Former Celtic man Craig Bellamy has revealed that whilst working with ex-Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany at Belgian side Anderlecht; they tried to bring current Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou to the club.
Bellamy is fondly remembered by the Celtic support, despite missing out on the title in his short loan spell with the club after a string of impressive performances during that period.
However, he has since moved on to his coaching career and spent some time on the coaching staff as under 21s manager before being promoted to assistant manager with the Jupiler Pro League side, alongside his former Manchester City teammate, but has since returned back to the UK.
Speaking to The Central Club podcast, the Welsh internationalist was full of praise for Kompany during his time at the club, with the impact and knowledge that he holds.
Bellamy also revealed that he had his eye on the ball when it came to football around the globe, stating that he even attempted to bring Ange Postecoglou to the club, thanks to his impressive work over in Japan with Yokohama F Marinos.
“Vinnie was just so different to anything I’ve ever come across. His stature, everything about him,” he said, as quoted by the Daily Record.
“When he walks into a room, you know he’s walked into a room. He has a real presence about him.
“He can switch up languages. He’ll be talking in Dutch one minute; then he’ll be talking in French.
“He’s so forward-thinking, and he wants to know everything. He’s wondering what’s going on here, what’s going on in Japan there.
“They’ve got this coach there (Postecoglou); look at what he’s doing here. He ended up going to Celtic.
“He wanted to bring him in with us. He’s ahead of the game.”
Postecoglou was waiting for his chance at the European game, but it may have come in a slightly different fashion had he not become Celtic manager.
Thankfully, though, he did and is now enjoying a brilliant run of form by his side, who occupy the top spot in the Scottish Premiership.
It is interesting to hear this insight from Bellamy, with a lot of Postecoglou’s work in Japan being recognised around the globe.
Ultimately, with Ange’s ambitions as a manager, I’m not sure any of us could imagine him in a coaching capacity alongside Vincent Kompany.
But, what we do know now is that any club would be lucky to have the 56-year old, and thankfully we are the ones enjoying the entertaining football that comes along with Postecoglou sides.
