Former Celtic hero Chris Sutton believes that it is inevitable that one day Ange Postecoglou will move south of the border but that he still has unfinished business at Celtic before then.
Whenever there is a managerial vacancy in the Premier League, the Celtic manager tends to be linked to it which has included the likes of Everton, Southampton and Brighton so far this season.
Celtic supporters can’t be blamed for being anxious whenever there is a link due to the situation which occurred four years ago when Brendan Rodgers walked out of the club in late February.
It is testament to the job that Postecoglou has done at Celtic that he is linked to so many jobs but the focus at this time is fully on the task at hand with his Hoops side.
They currently have a nine-point advantage at the top of the SPFL Premiership and are still in contention for both cups as they face off against Rangers in next month’s Viaplay Cup Final for the first silverware of the season.
Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton is pretty confident that Postecoglou wouldn’t leave the club in the same situation that Brendan Rodgers did.
“I just don’t see Postecoglou as the kind of guy to walk away at this stage of the season. I’m basing that on the way he gets the club, what he says in the media and the job he is currently doing at Celtic,” said Sutton speaking in the Daily Record.
“But do I think he’ll be around for the long term? It depends how you define long term. Can I see him still being here in five years? I’m not so sure.
14th January 2023; Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland: Scottish Viaplay Cup Football Semi Final, Celtic versus Kilmarnock; Celtic Manager Angelos Postecoglou celebrates after the match
“There is usually a pattern with Celtic managers, even successful ones, where the Champions League becomes a priority and sometimes there’s a glass ceiling. I don’t think he’ll be going any time soon though.
“I don’t believe he’d go during this season and while nothing is impossible I seriously doubt he’d go in the summer. Postecoglou will feel he has unfinished business at Celtic, particularly in Europe.
Celtic returned to the group stages of the Champions League this season although they only managed two points in the group, there were good signs that the manager will want to improve on.
“There will be a lingering sense of frustration the team were not able to bloody a few noses in terms of achieving victories, rather than just good spells within games.
“You’d think he would like another crack at it next term. It’s a huge challenge but the significance of competing at that level is not lost on him. Look at Manchester City. Pep Guardiola looks pretty happy but you don’t know what could happen and that opportunity will be available one day. I’m not saying Postecoglou is the next Man City manager but he has worked with City Football Group at Melbourne and Yokohama.
“But he’s got a title to win in the short term. There are a few days left in the transfer window but it looks like the business is done in terms of incomings. I’ve said before letting Josip Juranovic leave and doing the same with Giorgos Giakoumakis is a gamble. But when it comes to signings it looks like the manager has done some good business again.”
