Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou has hinted that the club could be set for future trips abroad, similar to their visit to Sydney last week.
After the conclusion of the first half of the Scottish Premiership season, the Bhoys headed off to Australia to take on Sydney FC and Everton.
Ange Postecoglou and his players participated in the first-ever Sydney Super Cup, with the Celtic boss being welcomed back to his home country for the first time in several years.
It wasn’t the biggest of successes for the Hoops on the field after suffering two defeats to their opponents last week.
However, off the field,, it proved to be a fantastic occasion for the Celtic supporters down under, who were given the opportunity to see the Bhoys live at several different events.
Celtic as a club has always had a fantastic fan base that reaches all corners of the globe and that was on display during the visit to Sydney.
To some, it may have also begged the question of whether the club could make similar or the same visit to Australia over the next few years.
Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou was asked for his thoughts on matter, with the question being put to him about a potential trip to Japan in the near future.
The 57-year-old admitted that trips abroad elsewhere across the globe are likely to take place, as the clubs hierarchy look to take advantage of the commercial reach.
He said [The Herald]: “Absolutely. I know how big a market that is as well. That’s not me driving it, that’s Michael (Nicholson) and Chris (McKay) and the commercial and management team.
“They understand it, but we have to buy into it as a football department. We have to acknowledge it helps us in the long run. Sure, it puts some extra demands, and it would have been easier to give the boys an extra week off.
“This has been an important week for the football club. That’s how big clubs operate, and that’s what we have to want to be.
“That’s what we are, we just need to be disciplined about what we do and not get side-tracked by other things if we are to be the club we know we can be.”
Celtic set for future trips across the globe; Japan likely to be first stop
After the commercial success of the Bhoys trip to Australia this past week, the club is absolutely right to be looking at future trips in the near and distant future.
Ulimately, it is a win-win situation. The club are able to profit commercially and supporters from across the world are able to see the Bhoys live.
Reports earlier this year have suggested that a trip to Japan could be next for the Hoops, and it seems like the best logical step to take.
Celtic’s links to the country have grown stronger over the past 18 months, with the signings of Kyogo Furuhashi, Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda and Yosuke Ideguchi.
So it would be a good opportunity for Japanese Celtic supporters to watch their heroes in action.
Although we aren’t likely to see another trip in November going forward, pre-season is going to be the time we see the Bhoys head abroad.
I am sure we will hear more about future plans in the coming months, with a potential trip to come next summer during pre-season prepartions.
In other news, When all 4 Celtic representatives will get 2022 World Cup campaigns underway.
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