When Brendan Rodgers left Celtic, a huge portion of the fanbase immediately began dreaming of one name above all others: Ange Postecoglou.
It was hardly surprising. In his two years at Parkhead, Ange etched himself into Celtic folklore by winning a domestic double in his first season and an invincible treble in his second.
His attacking football and connection with the supporters felt perfect, and when he paraded around Hampden Park with fans behind him before departing for Tottenham, you could feel how fondly he was held.
Fast forward through his tenure at Spurs, a fantastic Europa League run but mixed league form, and Ange’s managerial journey has taken some twists. He was eventually let go by Tottenham, but those close to him say his love for Celtic has never really gone away.
Former Rangers defender Craig Moore, who spent time with Postecoglou in Australia, recently shared what the legendary Aussie had to say about Celtic and his affection for the club.
Moore appeared on the Go Radio Football Show, recounting his encounter with Ange during the Melbourne Derby, a meeting that gave plenty of insight into Ange’s mindset.
Moore explained:
“I went to the Melbourne Derby in Australia, and I was in the box with both Ange Postecoglou and Kevin Muscat. That was good, we enjoyed the game and I had a good opportunity to speak with both of them. Ange was obviously talking about how much he loved his time at Celtic, but potentially (he) jumped in a little too soon with Nottingham Forest.”
When asked directly about the possibility of Ange returning to Celtic in the future, Moore said:
“I didn’t ask the question, to be honest.
“But I don’t know, sometimes great achievements and great memories are better off left. Coming back can sometimes throw up different problems.
“I didn’t ask the question, but look what I do know is he has a great fondness for the football club.
“He loved Glasgow, and unfortunately for me he was very successful.”
Rarely has a manager left Celtic on such a high or with such enduring support from the fanbase. His style, personality and success made him uniquely beloved.
But as much as supporters would love the idea of him returning, especially with Martin O’Neill only in situ until the end of the season, a return doesn’t seem likely at this stage.
Celtic will almost certainly make a permanent managerial appointment this summer, though.
Ange Postecoglou still holds Celtic in his heart, and Celtic will always hold a special place in his career. Whether that evolves into a second stint at Parkhead is uncertain, but the affection clearly remains mutual.
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