Ange Postecoglou was born in the suburbs, 6 kilometres north of the Greek capital. He spent the first five years of his life in Nea Filadelfeia before his father’s business was ruined in the military coup of 1967. The family then packed their belongings and boarded a ship to Australia in search of a better life. After 30 long days, the family docked in Australia and settled in Melbourne.

The family started a new life in an unknown country without speaking the language, half the world away from what they knew as home.

After growing up and achieving his dream of being a footballer, Postecoglou married the marketing director at the club he played for since the age of 9, South Melbourne. In his time with the Aussie team, the former defender played 193 times in Australia’s old National Soccer League between 1986 and 1988. The now 55-year-old was in two title-winning and league cup teams. He was made captain and considered one of South Melbourn’s greatest.

Despite being greek born, Postecoglou opted to play for the Socceroos and featured four times.

His playing career was ended unexpectedly due to an injury suffered to his knee.

Postecoglou then returned to South Melbourn after his retirement to become the assistant manager. In 1996 he was appointed as manager and led the team to two successive National Soccer League titles. In 1999, he and his team won the Oceania Club Championship (the equivalent of the Champions League) which granted them access to the 2000 FIFA Club World Championship but failed to progress from their group, as did Manchester United. After four years with the club, he stood down as manager.

Ange then embarked on the next stage of his career and became a coach within the Young Socceroos. His role was to identify the stars of the future and help them to realise their potential. He then stepped up in 2007 to be the head coach of the under 20s. He was then sacked from his role and appeared on TV as a pundit.

In 2008, Postecoglou returned to his country of birth to manage Panachaiki F.C. in the Greek third division from March to December in what was seen as an unsuccessful time despite keeping the club in contention for promotion. The club was rarely out with the top 3 during his tenure, but a fallout with the hierarchy brought his time to an end.

After the best part of a year out of management, Postecoglou returned to the southern hemisphere to manage Brisbane Roar where he undertook a substantial rebuild releasing four players and selling a further four. He told the board, media and fans to judge him after 12 months of his management. 12 months later he was playing attacking football and grinding out results. Critics were surprised at this and the media nicknamed the cub ‘Roarcelona’ due to the football on display. Under Postecoglou, it was widely thought that his team played the best football ever to be played in the A-league. In the 2010/11 season, Brisbane Roar were A-League champions. Postecoglou’s men broke the longest unbeaten run in A-League football going 36 games unbeaten and only losing a single game the season. The following season resulted in a successive title for the side.

Months later, Ange Postecoglou was unveiled as manager on Melbourn Victory. Again, a rebuild was to take place. This time 8 players were released and 2 players returned to their clubs after a loan spell with the side. These 10 players were replaced by 8. Victory finished third in the league, 5 places better when compared to the prior season. Ange left the club after a year in charge.

On 23 October 2013 Ange rejoined the Socceroos, but this time as the men’s first team manager. The squad was ageing and Postecoglou was given the job to rejuvenate the squad. After a tough start, the Aussies had the world cup in Brazil to travel to.

Australia was drawn a tough group. Group B consisted of Spain, Holland and Chillie. Two of the four teams participated in the previous World Cup final. Despite performing well, the team failed to register a single point and boarded the next flight home. The Aussies did however score twice against The Netherlands in a close 3-2 loss.

A year on, Australia qualified with six points from their group in The Asian Cup. They progressed through the Quarter-Final and then The Semi-Final before reaching the final. The Socceroos faced South Korea in the final who had won against the men from down under in the group stage of the competition. After extra-time Australia had come out on top, winning their first-ever Asian Cup.

Just weeks after qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, Ange Postecoglou resigned from the National Team.

Less than a month later, Japanese side Yokohama F. Marinos announced that Postecoglou had put pen-to-paper and agreed to be their new manager. His first season in the dugout with the J-league team saw them threatened with relegation. The side finished 12th place in a league with 20 teams. The season was full of goals for the fans, scoring the second-most goals in the division but also conceding the third most. Postecoglou then had his contract extended before winning the J-League with Yokohama F. Marinos for the first time in 15 years. This was an incredible achievement. It was just the season before Postecoglou’s side finished just below mid-table.

In June of 2020, Celtic offered Ange Postecoglou the job. Yet to manage a match for the side, it is safe to say fans are intrigued by the attacking brand Postecoglou has to offer and can’t wait to see it in practice.

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