Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly turning to Ange Postecoglou after missing out on Arne Slot but former Premier League owner Simon Jordan feels the Celtic manager will have a very difficult decision to make.
After two wildly successful seasons north of the border, has Ange Postecoglou achieved all he can at Celtic? Or can he still smash through the glass ceiling, and bring Champions League success to Parkhead for the first time in recent memory?
With a seat at Europe’s top table reserved for the Hoops ahead of 2023/24, this is a factor which will undoubtedly form part of Postecoglou’s thinking as he weighs up his future amid claims that Tottenham Hotspur have identified him as their latest in a long line of managerial ‘frontrunners’.
Tottenham turn to Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou
Arne Slot, after days of negotiations, finally opted to stay put at Eredivisie champions Feyenoord; taking a leaf out of the Xabi Alonso and Julian Nagelsmann playbook, while bringing about an unwelcome sense of déjà vu as 2023 threatens to become a sorry repeat of 2021.
The Independent believe that Postecoglou is now the newest name in the frame to take over from Antonio Conte in North London. And while the Premier League would be ‘a natural progression’ for a man who has never before worked in a major European league, Jordan wonders if Postecoglou could do like Slot and continue growing his reputation in a, respectfully, lower-level competition.
“He is a very good manager. (Moving to Spurs would be) a natural progression,” the former Crystal Palace chairman tells talkSPORT (25 May, 10.30am).
“Celtic are wonderful football club, but the Premier League is the biggest league in world football. Managers are going to want to find themselves in that space.
“Going to Tottenham has its challenges because of Daniel Levy. Any manager who thinks ‘I am a Levy appointment’ is rowing against the stream of toxicity and negativity towards the owners. (They will be thinking) ‘do I want that?’.
“’Or will I get an even bigger job than Tottenham if I keep winning at Celtic?’”
Should he stay or should he go?
Two years ago, before the baffling and ill-fated appointment of Nuno Espirito Santo, the ever-unpopular Levy set out the principles he felt represented Tottenham’s DNA.
A coach ‘whose values reflect those of our great club. Playing football with the style for which we are known – free-flowing, attacking and entertaining – whilst continuing to embrace our desire to see young players flourish from our Academy’ (Sky Sports).
Postecoglou, an elite developer of young talent, a proponent of exciting, attacking football and a proven winner to boot, ticks about every one of those boxes.
During spells in Scotland, Australia and Japan – and in the club and international game – Postecoglou has accumulated no fewer than 20 trophies.
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