Champions League, was because of the rip-roaring form of their all-action forward.

The 27-year-old has caught the attention of many across Europe, including transfer interest from Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce and Tottenham Hotspur, who recently sacked Ange Postecoglou.

How Celtic started transfer negotiations for Daizen Maeda, with Fenerbahce and Tottenham keen

Previously, Celtic fans weren’t happy when around ‘£10 million’ was quoted by the Turkish media for Maeda’s talents. That was never going to happen.

But now, Turkish outlet Sozcu have claimed that the champions of Scotland have started transfer negotiations at ‘£25 million’ for their PFA Player of the Year.

It has also been reported that things have been made to be ‘more difficult’ for Fenerbahce because Tottenham are also keen on the player.

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The good news for the Celtic Park faithful is that the club are putting a big price tag over their player’s head, but the bad news is the interest from Spurs, who have the money to spend after securing Champions League football, and how Mourinho’s side will play ‘all their cards’ to sign Maeda.

Breakdown of Maeda’s numbers for Celtic

When Kyogo Furuhashi left Celtic in January, the club needed somebody to fill the striker void, and it wasn’t a new signing that came in, or Adam Idah, who did that, but Maeda.

The versatile forward played centrally and went goal crazy, including scoring against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

There’s been plenty of pundit reaction to the news regarding Ange Postecoglou.

Postecoglou was sacked by Tottenham Hotspur on Friday evening as the Celtic hero was dismissed after exactly two years in North London.

Big Ange won the Europa League final against Manchester United in May, but that wasn’t enough to persuade Daniel Levy and the board to keep him.

Chris Sutton and John Hartson were baffled by Spurs’ call to ditch Postecoglou, while Son Heung-min posted a classy farewell statement.

Now, former Celtic and Ireland midfielder Roy Keane has delivered his view.

Keane reacts to Tottenham sacking Postecoglou

Keane was speaking live on ITV Sport as he covered England’s 2026 World Cup qualifying encounter against Andorra on Saturday.

Asked for his take on Postecoglou’s exit from Spurs, who Keane supported as a boy, he replied: “Winning a trophy for the club was a great day for the club and obviously the big plus was getting back in the Champions League.

“But they’ve felt the league form, not just this season but at the end of last season wasn’t good enough.

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“It’s always sad to see a manager losing his job but you’d like to think Ange will be fixed up pretty quickly because he won a trophy.

“The league form hasn’t been good enough but you’d think the trophy would have given him an opportunity to stay a bit longer.”

Postecoglou’s record at Celtic and Tottenham

Ange built a dominant Celtic side during his two years at Parkhead as he won five major trophies which included a domestic Treble.

That was enough for him to earn the Spurs gig, before going on to lead them to a 5th placed finish in his first Premier League season.

Spurs thus qualified for the Europa League and went on to win the tournament for the first time since the early 1980s.

It was Tottenham’s first trophy since 2008, yet they have decided to part ways with Ange due to the club’s worst ever Premier League campaign last season.

Celtic are in a tough spot when it comes to nurturing youngsters through their academy ranks.

More often than not these days, the Hoops are helpless in their efforts to deliver a clear pathway from the lower age groups to the first-team squad.

That’s because the lure of the big Premier League clubs down south for these youngsters proves to be too attractive. As the saying goes, money talks.

Daniel Cummings was the latest Celtic kid to move to England as he made a £300k switch to West Ham United after impressing for Celtic B in the Lowland League and UEFA Youth League.

And now, the Bhoys are about to lose another young talent to a Premier League club’s academy.

Celtic’s Conall Glancy close to Tottenham transfer

It is being reported by former 67 Hail Hail writer and now freelance journalist Mark Hendry that Celtic kid Conall Glancy is set for a transfer to Tottenham Hotspur.

Via his Substack, Hendry states that a number of English clubs are after Glancy’s signature, but that Spurs are currently at the front of the queue to secure the player.

Very little is known publicly about Glancy, but it is clear Tottenham have been tracking the kid as he developed through the age groups at Lennoxtown.

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Glancy is now 16 and it’s within the age range of the late teens when Premier League sides usually come knocking on the door to pinch young Scottish talent for very little financially.

Glancy joins long list of young Celtic departures

As mentioned, Cummings is the most recent example of Premier League clubs pinching Celtic’s promising youngsters for pennies.

Ben Doak moved to Liverpool in 2022 from the Hoops for a small compensation fee, which hurts even more now given the potential he has in the game.

We’ve also seen Rocco Vata and Daniel Kelly move down to Watford and Millwall respectively, although both players were not keen to sign new contracts.

However, Vata and Kelly were handed limited first-team opportunities when they felt they should have been given more minutes by the likes of Ange Postecoglou and now Brendan Rodgers.

So while Celtic are blameless for deals such as the Glancy one, the club can do more to blood youth into the first-team earlier and give them a taste of what it’s like to represent the Hoops at Parkhead.