Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou, such is his reputation in Australian sport, was always bound to have imitators.
A long-tenured coach in Australia and also in Japan, the Postecoglou approach has provided a roadmap for coaches to follow.
That includes Kevin Muscat, now boss of Yokohama F Marinos. Ante Milicic, an ally of Ange’s with the Socceroos, is in management, as is Arthur Papas, who’ll be managing Newcastle Jets next season [Sporting News].
They’ll all be typecast as Ange Disciples, but Celtic manager Postecoglou doesn’t expect or want that to be the case. Speaking to Australian media, the Bhoys boss said [Sydney Morning Herald]:
“I’ve given opportunities for guys and the rest is up to them. They’re charting their own careers and their own paths and I’ve always encouraged them to think their own way and take their own journeys.
“[Each coach is] not going to be copying what I’m doing because there’s no point in doing that, I’m different to all of them.
“It’s great for Arthur [Papas] to get an opportunity in the A-League, he’s worked hard in his career, he’s been prepared to move abroad and coach in some tough places. I’m sure he’ll do a good job.
“I’ll be following him, and Tez at Macarthur. It’s great to see Musky [Kevin Muscat] and Pete [Cklamovski] doing well in Japan, guys that I’ve worked with. Great to see Popa [Tony Popovic] back in the league, somebody I rate really highly as well, John Aloisi, even guys like Warren Moon and Carl [Veart] and Richard [Garcia] over in Perth.
“They’re all guys who hopefully can make their own journeys as coaches and managers and raise the standards in Australia. And hopefully raise the standards in terms of how Australian coaches are seen.”
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou keen to see coaches he’s mentored follow their own path
Ange Postecoglou is hardly going to say that his mentees should follow his methods exactly. That’d be arrogant, and certainly out of character.
However, given his achievements in Australia and Japan, it’s hard to argue his influence won’t be felt. Especially given the dramatic shift in footballing ethos in Australia after Brisbane Roar galloped to their first title win.
It’s not just the tactics, though, it’s the attitude. Postecoglou took over some un-fancied teams and made them the standard. Whether it was South Melbourne or the Socceroos, his impact was huge.
If the likes of Papas and Muscat can carry on that aggressive, ambitious outlook then it surely puts them in good stead. If that’s the main influence from Ange, then it’s doubtful the current Celtic boss would have any issue with that.
His focus, though, is on Celtic Football Club. The first opportunity to win silverware comes soon, with St Johnstone to negotiate in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final to negotiate first.
Maybe, in time, we’ll be talking about his impact on Scotland. There’s still plenty of work to do to make that happen, though.
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