Reports linking Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou with Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur has not gone down well in Hollyrood with Scotland’s first minister Humza Yousaf desperate to see the Aussia gaffer stay at his beloved Hoops.
Better late than never.
After discussions for Xabi Alonso, Julian Nagelsmann, Luis Enrique, Vincent Kompany and Arne Slot hit the buffers, Tottenham Hotspur may now be just a few days away from finally appointing Antonio Conte’s long-awaited successor.
Ange Postecoglou, according to The Sun, could even be unveiled by the London giants as early as next week.
And unfortunately for Hamza Yousaf, who replaced Nicola Sturgeon as Scotland’s First Minister in March, his legislatory powers do not extend to keeping Postecoglou at Parkhead.
Will Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou be Tottenham’s new manager?
“I just asked my entire team to see if there’s anything within my ministerial powers to stop Ange leaving Celtic, if of course the rumours are true!” jokes the Hoops-mad Yousaf, speaking to Radio Clyde’s SuperScoreboard.
“Of course there’s nothing I can do. I would be gutted (if Postecoglou left). I think he’s been a real revelation. Not just as a manger and his tactics but also the players he’s bought, I just don’t think they would’ve come to the Scottish Premiership if he hadn’t brought them.”
Kyogo Furuhashi, Liel Abada, Reo Hatate and many more all joined the Hoops under his stewardship. Postecoglou’s eye for a bargain is, however, just one of a number of reasons why Spurs chairman Daniel Levy appears to have installed the 57-year-old as his number one candidate.
If Tottenham want a coach capable of bringing success back to North London, all the while playing the kind of exciting, attractive, attack-minded football not seen since Mauricio Pochettino’s heyday, a man who’s Celtic side scored 114 goals on route to another Scottish Premiership title certainly ticks more boxes than most.
Beat Inverness in Saturday’s Scottish Cup final, meanwhile, and Postecoglou will take his personal trophy collection to 21.
‘It’s inevitable’
“There’s no point in any of us getting nervous about things like that. It’s out of my control” sighs Greg Taylor; arguably the most improved Celtic player of the Postecoglou era (Scottish Sun). “I suppose it’s inevitable there will be interest. That’s just what happens when someone does well at anything in life..
“There will always be plaudits that come with it; whether that’s trophies, individual honours or links to elsewhere. We all understand that’s part of the life of a footballer and a football manager.”
Former Australia goalkeeper Mark Bosnich, meanwhile, believes Postecoglou and Tottenham may be a match made in footballing heaven.
‘Spurs perhaps the most suitable for him’
“He’s done a fantastic job,” Bosnich tells Sky Sports. “That’s four trophies in less than two seasons thus far, in line for the treble.
“I can see him coming to the Premier League. But it’s got to be the right club for him at the right time. He doesn’t need too many funds, he’s shown that before. But he needs to be able to shape the team and the club into his way.
“Ithink maybe Spurs would perhaps be the most suitable for him. They will be challenging for a European place – and when I say European place, I mean the Champions League. That is so important.
“They can win the domestic cups. A title challenge is a little bit beyond them right now. But one thing he would do for those fans who come to that wonderful stadium is play exceptionally attractive football. That’s really important for Spurs fans because they’ve had that in their DNA for such a long time.”
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