‘That’s it’: £2.5m Celtic star shares what Postecoglou told him in training before key call

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Josip Juranovic has explained how a simple conversation with Ange Postecoglou in training led the Celtic boss to name him the Hoops’ designated penalty taker, via the Daily Record.

The Bhoys sold their previous spot-kick specialist in Odsonne Edouard to Crystal Palace for £14m this summer. The Frenchman took seven of their nine penalties in all competitions last season, scoring with five attempts from 12-yards out.

Edouard also converted from the spot against Dundee this August, before Celtic signed Juranovic from Legia Warsaw for £2.5m. The Croatian has since converted attempts against St Johnstone and Real Betis, having impressed Postecoglou before travelling to Spain.

Juranovic has shared how he caught Postecoglou’s attention in training and how the Celtic boss then decided he should be the Bhoys’ designated penalty taker going forward.

“I shoot like two penalty kicks and scored, before the match against Betis,” Juranovic said. “Before Betis, coach said to me we will shoot some penalties, for all the players. I scored three goals and they missed one, and because of that I’m on the penalties.”

Adding on the possibility of now topping the scoring charts at Parkhead this season: “I hope so! I’m calm on the ball and my head doesn’t go crazy at big moments. I want to be relaxed, and when I take the ball I think about the sides, pick one and that’s it.”

Juranovic had only scored twice in 41 games for Legia Warsaw before joining Postecoglou at Celtic this summer. He also netted just three in 165 games with Hajduk Split between 2015 and 2020, but neither of the right-back’s attempts came from the penalty spot.

Was Postecoglou right to hand Juranovic penalty duties at Celtic?

Postecoglou will feel he made the right decision handing Juranovic penalty duties after converting two from two for Celtic. Callum McGregor has taken the Bhoys’ only other spot kick since Edouard left, but the Parkhead captain missed against Ferencvaros.

McGregor also took one from the spot last term – and scored – while Ryan Christie tried his luck once and scored. But the 26-year-old left Glasgow this summer to join Bournemouth for £2.5m. Where he has been an instant hit with five assists in nine Championship games.