Ange is standing on shoulders of Celtic giant as boss calls on spirit of centurion Jock Stein

Ange Postecoglou insists he’s always trying to uphold the Celtic values of Jock Stein.

And the current Parkhead manager admits he’s standing on the icon's shoulders in attempting to do so. Postecoglou ’s team face RB Leipzig tonight 100 years to the day since the club’s greatest-ever manager and 1967 European Cup-winning boss was born. The Aussie, who is without quartet Cameron Carter Vickers, Carl Starfelt, Liel Abada and Aaron Mooy for the Champions League tie in Germany, is inspired by Stein’s incredible achievements.

He said: “He’s one of those figures that exists in football, where his impact on a football club goes beyond just the success. It was about the way the team played, the way they conducted themselves, the connection the team had with the fans and the connection he had with the fans. So, he’s one of those figures that even though his record was unbelievable, it goes beyond that. For guys like me, you’re not so much following in his footsteps as standing on his shoulders and trying to uphold, hopefully, those values.

“I obviously want to bring success to this football club, that’s my aim, but I also want to uphold those values in terms of the way we play our football, understanding what our supporters mean to the football club and all those kinds of things which I think were just as important to Jock Stein.

“His feats in terms of success are unquestionable, particularly with winning the European Cup and his domestic dominance. But I think his legacy goes way beyond that. It can potentially become a burden if you try to emulate his feats because I don’t think anyone is going to get there.

“The spirit in which he managed this football club, the way he got the team to play, I’m really big on that. I’ve