67 Hail Hail

Weeks don’t come much better than the one Troy Parrott has just had for Ireland.

The national side came into the week as outsiders, needing to win against Portugal at home as well as away to Hungary if they wanted to stay alive and make the play-offs for the World Cup.

Up stepped Parrott. He firstly sunk the Portuguese with a brace in Dublin, with the first goal being set up by Celtic’s Liam Scales.

Then, their task was simple: beat Hungary in Budapest. They did it the hard way, falling behind twice in the first half, but Parrott was the hero once again. He scored a hat-trick as Ireland won 3-2, sealing it with the last touch of the game.

He is also in red-hot form for AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands – but things could’ve been very different.

Ireland hero Troy Parrott rejected Celtic for Spurs after trial

Parrott’s name has been known for a number of years; he was seen as a prodigious talent as a teenager.

He was on the books at the famed Belvedere youth academy in Dublin when clubs across the water started to clamour for his services.

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One of them, he revealed, was Celtic. The Hoops have a long history of signing young Irish players, and were interested in Parrott’s signature.

But he told LondonNewsOnline in 2020 that he felt ‘at home’ at Tottenham, where he ended up being on the books for seven years before moving to AZ for eight million Euros.

He said: “I like to think they [Belvedere] are one of the best schoolboy teams in Dublin. I was in trials for some other clubs as well.

“I don’t know who came from Tottenham to scout me but then I got told by Belvedere that they wanted to take me.

“I had been on trial at Celtic and they wanted to have me back. But as soon as I went to Spurs I felt at home.”

Parrott spent time on loan at five different clubs before his move to AZ – he only ever made four senior appearances for Tottenham.

But 2017 wasn’t his only chance to join Celtic.

Troy Parrott could have joined Celtic on loan

Three years later, Parrott was seeking first-team experience and Celtic were interested.

The Hoops made an approach for Parrott, but the striker rejected them once again, instead moving to Millwall in the Championship.

This could well have been because he wasn’t expecting sufficient game time in Glasgow, with Odsonne Edouard, Leigh Griffiths and Albian Ajeti on Neil Lennon’s books at the time.

Parrott reportedly now has admirers from all over Europe, and is probably out of Celtic’s reach for now.

Martin O’Neill isn’t shy to say what he thinks, whether that was as a manager or now in the punditry world.

Perhaps the Celtic hero isn’t as vocal or confidently arrogant as Jose Mourinho, but you can probably cut them from the same cloth.

One man whom O’Neill wanted to mention alongside the Portuguese great is Ange Postecoglou, after he was sacked by Nottingham Forest over the weekend.

This is the second time Postecoglou has been sacked this year, after Tottenham Hotspur booted him out in the summer, despite winning the Europa League.

Postecoglou has never gone down without a fight, and O’Neill was keen to defend the Treble-winner at Celtic.

Celtic hero Martin O’Neill’s brilliant Ange Postecoglou and Jose Mourinho comparison

In the press conference in the lead-up to Postecoglou’s final game as Forest manager – a 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea – he defended himself, his record, and winning a trophy at Spurs.

Speaking on talkSPORT, O’Neill wanted to compare it to Mourinho, and how he once, whilst walking out of a press conference as the Manchester United manager in 2018, shouted ‘respect, respect, respect’, whilst informing the journalists of how many Premier League titles he had won.

“The first point is that he does this monologue,” said O’Neill about Postecoglou’s presser before his sacking.

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“And do you know sometimes as a manager you feel that you have to almost defend yourself, and that went on a long time, I believe, and probably too long. On reflection, I’m quite sure he thought, “Oh, listen, I shouldn’t have said this.’

“But I remember Jose Mourinho, who’s a serial winner, great, great, great manager. If the world ended tomorrow, he would go down as one of the greats. And him having to defend himself one time. I remember him shouting ‘respect, respect, respect’ as he left the press conference. Sometimes, it does get to you as a manager.

“If you had said to Tottenham Hotspur last year, you will actually be in the Champions League the following year, you would have taken that all day long.

“Now, they didn’t know what circuit of route they were going to get into the Champions League. Losing a load of league matches, but still ending up winning the Europa League.

“I still have to try and come to terms with this here, the results were very, very poor from Tottenham, they lost a lot of matches, but they still won a trophy that got them into the Champions League. I thought that’s what you were in the game to do, which is actually win some trophies. Balancing it out.

“The pressure came with him not being wanted (by Nottingham Forest) to begin with, so you are on the back foot immediately.”

That famous Mourinho ‘respect’ press conference

Mourinho has had many legendary moments, and he has always backed it up with trophy after trophy after trophy.

When under pressure as the manager of Manchester United in 2018, after losing a game 3-0 to Tottenham, he proceeded to tell the room what other significance the number three had.

“What was the result?” asked Mourinho “Do you know what this means? (holds up three fingers)? 3-0. But also means, three Premierships and I won more Premierships alone than the other 19 managers together.

“Three for me, and two for them. Respect, respect, respect, respect man, respect.”

Ange Postecoglou is a free agent again, so fans can restart those Celtic rumours.

After Postecoglou was sacked by Tottenham Hotspur in the summer, some questioned whether a return to Celtic could be on the cards, especially with Brendan Rodgers’ contract expiring.

But on Saturday afternoon, Postecoglou was sacked again, this time by Nottingham Forest, after their 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea.

The treatment of the Celtic hero has been slammed, including by former Forest centre-back Michael Dawson.

Celtic hero Ange Postecoglou was ‘never going to change’ after Nottingham Forest sacking

Everyone saw at Celtic that Postecoglou’s teams play one way, and one way only. That’s on the front foot, and with the fullbacks acting like number 10s.

That continued at Spurs, which resulted in them winning the Europa League, and Dawson wanted to make it clear that Postecoglou was ‘never’ going to change his way.

That’s why, speaking on Sky Sports, Dawson found it more puzzling that Forest went from playing under a defensive style with Nuno Espirito Santo to the all-action Postecoglou.

“Am I surprised it has happened now? Probably not on the back of his eight games, and 18 goals conceded,” said Dawson.

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“I sat on Sky Sports News on Monday and said, ‘give the guy time.’ How long was this going to carry on for? Marinakis (Forest owner) has brought this on himself.

“People at Nottingham Forest, when Ange got the job, were thinking, ‘why him?’ So much of a contrast with Nuno, and what he did and the way Ange played last year. Yes, he brought a trophy for Tottenham. Magnificent.

“But Ange, what we saw at Celtic, what we saw at Spurs, he was never going to change. Do I feel for him? I certainly do. Ange hasn’t shirked anything.”

Sean Dyche replaces Postecoglou

Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has made some crazy calls, and now he has gone back to employing a defensive-minded coach.

There was talk of Sean Dyche possibly being the next Rangers boss, as well as Brendan Rodgers being linked with the Forest gig.

But instead, the Midlands side, who are sitting in the Premier League’s relegation zone, have turned to Dyche as their new manager.

That will shut up the noise around Rodgers going to Forest, but his future at Celtic looks more and more like it will end next summer.

Ange Postecoglou will always be a hero at Celtic and Tottenham Hotspur despite being sacked by Nottingham Forest last week.

Postecoglou was dismissed by Forest owner Angelos Marinakis after the former Celtic boss oversaw the worst start to a Premier League season by anyone in the history of the competition.

In fairness to Postecoglou, he had players at the club who were not used to the style of football Celtic supporters loved when the Australian was in charge at Paradise.

And he was also only given 39 days to try and implement it. But that didn’t stop Gabby Agbonlahor from making this strange comment just under 48 hours after Ange left Nottingham Forest.

Gabby Agbonlahor says Celtic hero Ange Postecoglou is not ‘a great coach’

Postecoglou’s sacking will hopefully mean the Australian will end his fascination with the Premier League. Almost from the get-go, journalists and the media had it in for him.

And after Agbonlahor’s strange take, the former Aston Villa man appears as clueless and arrogant as the English media men.

Stelling asked Agbonlahor on talkSPORT, “Look, he’s great character. But is he a great coach?”

Agbonlahor replied, “I don’t think so, mate. Listen, he’s done some great things at Celtic. Fantastic winning the Europa League with Spurs.

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“But 22 Premier League defeats, eight without a win so far before he got sacked. Sorry, at Nottingham Forest, doesn’t look right.

“You have to change the formation. Didn’t name the same team twice in a game which is wild.

“Chris Wood was fantastic leading the line last season with 20 Premier League goals, and can’t get a game.

“It just seemed a bit shambolic, didn’t it at times?”

Agbonlahor’s verdict just typifies the English arrogance to any manager who doesn’t make it in the Premier League. And the way he just discarded Postecoglou’s achievements, not only at Celtic and Spurs, but at every other club just shows that he is no better in his views.

Ange Postecoglou’s overall managerial record including Celtic makes a mockery of Agbonlahor

There are literally no words to describe what Agbonlahor has just said about Ange Postecoglou so 67 Hail Hail will just leave his managerial record and list of honours here for the talkSPORT pundit to chew on.

National Soccer League: 1997–98, 1998–99

Oceania Club Championship: 1999

A-League Championship: 2010–11, 2011–12

A-League Premiership: 2010–11

J1 League: 2019

Scottish Premiership: 2021–22, 2022–23

Scottish Cup: 2022–23

Scottish League Cup: 2021–22, 2022–23

UEFA Europa League: 2024–25

OFC U-17 Championship: 2001, 2003, 2005

OFC U-20 Championship: 2001, 2002, 2005

AFF U-20 Youth Championship: 2006

AFC Asian Cup: 2015

Well, it didn’t take long for Darren Bent’s daft view about Celtic and Rangers playing in England to get shot down now, did it?

No sooner had Bent claimed Celtic and Rangers wouldn’t win the Championship despite both teams being bigger than clubs in the Premier League, Jeff Stelling jumped in to clamp the former Spurs man.

Stelling is a big fan of Scottish football and doesn’t have the blinkers on like most pundits do when he talks about Celtic or Rangers.

And after hearing what his talkSPORT colleague said about Celtic in England’s second-tier, Stelling sent Bent a ‘huge’ home truth about the Parkhead club and Rangers.

With Bent talking about how no manager would leave the Championship to come to manage Celtic or Rangers right now, Stelling wasn’t having any of it.

Speaking to Ben Foster, Stelling tells Bent a few home truths about the appeal of both Glasgow clubs.

Stelling told talkSPORT, “I get that Ben, but with Rangers and Celtic comes the opportunity of winning something, you know, being in Europe.

“I mean, they may not be the Champions League this season but nevertheless, in Europe, they are massive clubs.”

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Foster had a different point of view and said, “Massive clubs. I agree with Benty. I think he’s got it spot on. It’s changed so much as well. You think back even sort of 10-15 years, Rangers and Celtic, it is completely different now.

“They’re a force. They’ve always been a force. But with the way that the money has upped not only the Premier League, but then that’s filtered down through the leagues, into the EFL, the Championship, League One, there’s players in the Championship, genuinely earning 40, 50, 60,000 pounds a week and Celtic and Rangers can’t compete with that.

“And at the end of the day, everybody knows that it’s a short career, and they need to make as much money as they can. So there’s going to be very few players who are going to be willing to want to do it, just to try and experience that European football.

“And I know it’s pretty much guaranteed every year that it’s going to be Celtic or Rangers in the qualifying stages for the Champions League. They’ve both obviously missed out this season.

“But still, I just think a lot of players now are looking at the wages available when it comes to moving up to Celtic or Rangers, and it’s probably a safer bet to stay down in England somewhere.”

Jeff Stelling and Ben Foster on the ‘brutal’ gap between Celtic and Rangers

With Celtic sitting second in the league and in a good place to defend their title, Rangers’ floundering start to the season had Stelling and Foster talking about how ‘brutal’ it is for the Ibrox club right now.

Stelling: “I mean, look, there’s pressure on managers in the Championship, of course there is, but managers of one of the Old F-rm, as Russell Martin found out, you know, you’re either first or you’re last to all intents and purposes.”

Foster: “Yeah, it’s brutal up there and Rangers are so far behind at this moment in time as well. I think they’re eighth, aren’t they, in the SPFL at the moment. They’re so far behind Celtic.”

Celtic have caused Rangers numerous instances of pain since 2012 with a Quadruple Treble, nine-in-a-row and league and cup doubles.

And the way it looks right now, that looks set to continue as Brendan Rodgers focuses in on yet another treble in his second tenure as the Celtic boss.

Football management is a small world.

After leaving Celtic to join Tottenham, Ange Postecoglou was sacked in the summer despite winning the Europa League, and now finds himself already under pressure at Nottingham Forest.

His old ally and assistant Kevin Muscat is meanwhile the new favourite to take over at Rangers, who sacked Russell Martin after their draw against Falkirk.

The initial favourite for the Ibrox post was Steven Gerrard, who was Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers’ captain at Liverpool. Everyone knows everyone.

And to tie things back to Tottenham, the new Spurs boss has now revealed his pre-existing relationship with the Hoops manager.

Thomas Frank on Brendan Rodgers

Frank and Rodgers first shared a dugout in an FA Cup tie in January 2020, when Brentford were still in the Championship.

They later did it on several occasions in the Premier League, after Brentford’s promotion the following year.

They are the same age, born just two months apart. So it’s understandable that they’ve maintained a friendship.

But Rodgers isn’t Frank’s only friend in management – he listed several Premier League-adjacent coaches when asked about managers he gets on with.

Speaking on Sportbible, Frank said: “I think we all have massive respect for each other, it’s only us that knows how it is to stand out there and be in the changing room making the decisions and going through scrutiny.

“Huge respect is there and over the years you get closer with some. The English guys, Moyes, Sean Dyche, Brendan Rodgers, Potter and so on.”

Thankfully Brentford didn’t approach Rodgers to replace Frank when he left this summer.

What managers is Brendan Rodgers friends with?

Rodgers isn’t known for making noise about his personal life – unless he’s giving his son a game for Celtic in a friendly.

A manager he is best known for his relationship with is Jose Mourinho. Rodgers essentially owes his career to the Chelsea legend – he was his mentor at Stamford Bridge.

In Scotland, he has worked closely with John McGlynn, influencing the former Hearts boss who is now in charge of Falkirk.

Coaches who have gone from working as Rodgers’ assistant to managing teams in their own right include Chris Davies, Damien Duff and Kolo Toure.

Ange Postecoglou has returned to the dugout, and the entertainment factor has just increased.

The Celtic hero was sacked by Tottenham Hotspur in the summer, despite helping the London club win the Europa League, and has been quickly brought back in by Nottingham Forest.

Postecoglou’s success at Celtic can’t be doubted, and very few people, if anyone, questioned what he did once he got going.

But during Postecoglou’s time in the Premier League, he has been questioned a lot more, including his style of play, as Roy Keane shared his thoughts.

Roy Keane on Ange Postecoglou’s tactics at Celtic

Forest have gone from defending deep and playing counter-attacking football under Nuno Espirito Santo to now bringing in Postecoglou, who prefers his fullbacks to play like number tens.

It was questioned on the Overlap whether Celtic’s Treble-winning coach can implement his style on Forest, and change it so quickly and abruptly.

Keane went back to Postecoglou’s time at Celtic, not what happened on the domestic stage, because the champions of Scotland can go ‘gung-ho’ and beat everyone.

But the legendary midfielder proceeded to mention Postecoglou’s tactics in Europe and how he ‘wouldn’t change for anybody’, and then it proceeded to ‘backfire.’

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Gary Neville: “I was thinking before, about the biggest style shift you could ever get. And I’m thinking like Louis van Gaal to Jose Mourinho (at Manchester United), in terms of they completely changed the whole dynamic.

“Louis van Gaal signed all these technical players, and all of a sudden, you’ve got Jose Mourinho. The (Nottingham Forest) players are going to have an absolute shock. They’ve been playing quite a deep line defence. They have been playing counter-attacking.”

Keane: “These managers can be stubborn. I know, obviously, he did at Spurs, but remember, he did at Celtic. I don’t mean in league matches, because Celtic can be gung-ho in league matches.

“But in Europe, he played a lot of big teams and wouldn’t change for nobody. It backfired at Celtic, but he will argue, that’s my way, that’s my motto and that’s how I’ve ended up getting these good jobs, with Spurs and winning the odd trophy.”

Postecoglou’s record in Europe with Celtic

Prior to the previous campaign, when UEFA revamped their format, Celtic weren’t having a great time of it on the European stage.

So, Postecoglou’s struggles were nothing new, and given that Celtic crashed out of the Champions League under Brendan Rodgers this term, it further proves the point.

But this was Postecoglou’s record with Celtic in Europe, including qualifiers:

Ange Postecoglou makes his Premier League return today.

The former Celtic boss left Parkhead for Tottenham Hotspur in 2023, paving the way for Brendan Rodgers to make his return.

Registering a fifth-placed finish in his first season in North London, Postecoglou promised that his second season at the club would deliver silverware.

That promise was sensationally delivered with a Europa League final win in May – though it didn’t stop Spurs from sacking him amid a desperately poor 17th-placed league finish.

Now back in a job with Nottingham Forest, he makes his return in their fixture against Arsenal – and still found the time for a joke with one Rangers legend prior to the match.

Ange Postecoglou enjoys a laugh at Ally McCoist

Ally McCoist and TalkSPORT colleague Alan Brazil were two of Postecoglou’s biggest nay-sayers when his move to Celtic was confirmed.

But after it emerged that the Australian was a very capable appointment, McCoist was sure to apologise and show him the respect he deserved.

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They met again before the beginning of the match at the Emirates Stadium, speaking for TNT Sports’ live broadcast.

Speaking to McCoist and Peter Crouch, Postecoglou said: “Yeah, it’s good to be back. What a couple of strikers here, eh?

“What a partnership. Crouchy nodding them down for Coisty, scoring goals. I don’t know which one would run, but…

McCoist interjected: “Let me answer that – neither of us.”

One thing for sure is that neither of the pair would start for an Ange team, if they aren’t prepared to do any running…

Ange Postecoglou could face Celtic in this season’s Europa League

In taking over at Forest, Postecoglou has the opportunity to win the Europa League for the second year running, with a different club.

Should Celtic make it through, Forest are a possible opponent – but the Hoops have plenty to sort out before thinking about European knockout football.

An impending Celtic fan protest is likely to have an impact on attendances in the competition, in the league phase at least.

But should Rodgers guide his side through to the knockouts, the opportunity to win a European tie after Christmas for the first time since 2004 could change that.

Ange Postecoglou is back in management.

The former Celtic manager has assumed the top job at Nottingham Forest, just months after leaving Tottenham Hotspur in the wake of a conflicted second season.

Postecoglou won the Europa League in his sophomore campaign in North London, delivering silverware just as he promised, in the club’s first tournament triumph since 2008.

Brendan Rodgers, who replaced Postecoglou in 2023, is currently in a troublesome position with the Celtic board after a controversial summer transfer window.

But for one former Celtic hero, his predecessor’s move back into the Premier League is exciting – but he still has his doubts.

Chris Sutton says it won’t be ‘total Angeball’ at Nottingham Forest

Unlike his stints at Celtic Park and at Spurs, the Australian’s crack at Forest starts mid-season.

This poses a different challenge for the 60-year-old – and in the eyes of Chris Sutton, may lead to a different tactical approach.

Speaking on the appointment for BBC 5 Live, he said: “It’s very exciting. It’s great to see Ange Postecoglou back in the Premier League. I don’t think it’s a case of unfinished business for him.

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“I think it’s a good appointment. I think Nottingham Forest will see a different style of football under Ange Postecoglou – I’m not so sure it will be total Angeball or to the extreme, as he has done previously.

“But I do think there will be tweaks. It’s very exciting for the Premier League – I can’t wait to see his first game against Arsenal.”

Postecoglou adapted for knockout football at the back end of his Tottenham spell, but what will his Nottingham Forest team look like?

Is Ange Postecoglou more adaptable than some say?

A criticism often launched at Ange Postecoglou is that he is hindered by his lack of adaptability.

Some pundits question Postecoglou’s credentials at Premier League level, but the final win is solid evidence against that.

At Celtic, there was barely a moment when the ‘Angeball’ product wasn’t instantly recognisable. The Australian’s single-mindedness is certainly unique.

But so are the circumstances in which he is heading to Nottingham – and for Sutton, things may look different at the City Ground.

Celtic supporters would have kept a keen eye on Tottenham Hotspur in recent times.

That’s because Ange Postecoglou left Celtic for Tottenham in 2023, proceeded to win the Europa League last season, but was then sacked by Daniel Levy in the summer.

Spurs finished above the Premier League’s relegation zone, and their supporters, for quite a while now, have been expressing their dissatisfaction at how the club has been run.

Sound familiar, Celtic supporters? But whilst those in Glasgow pray that there is change at the top, those in north London have now got their long-awaited wish.

Daniel Levy leaves Tottenham Hotspur after 25 years

Levy was appointed by Tottenham in 2001, and his tenure is overshadowed by fans feeling there has been a lack of success at the club.

Before the Englishman’s arrival, Spurs weren’t regulars in the Champions League, but that is now the case, added to the fact that they have a £1bn stadium.

But with only two trophies in a quarter of a century, a seeming lack of drive and push in the transfer market, fans have wanted him out for a long time, including numerous protests against the board.

And then, on Thursday, the world of football was left shocked when Tottenham announced the ‘departure’ of Levy by stating he has ‘stepped down from his role.’

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The Celtic board need to follow suit

Celtic fans want the board out, and news coming out of Tottenham should be music to the ears of those in green and white.

Levy was in charge for nearly three decades; there are members inside the Celtic boardroom who have been in charge for just as long.

Whilst some fans might feel that their voices and protests might be falling on deaf ears, perhaps there will be a surprise around the corner, and some significant change will happen after that abject 2025 summer transfer window.

Tottenham fans have had their pleas answered, and hopefully, the same will follow suit for Celtic.