Ange Postecoglou's future will become a lot clearer next week once Celtic bring the curtain down on their 2022/23 season. Having already clinched the Scottish Premiership and Scottish League Cup, the Australian is on the brink of leading his team to the treble.
The Bhoys can complete the feat on Saturday evening when they take on Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park. Working his magic in the east end of Glasgow over the past two years, it could well be the 57-year-old's final game in charge of Celtic amid links with the Tottenham hotseat.
Postecoglou is now the red-hot favourite to succeed Antonio Conte at the helm, and all Tottenham fans will be hoping that Daniel Levy can appoint a new head coach sooner rather than later so they can start getting their plans in place for next campaign. The potential appointment of the former Australia manager has brought about a mixed reaction, with a number of fans pointing to his CV, age and achieving success with a club that has dominated Scottish football over the past decade.
READ MORE: Ange Postecoglou can achieve Tottenham U-turn if Daniel Levy follows his three key words
So what exactly is it like to play for Postecoglou and work under him on a daily basis? We have taken a look at what his Celtic players have had to say about him over the past two years.
Joe Hart on speaking to Postecoglou before his Celtic move
"I spoke to Ange and I thought that if something came up I didn't want to do, I am not going to do it. If it means that I need to sit for another year and then that was me out of football, so be it," he said on the Fozcast.
"I have done what I need to do in football. Respectfully, I didn't know much about his background and he was so cool. I probably sounded like a strange guy as I said I needed to speak first.
"I didn't mean it in a rude way but this is what's gone on, this is why I am struggling with football and for me to work, this is how you will get the best version of me if we do get there.
"Give me a chance to show what I can do, all I want to do is be part of something. I didn't know he was a total football manager, I didn't know he'd turned up to Celtic and hadn't brought any staff with him. Just walked in and he is an awesome force, an unbelievable coach, a really strong presence. Asks a lot of people but because he believes they can do it."
Hart on playing for Postecoglou
“He is top, he is really, really good,” said the shot-stopper. “He is really clear in what he wants and the biggest buzz for me is I am playing for someone who is pushing me and I am learning new things every single day.
“I’m an old dog in this game and the fact that I am having to do that and stay on my toes and still want more and trying to improve is a great feeling. It makes me feel alive.
“It’s great to constantly be pushed and get results from it. It’s all very well, there are plenty of managers out there who will push and it doesn’t necessarily work, or players don’t adapt. Credit to the players and staff, we have been able to pull in the same direction and get results.
“I love being part of that. I have played in different teams that have been successful. Identity in football has always been there, but in terms of having a real way of playing, this is the first time I have been part of a team with a real way of playing.
“We live and die by it. I love that opportunity. There’s been many coaches and managers I’m sure out there who say, ‘Look, this is how I want you to play and, if it doesn’t (work), it’s on me’. I have heard that many times.
“But I genuinely feel comfortable making risky passes, short passes, and if someone does miss a pass or a tackle and the ball goes in, I don’t think any of us would even flinch because that’s what we are being asked to do. We believe what we have been asked to do and we are enjoying trying to be better at it.”
Cameron Carter-Vickers on working under Postecoglou
“For me, he’s one of the best managers I’ve worked with," he told CBS Sports. "Just his attention to detail and his drive to always want to improve. We have a fairly young group here and the lessons he teaches us not just on the pitch but also off it really help us and stick with us.
“He’s always looking for improvement. We can win a game three or four nil and be pointing out ways we can improve. With a young group, that’s what you want.”
Greg Taylor on training under Postecoglou
“My job wasn’t to go on and do anything for myself, it was for the team. That’s drummed right through us," he told the Daily Record. "We’ve no other choice. From day one, the gaffer’s message has been that we train every day like we are going to play, and that’s what we all do.
“That’s the reason why boys, and on Sunday it was not just myself, can come off the bench and do a job because we train every day at the highest level.”
Aaron Mooy on "intimidating" Postecoglou
"He's still intimidating, yeah," said the midfielder, as reported by Football Scotland. "He just has that aura about him. I don't know what to say, he's done an amazing job so far at Celtic and I'm sure he will continue to do well. He keeps you on your toes and pushes you, that's what it's like for me anyway!"
David Turnbull on Postecoglou's demands
"He's always demanding more off of us, whether it's in training or in games," said the midfielder. "He's always telling us before and at halftime to keep working hard, keep pressing for the team and win the ball back, and that gets a good reaction off everybody. It's been good."
Matt O'Riley on not seeing much of Postecoglou
“Regarding the gaffer, he doesn’t actually speak to us much at all. At the training ground he delivers information when he needs to in meetings and on the pitch in pre-match sessions. In general, you probably won’t see that much of him," he said, as reported by the Daily Record.
“He keeps himself to himself. I think that is so he detaches away from the players and allows himself to pick a team without too much emotion. So I can understand his reasoning for that. But at the same time, whenever I’ve spoken to him he has been very friendly.
“You don’t expect to hear much from him. So when you do, you are probably quite grateful he actually speaks to you in a way. I think he is careful in terms of when he speaks to you and saying the right things.”
Callum McGregor on Postecoglou rarely dishing out praise
“It’s always nice when people speak well about you, but the main guy you are trying to impress on a daily basis is the manager. He’s the guy who picks the team, he’s the guy who is heading the club, so for him to say nice things is a really good feeling," explained the captain.
“The gaffer doesn’t hand out praise too often. He likes to keep people on their toes. You know when you are doing well — and when the manager picks you then you are doing something right.”
Jota on Postecoglou's philosophy
"The philosophy of Ange is something I was looking for for a long time," admitted the attacker. “I’ve grown up with these ideas of the game, and to find a coach like Ange in this stage of my career is really important for me because I love the way we play, the intensity, the creativity, everything!
"The way we play, it’s just tremendous it’s the right place to be to develop. I’m really happy to join."
Sead Haksabanovic on Postecoglou
"He gives you encouragement. He gives you motivation to go out there and be the best you can be. He shows that he has your back and he believes in you," said the striker (via The Celtic Way). "The playing style that we are playing I am loving it and it suits me so I am very happy to be here. "
James Forrest on Postecoglou
“The manager doesn’t let you rest on what you have anyway," he said, as reported by the Scottish Sun. “He is good for every game we play, it doesn’t matter who we play or the competition.
“He is always saying to everyone that we don’t want to be looking back one day and feeling as if we wasted a single minute. That impacts on me a lot because I am older and I want to make the most of the time I have.
“I want to make the most of my career now. You don’t want to be someone who looks back on what you’ve done before.
“The gaffer is big on the here and now. He wants everyone at it for every minute. You need to keep performing in training to be a part of the squad, a part of the team. That’s just the way it is.”
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