Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou and his footballing legacy are still an integral part of Yokohama F Marinos and their identity, says new boss Kevin Muscat.
Muscat, who played for Rangers in the early 2000s, replaced Postecoglou at the J League side. A fine job he’s doing too, having just received Manager of the Month honours [YFM].
However, Muscat puts his early success down the groundwork laid by Postecoglou. The Celtic manager, who signed 12 players during the transfer window, is being praised around the league for his methodology and results. That comes after developing a culture at Yokohama F Marinos, where he won a J League title.
Upon receiving his award, Muscat said [Optus]:
“I don’t know if I can justify it (Postecoglou’s legacy) by trying to put it into words. The biggest compliment I can pay is the fact that I’m now managing Yokohama and proud to be doing so.
“And proud to be at a club that actually is true to the identity. They’ve bought in 100 per cent into working with Ange and taking Ange’s counsel in what exciting football would look like.
“Stepping in now I actually feel it. I feel it from when you walk into the training complex, at games, meeting fans in the street, there’s just a sense of pride in the identity that the football club owns. And ultimately, that will be Ange’s legacy moving forward.”
Ange Postecoglou will be hoping for similar legacy at Celtic, after ringing in changes at Yokohama F Marinos
Quite the praise. It’s hardly out of proportion, either. Postecoglou was responsible for totally changing the way Yokohama F Marinos played. Not only were they an attractive, attacking team to watch, but they won matches.
A lot of matches.
You could tell from the reaction of supporters, and the club itself, that losing Postecoglou eventually was expected, but incredibly significant. It makes sense that an Ange acolyte like Muscat would be approached to continue the traditions Postecoglou had started there.
It helps that Muscat was an assistant to Postecoglou at Melbourne Victory.
It really is something incredible to have a manager so beloved. There’s also a feeling that, if we stay the course with the new boss, he’ll be able to implant a similar legacy of his own.
He’s being backed in the transfer market, the players are loving working with him, and the fans are absolutely enraptured with the football. The signs are very good indeed.
For Yokohama F Marinos, replacing Postecoglou was always going to be a gargantuan task. In finding someone who looks up to him, it seems they’ve done a fine job.
Read more: Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou delivers update on the status of James McCarthy
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