Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has once again touched the hearts of the Parkhead faithful as he described how the club’s formation “resonates strongly” with him.
Celtic was of course formally constituted back in November 1887 with the purpose of improving poverty levels in the Irish immigrant population of Glasgow’s East End. This was through founder Brother Walfrid’s charity, the Poor Children’s Dinner Table.
The club has always embraced its charitable roots and continues to do fantastic work for those that need it via the Celtic FC Foundation.
And Ange has been lauding the charitable history of the club and explaining how he feels a strong connection to the Hoops because of it. Speaking to Australian media outlet Stan Sports, Ange said: “I found a real affinity with the club. We all know the club. We maybe surprise people over here at the beginning because we seem like we’re a million miles away and almost on another planet. But we’ve always been more than aware of the great clubs around the world and Celtic is one of them.
“Their whole background and why the club was actually formed – to feed the Irish immigrants. There was a purpose behind this club that’s stayed with it right to this day. For me that obviously resonates strongly being an immigrant in our own country.
“South Melbourne Hellas, Melbourne Croatia, Sydney Croatia – all these clubs were set up the same way. They weren’t set up solely to be football clubs, they were set up to actually help people adjust to the life in a new land.”
Ange Postecoglou continues to tug on the heartstrings of the Celtic support
These comments are of course amazing to hear from the manager. And it only goes to reflect the person Ange is too as he shows a deeper understanding and connection to the club than many previous managers.
Celtic have often been lauded for their charitable history and it’s rightly something the club takes great pride in. Undoubtedly, to this day, the reason Celtic were founded is still one of the staples of this football club’s operation – charity.
Postecoglou, himself an immigrant after moving to Australia from Greece at a young age, can appreciate our forming more than some. And you can see he genuinely holds a big affection for the football club because of it.
Interestingly, the interview Ange is taking part in contains Australian presenter Craig Foster. Some may remember him from his famous heated spat with the Celtic boss back when he coached the Socceroos’ youth teams [YouTube].
It appears that there’s some genuine respect and appreciation between them now which is great to see. Undoubtedly build via Ange’s progression up the football managerial ladder you would imagine.
And as he continues to reveal more and more of who he is as a person to the Celtic support, it’s simply impossible not to take to him.
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