Ange Postecoglou

Happy birthday big man.

 

Ferenc Puskas managed a number of clubs before Ange met him at South Melbourne Hellas in the years 1989 -1992.

In 1993 he went on to manage the Hungarian national team for four games as interim manager.

There is a memorial bronze bust of Puskas in the park next to Olympic Park Stadium in Melbourne.

He also managed in Spain,

1966-1967 - Hercules de Alicante
1968-1969 - Alaves
1975 - Real Murcia

In the USA,

1967 - San Francisco Golden Gate Gales

In Canada,

1968 - Vancouver Royals

In Chile,

1975 - Colo Colo FC

in Paraguay,

1985- Sol de America
1986 - Cerro Porteno

Also in Egypt,

1979 - 1982 - Al Masry

In Greece,

1970 - 1974 - Panathinaikos
1978 - 1979 - AEK Athens

At one point as manager of Sth. Melbourne, there was talk of an exhibition tour to be arranged for Chilean club Colo Colo FC to come to Melbourne to play some games. Not many people here at that time knew much about this famous club.
They even laughed it off in the Greek - Australian media here as some kind of joke. Eventually the tour did not go ahead because it was believed people would not be interested to watch this team play and it would not be economically viable.

The reason ? People did not take the idea seriously because Colo Colo in Greek translates as '*, *'.
Thus we missed out on some great South American football being played in Melbourne at that time, with the only other club from that continent to ever play in Melbourne being the fabulous Cruzeiro FC in 1971 with Tostao, against Victoria.

Puskas was one of the all time greats of European football, consecutive highest scorer in the Spanish First division with Real Madrid and had a laser-guided cannon of a left foot shot.

Ange can be prepared to be deluged by the Spanish media seeking interviews for both games we play against the CL champions and his link with Puskas will be an even greater incentive for such attention.

 

Aye…welcome to Celtic Ferenc Puskas

 

what about when Boca Juniors played Melbourne Victory in 2010?

 

Never happened.

 

My apology, was not aware of this game. You are correct. I was overseas when this game was played.

 

Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou admits he'd be very surprised if any of his players want to leave - but conceded there could be a couple of exits from the club this week.

That's likely to be the likes of Albian Ajeti or James McCarthy with both players heavily linked with moves away from Celtic Park as they struggled to get game time. That could then allow Celtic to bring in another player with eight already in the door following the addition of Sead Haksabanovic earlier this week.



He joined the permanent additions of Daizen Maeda, Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers following their loan spells and the signings of Alexandro Bernabei, Benji Siegrist, Aaron Mooy and Moritz Jens over the summer window. Postecoglou doesn't believe any of his big players will want to leave despite the likes of Matt O'Riley being linked with big money moves away.

Reports suggest Manchester United and Liverpool are both considering a £15million bid for the Celtic playmaker but it's unlikely that he will leave the summer.



And Postecoglou said: “I’d be very surprised if anyone wants to leave this place at the moment. We’ll see how the next few days go. There’s the possibility of a couple of outgoings.

“And that could give us the opportunity to bring another one in. But there’s nothing fixed. If the right opportunity came along, we might add one more.


If we don’t - I’m happy with the business we’ve done. It was great to get Sead finally done. I’m pleased to get a player who will fit in well with us. He’s only 23 but already has great experience with clubs and at international level. He’ll be a great asset for us.”






ANGE POSTECOGLOU had the upper hand on rivals Rangers in the league last year.

Now the Celtic boss has a week to figure out the same trick against a team Gio van Bronckhorst has totally revamped over the summer.

The Hoops took seven points from nine after losing the first Old Firm clash last August.

But with Calvin Bassey and Joe Aribo sold, and Alfredo Morelos in soccer Siberia, an Ibrox side showcasing striker Antonio Colak, Tom Lawrence, Malik Tillman and Rabbi Matondo will be a fresh challenge.

However, Postecoglou insists getting his own side in shape for next Saturday is his only concern — and if he does, he’s confident of the same outcome.

The Aussie said: “Rangers have had a turnover of players which they haven’t had in the last three pre-seasons when they were building a team.

“Bassey and Aribo were significant players for them but they have brought in some players who have started pretty positively for them.

“The games were pretty tight last year and I think they’ll be the same this year.

“From our perspective, we have to make sure leading into that game we are in good form, feeling positive about things and making sure we reach the levels we know we can.

“When we play at our best we are hard to stop, irrespective of who we’re playing against.”

The Hoops will host Gers on the back of both sides reaching the Champions League group stages for the first time since the 2007/08 season.

Celts’ visit to the Bernabeu to face holders Real Madrid is the obvious highlight for Postecoglou and his side.

But the Hoops defence could be terrorised by French striker Karim Benzema, who managed an incredible 44 goals and 15 assists in 46 appearances last term, despite turning 34 in the December.

He missed out on winning the Ballon d’Or to Lionel Messi but Postecoglou reckons he’d be a worthy winner this term.

He said: “Yeah Benzema would deserve to win it because he was outstanding last year.

“When you look at Real Madrid as a group, what they did to win the Champions League was always to find a way to win their games. It’s the key thing at that level.

“They just have a history and tradition of being successful in the Champions League and they can’t be underestimated.

“Anyone who goes to that club understands the expectations and experience you need and it’s a credit to the whole group that they won it last year.

“I’ve not been to the Bernabeu before. It will be great if we have a positive performance, but not if we don’t. Anyone can do a tour of the Bernabeu.

“I’ve been pretty lucky. I’ve been to the Maracana, Wembley, all these places, and the ones I remember fondly are the ones we did well in. That’s the key.”

While Gers have been squeezing in midweek Champions League qualifiers, the Hoops have had plenty of rest and training-ground time thanks to their title win earning them a direct entry into the groups.

But the action starts to hot up now, with today’s visit to Dundee United followed by a Premier Sports Cup trip to Ross County on Wednesday night.

Sead Haksabanovic arrived from Rubin Kazan this week with Postecoglou still eyeing another addition if more fringe players leave before the window closes.

Postecoglou said: “We’ve tried to have a strategy around our business this year to make our squad stronger and more robust to cope with a hectic schedule.

“That’s particularly in relation to the Champions League games, which we know are going to take a lot out of the boys.

“We’re stronger as a group and in this early part of the season, where we haven’t had midweek games, we’ve worked really hard in training to create a strong fitness base.

“You try to manage that situation as best you can but it’s going to be a challenge.”

The 100-per-cent Hoops face a United side still toiling after their Euro humiliation.

But Postecoglou said: “I don’t think Jack Ross needs sympathy.

“I don’t need sympathy if I’m going through a tough time. It’s more a respect for every manager and the challenges they face.

“It’s the nature of the game. A few weeks ago when they beat AZ the mood was a lot different for Jack, and he knows that.

“It can change back just as quickly and that’s the danger for us. If they have a strong performance, everything alters so we have to make sure we are ready.

“Jack’s experienced enough, he knows what he needs to do to turn his football club around.

“It often happens pretty quickly and these things become a distant memory until the next time they come along.

“So we’ll prepare for a team highly motivated to do well.”

 

Take a * bow Ange.

You should be on the pitch 10 minutes from now and milking the adulation for all it’s worth, because it couldn’t be more thoroughly deserved.

 

Honestly the best footballing celtic team I've seen in my lifetime

 

This result has been 2 season in the making...we're only just getting started. * beautiful. What manager we have.

 

I love this man

 

This team would obliterate the invincible's, there I said it.

 

Greg Taylor in injury time first half. 4 nil up ans he's sprinting to take a corner. Rewind to that training mic'd up video. We never stop. Has anyone bought in to that more than him. All down to Ange.