Mick Beale has won 15 out of a possible 17 Scottish Premiership games since replacing Giovanni van Bronckhorst in the Ibrox hotseat late last year.
That Rangers are still trailing in the wake of their Old Firm rivals, then, is testament to the remarkable consistency of a Celtic side who’s current form would rival even the very best Hoops sides of the silverware-hoarding Brendan Rodgers and Martin O’Neill eras.
This is a kingdom of Ange Postecoglou’s own construction. No fewer than 18 members of their current squad arrived following the appointment of the former Australia boss in the summer of 2021.
It was Postecoglou’s knowledge of the Japanese and Australasian markets which played a major role in the signings of Kyogo Furuhashi, Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda and Aaron Mooy. Even those such as Greg Taylor and Anthony Ralston – who’s Celtic careers precede Postecoglou’s appointment – have come on leaps and bounds, ascending to almost unimaginable heights under a man who must now be considered to be one of the most underrated tactical minds anywhere in world football.
Tottenham Hotspur like Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou
Underrated, maybe. But no longer unnoticed.
According to The Telegraph, Postecoglou is high on Tottenham Hotspur’s hitlist; the Premier League underachievers scouring the market for Antonio Conte’s replacement. The straight-talking Antipodean may be unproven in a major European league. Unlike, say, a Julian Nagelsmann or a Luis Enrique.
But if Daniel Levy really feels that Tottenham’s DNA is coded by youth development and an exciting, attractive brand of attacking football, then Postecoglou certainly ticks more boxes than most.
More than Antonio Conte, Nuno Espirito Santo and Jose Mourinho, certainly.
This is not to say Postecoglou is driven by aesthetics rather than results, however. In 32 Premiership games this season, his Celtic side have won a staggering 30. Three more wins in their final six games and they will smash through the 100-point barrier. Six wins from six and Celtic will finish on 108, smashing the current record set by Brendan Rodgers’ in 2017.
‘A remarkable run’
Conte and Mourinho built their success upon a platform of pragmatism. Postecoglou, in contrast, shares the Pep Guardiola, Mauricio Pochettino view of the ‘beautiful game’. Success and style, the Aussie believes, are not mutually exclusive.
Celtic have scored 102 goals already. 21 more than second-place Rangers.
“It’s a remarkable run,” Postecoglou smiles, speaking to The Times. “Because there have been some brilliant sides in Scottish football.
“But his team has surpassed (those) teams in terms of starts to the season. Just as pleasing is the level, with good strong performances every week. Credit to the group.”
An elite developer of young talent, a keen eye for a bargain, a purveyor of pristine possession football and a proven winner too. As far as Tottenham Hotspur are concerned, there’s not much to dislike about Ange Postecoglou.
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