Former Celtic striker and BT Sports pundit Chris Sutton has insisted that no matter the end of season outcome, Hoops boss Ange Postecoglou is the deserved winner of the manager of the year award.
It has been a rollercoaster few months for Ange and his squad, who had a difficult start to the season before going on a long unbeaten run since September.
They now find themselves at the top of the Scottish Premiership, in the prime position during this season’s title race, as we get set to end the business end of the campaign on our return from the international break.
Even if Postecoglou’s side doesn’t come out as winners of the league come May, Sutton still insists that there is no more apparent candidate than the 56-year old for the manager of the year award.
“Ange Postecoglou is the Manager of the Year,” he said, writing in his weekly column for the daily record.
“That’s regardless of what happens between now and the end of the season.
“As far as I’m concerned, there’s no point in even starting the voting. Postecoglou’s work at Celtic makes him the outstanding candidate, and you’d be as well just handing him the award right now.
“No doubt this statement is going to get folk hot under the collar, but if you are being honest and unbiased, who else can anyone really vote for?
“Celtic were an absolute shambles at the beginning of the season. The club had lost the title by a massive 25 points last season to Rangers.
“It was a one-sided Rangers rout. My old club was a mess. The entire squad needed upheaval. He needed a brand new team.
“Postecoglou was walking into an alien environment, and he had to turn around the squad and the mood.
“Not only has he done it, he might just be about to win the title along with it.
“Even if he doesn’t, it has been some turnaround. Let’s face it, no one, including me, gave him a hope of overcoming Rangers in his first season.
“Postecoglou has brought a brand of football which is exciting, he has signed a raft of players such as Kyogo Furuhashi, Jota and Liel Abada, who have lit up the season in Scotland, and he has rejuvenated an institution which was in serious trouble.
“Are there other contenders? Yes, you would say there is.
“Rangers might win the Premiership, but Steven Gerrard had them 25 points ahead in the last campaign.
“Winning the Europa League would be an incredible effort. That would be a game-changer, but, as well as they have done to reach the last eight, I can’t see it.
“Don’t get me wrong. I like Gio Van Bronckhorst. He was a good mate of Henrik Larsson’s when we were all in Glasgow together playing, and he’s a good guy.
“However, having been so far ahead last term, this season should have been an open goal for Rangers.
“Postecoglou took over Del Trotter’s three-wheeler while van Bronckhorst was grabbing hold of a Lamborghini.”
He continued, “To walk into that environment and take over when things are going well is one thing. To do it when there is chaos in the building and still deliver is some achievement.
“Postecoglou might well go on and win a Treble.
“But, even if he doesn’t, I’d say he’s manager of the Year material.”
The manager of the year award is always well discussed around this time of year, as the season gets set to approach its final few weeks.
Although it may feel like so long ago, it is crazy to think the amount of progress that Postecoglou has made in such a short space of time as Celtic manager, especially given how poor the side were last season.
As Sutton mentions, I don’t even think there were many Celtic fans who would have expected us to be in the position we currently are back in June/July.
As always, I’m sure there will be some discussion and contention surrounding who should be voted for the award. But it certainly won’t be a surprise to see Postecoglou as one of the front runners.
