Ange Postecoglou is the first to distance himself from conversations that also include those select few Celtic managers whose names are only ever uttered in hushed tones.
In his own, typically direct fashion, he will forever insist he not be placed within even several postcodes of mythical figures such as Jock Stein. He is right, though, the odds of another Celtic manager turning the club into the champions of Europe are remote at best.
But in terms of sheer supporter adulation, few have connected with the fanbase like Postecoglou. Perhaps it is a by-product of current times, where every quip, fist pump and ‘mate’ are clipped to be distributed far and wide on social media. It certainly allows fans to feel closer to the man in the dugout than ever before.
Brendan Rodgers was greeted as a messianic figure upon his arrival in 2016, but not even at the height of his popularity did he quite command the same reverence as ‘big Ange’. Where he eventually ends up in Celtic’s long line of greats will be up to those supporters in the end
The 57-year-old Greek-Australian stands on the brink of a second consecutive Premiership title, confirmable with victory over Hearts on Sunday, and could yet deliver a treble before season’s end. He won’t entertain talk of icon status, but Postecoglou is adamant he will not ever take the backing he has received in Glasgow for granted.
“Firstly, I’m not in that ball-park, mate,” he said. “I’m not even in that suburb, that estate and I’m well on the far outskirts of big Jock’s standing. I don’t take that for granted either, the way the supporters have got behind this team, and by extension got behind me.
“Not just this year but from the beginning of last year has been truly special. I felt they have embraced me and willed me to have the success we have had. They want me to be successful because it means their football club is successful. Not just me, the way this football club has embraced my whole family, particularly the supporters, it is truly special.
“Days like last Sunday [beating Rangers in the Scottish Cup], you want to capture it as much as possible. It is the reason - apart from being slow - I take my time going around the field. I don’t want to miss that, miss that moment, because one day it will be gone and I don’t want it to be something cloudy in my thought space, I want it to be clear. I love the way the support have not only embraced me but this team. We have been on a great journey and I hope there will be some memorable times ahead.”
There was an air of defiance about how fans rallied around their new manager in the summer of 2021. From select pundits to rival supporters, there was no shortage of dismissiveness aimed at Postecoglou and his suitability to take on what looked like an arduous task.
It is one of football’s many quirks that fans will voice their discontent as loudly as they please, but the wagons are soon circled if that same criticism comes from my outsiders. External noise only grew louder when Postecoglou lost his first Premiership game away at Hearts with a patchwork squad unrecognisable to that which he has since assembled.
If his team are to become champions this weekend, you suspect he may just take an extra degree of satisfaction that it comes at the same venue he found himself being derided not even two years ago.
“This is not the time for reflection, but our football club has made great strides in the past 21 months,” Postecoglou insisted. “Particularly when you look at the starting point. We still had a great platform to build something special because this football club, although there had been a disappointing season for sure, has such strong foundations with the success previous to that disappointing season.
“It was just a matter of dusting ourselves off and being really clear headed about what we needed to do moving forward. It was maybe a bit easier for me because I had the energy. There was nothing from a previous season hanging on to me.
“I could provide the energy and enthusiasm and direction moving forward. I just think we have made enormous strides with this group of players and the staff to build a team that is vying for honours and winning them, and the football we played.
“When you think of where we have come from since that starting point not so long ago it has been amazing and I couldn’t be prouder of everyone. The way they have embraced the direction we have taken. And not used any excuses along the way.
“With that starting point it would have been very easy for all of us to say it is going to take a bit of time, it is going to take a few window, it is going to take a few seasons. We won our first trophy, the League Cup, after just one window when we practically threw a team together, and after the second window we won the title.
“It is not something I take for granted because I know it is not easy to do those things and it is a credit to the group they have continued to push on.”
Away from the business of winning league titles, a striking image of a young Postecoglou arriving in Australia from Greece in the 1970s, still clutching his immigration number, circulated widely on social media this week. Even 50 years ago, he’s still wearing that same steely expression you see today.
That journey across the world has continued in football, from Oz, to Japan and now to Scotland.
“That is the story of many immigrants, mate, I’m not alone,” said Postecoglou. “We were a family who had to leave everything behind and arrive in a new country with nothing and those are the sacrifices my parents made.
“And what I have tried to do is honour them. There is a story there which a lot of people can relate to; being an immigrant, being displaced, you can still contribute and add to any nation that adopts you. I’d like to think I’ve done that every country I’ve been. I was born in Greece, I’m very proud of that, I grew up in Australia, I’m proud of that.
“More importantly, I have tried to make a contribution wherever I have been. My family were given an opportunity in a new country to start a new life.”
