Ange Postecoglou insider view as Celtic icon Stiliyan Petrov reveals tips from Japan that proved correct

Celtic legend Stiliyan Petrov has hailed Ange Postecoglou for taking the reins at a club with “no direction” and steering them to the Scottish title in just 10 months.

The former Parkhead midfielder has been blown away by Postecoglou’s impact since arriving to pick up the pieces from the chaotic bid for 10-in-a-row last June.

Not only did the Aussie have to rebuild the Hoops squad in the wake of the departures of Neil Lennon and chief executive Peter Lawwell but he faced major questions over his expansive style of play after losing three of his first six league games in charge and being dumped out the Champions League at the first qualifying hurdle.

Postecoglou’s side clicked into gear in the autumn though and never lost any of their final 32 league matches as they reclaimed the title from Rangers.

Petrov reckons the former Yokohama Marinos boss has done an “incredible job” to take Celtic back to the top in such a short space of time and clinch the moneyspinning Champions League group stage spot into the bargain.

It’s a shift made all the more impressive by what Postecoglou inherited, according to the Bulgarian.

Petrov, who won four titles with the Hoops between 2001 and 2006, told Planet Sport : “The uncertainty around the club, especially when Neil Lennon left, there was a couple people on the board (that) had left as well so there was a lot of uncertainty.

"There was no direction for the club, a lot of questions out there.

“I think the main candidate Eddie Howe was the one everyone was pushing for, everyone wanted him the become the manager - everyone was actually expecting him to takeover.

"But all of a sudden Celtic had made a U-turn. They went to somebody else and they appointed a very interesting man in