First Wenger, now Postecoglou? How the Australian is breaking the mould

C eltic manager Ange Postecoglou has been mentioned of late as a “surprise candidate” for the vacant Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur jobs. The surprise should be that such links have not materialised sooner, but it is hard to battle the assumption that the best coaches are European or South American. Arsène Wenger came from Japan to take over Arsenal and had a huge influence on English football. Postecoglou, who unlike the Frenchman won the Japanese title, could also be a game changer internationally if he heads to the Premier League and succeeds.

There is no reason why he would not, provided the right club was chosen. The journey from Australia has been long, hard and impressive. “I didn’t get to this position out of luck,” he said earlier this week in response to a jibe from Rangers boss Michael Beale, who said that he was fortunate to have money to spend. “I’ve worked 25 years of coaching to be entrusted at a club like this. This isn’t my first job. If it was my first job maybe I’d be lucky, but it’s not – it’s 25 years of hard work.”

Postecoglou was already experienced when he led Brisbane Roar to the A-League title in 2011 and 2012, and then delivered the 2015 Asian Cup for Australia, before moving to Japan to make Yokohama F.Marinos champions for the first time since 2004. Then came the call from Celtic, a league title in his first season and a potential domestic treble this year. Just as impressive is the style of play and fearlessness he encourages, and the way he conducts himself. To say he has won over fans in half of Glasgow would be an understatement.

There was quite a reaction in some quarters – even misplaced hilarity – when he arrived in Glasgow two years ago, one that was borne out of ignorance and