Ange Postecoglou’s reported wages have already been used as the biggest argument against him becoming Scotland manager. It may also be the weakest.
Postecoglou was a huge hit at Celtic and what he produced in Glasgow forced Tottenham Hotspur to prise him to London and the Premier League.
On £2m per year at Celtic, Ange more than doubled his salary at Spurs as he looked to bring the glory days back to the Premier League strugglers.
Despite winning the Europa League, Postecoglou was sacked by Daniel Levy and then a short and disastrous spell at Nottingham Forest came and went.
Now doing punditry work at the World Cup, Postecoglou’s name is being spoken about as a potential successor to Steve Clarke with wages being put forward as a huge stumbling block.
Would Ange really take a 90% pay cut? Probably not for just any job. Scotland, however, is not just any job.
However, money has never motivated the former Celtic boss and managing Scotland could be more rewarding for the Aussie than any pay packet could be.
Ange Postecoglou as Scotland’s next manager. What do you think? 🤔
If not Ange, name your other options….🏴👇
Scotland gives Ange the rebuild he loves most
Make no bones about it, Postecoglou will hope to back into management at some stage of his career and who would bet against the Celtic icon wanting to right some wrongs back in the EPL?
Scotland offers Ange a project. The Australian loves this kind of job as proven with his success in the Australian national team, Yokohama and the rebuild job he did at Celtic in 2021.
Taking on the Scottish national side when confidence is shattered after a disappointing World Cup and two poor Euros campaigns would be seen by Postecoglou as the perfect job to take.
Putting it simply, Postecoglou comes alive when he is trying to make people believe in a team again.
Ange Postecoglou understands the Scottish football pressure
Even though his time at Celtic lasted just two seasons, Postecoglou immediately understood the pressures that come from managing in Scotland.
At Celtic, the Australian was under scrutiny almost immediately after his first six games at Celtic wielded three defeats.
The pressure was instantaneous, but Postecoglou dealt with the pressure, and the media narratives, expertly to protect his players and drive success.
Getting Ange in as the Scotland boss would mean the SFA are getting a manager who knows the Scottish landscape and would thrive in it.
Scotland could put Ange back on football’s biggest stage
Scotland have proven over the last six years that they have the players who are good enough to reach international tournament football.
Ange has already managed Australia at the World Cup and was a rousing success. And if he can take Scotland into the latter stages of any tournament not only would be a country’s hero, his stock would rise immediately.
Ange has a big point to prove. The Scotland job gives him a route to do just that. And with a salary of £500,000 per year, that’s not exactly a job that is paying buttons for a manager who has a more important reason to get back in the game.
Few managers have embraced Scottish football as quickly as Postecoglou did. Returning north of the border would not feel like stepping into unfamiliar territory. It would feel like coming home.
The wages may dominate the debate, but history suggests Ange Postecoglou has always chosen the challenge before the pay cheque. Scotland could be no different.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
