Two years ago Ange Postecoglou met Dermot Desmond for the first time. Over a zoom call.
Well, it was a very different world back then. So when the pair caught up again in person last week, almost everything had changed. That initial contact came at a time when Desmond needed to headhunt a new Celtic manager – and quickly – having just been left hanging by Eddie Howe. In Postecoglou’s own words, he was simply the next cab on Desmond’s rank.
The journey they’ve been on since has been nothing short of tumultuous. A top-flight title was secured at the first attempt – against all expectations – and has now been successfully defended. A potential domestic treble lies in wait at Hampden in 10 days’ time. And the Champions League is starting to feel like home again rather than some distant memory from better times. Postecoglou said: “It’s been quite a two years since that first talk with Dermot. We’ve accomplished so much in that time.
“It was a lot different when I walked in but we have done a lot, from the success we have had on the field to the players we have brought in. The way we play our football and the general feeling around the club, the connection with supporters, has been a credit to everyone.
“From my perspective I couldn’t be happier with the support I have received to try to get this club back to where it’s been before, and was for a long time. The fact we could do it really quickly is a credit to everyone. Dermot was the first person I spoke to with regards to the club. He’s very influential and has been very supportive, personally and within the club - particularly when we didn’t have the smoothest of starts.
“It didn’t last very long but was still a difficult beginning. During that time, he was immensely supportive of me. I knew he and the club would have my back until I got the club to where we needed to be.
“I enjoy a great relationship with Dermot and his family. He’s a very important part of Celtic and has been for a long time. It’s been great I have been able to repay that faith he showed me right from the start.”
Last week’s face-to-face with Celtic’s Godfather, however, was not exactly an unusual occurrence The pair have become far from fleeting acquaintances on the other end of a laptop.
Postecoglou went on: “We are in regular contact and that’s because Dermot loves Celtic, he loves talking about the games and how the club is going in general. It’s not like I have to update him with everything, that’s what I do with Michael Nicholson.
“He lets us get on with our roles of running the club. I don’t know if he’s in contact with me more or less than previous managers. I don’t know if I’m a favourite or not! But he has treated me very well.”
There’s an irony in all of this, of course. Had Howe not taken cold feet after months of deliberation then Postecoglou wouldn’t have answered Desmond’s call to move here from Japan. Now he’s heading back for a second crack at European football’s premier event - as Howe leads Newcastle into the same promised land for the first time in 20 years.
Postecoglou hasn’t failed to notice the twist of fate. He said: “I absolutely admire the job Eddie has done at Newcastle. You can see why this football club wanted him to take charge here.
“He’s a very impressive person, as well as a manager. He has done an unbelievable job and I also felt he did a great job at Bournemouth. Eddie’s worked his way up, he has done all the hard bits you need to do as a manager. It’s great for Eddie and for Newcastle that they are back in the Champions League.”
All of which provides the tantalising prospect of the two clubs meeting in next season’s competition. Postecoglou smiled: “Yeah, that would be nice.
“Knowing the passions of both sets of supporters, those would be two games nobody would want to miss. The Champions League is where you want to be involved. It’s going to be exciting again and right now, you are ticking off the
champions in each league and seeing who else is getting the spots.
“Once the season is over, we will start looking at potential draws. No matter who we get, you can guarantee it will be another exciting draw for us.”
For now, though, the Australian is focused on ending the season by providing another silver lining in the Scottish Cup Final. He takes his side to Easter Road tonight on the latest leg of an extended victory lap, with that meeting with Inverness in mind, but on the back of a defeat and a draw.
He said: “We have done what we needed to do and won the league. We want to enjoy our last few games and that’s what we will do, while also preparing for the final.
“We have only lost one game. We haven’t lost 15. It’s not like we have to go back too long to know what a win feels like.”
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