Peter Cklamovski, a former assistant to Ange Postecoglou, has heralded the Celtic manager for helping to influence his career in Japanese football.
Cklamovski, who helped Postecoglou win a J League title with Yokohama F Marinos and Asian Cup with Australia, is proud of the work the duo did together.
The Aussie coach worked with Postecoglou from 2005 onwards, when the Celtic boss was in charge of Australian youth sides. Now forging his own path in management, it wasn’t an ideal start. Given a job by Shimizu S-Pulse, things didn’t quite work out in his first solo role.
However, he’s beginning anew with Montedio Yamagata in J2, and in doing so, is hoping to use the Postecoglou influence after a long spell of working together.
The former Ange assistant told Keep Up: “The biggest thing for me was working with Ange for a long time.
“When I started working with him, a flame ignited within me and with what he believed in. The way he educated players and staff. He is a huge influence in my football belief and philosophy.
“At the same time, what he was saying was resonating with me. There was a natural connection and maybe that’s why there was a special connection between us.
“I’m a motivated individual and try to get better every day.
“Obviously working with Ange for a long time, it was a daily challenge to push him. If I could push him to get better than ultimately, I’m gaining massive steps as well because he is a world leader.”
Adoration for Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou is widespread
Another prominent Australian coach heralding Ange Postecoglou? Quelle surprise.
Things might not have gone so well for Cklamovski in his first J League experience as a manager. But with Montedio Yamagata, he’s making waves. The side went from relegation candidates to a 7th placed finish after Ange’s former assistant took over.
Many have asked why Postecoglou didn’t bring his own staff with him. In what could be described as one of the biggest challenges of his career, he went with the incumbent staff. Perhaps it’s because everyone he’s worked with closely has gone onto bigger things.
Kevin Muscat, another of his former assistants at Yokohama F Marinos, is now their manager. Cklamovski, too, is a manager. Artur Papas is a manager in the A League. So on, and so forth.
He tends to elevate the staff around him through success. John Kennedy and Stephen McManus, for example, will be hoping that holds true for them, too.
After a grim showing last night, it’s easy to feel negative about Celtic today. But we have a manager who is absolutely revered.
He’ll get this right.
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