Brendan Rodgers praised former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou for securing the Europa League title with Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao…
Rodgers took over from Postecoglou in 2023 after the Australian departed to manage the English Premier League side, a club that had reportedly considered Rodgers as a potential manager in the past.
Although his second season at Spurs was challenging in the league, the 59-year-old led the North-London side to their first trophy in 17 years, earning Rodgers’ admiration.
Ahead of Celtic’s Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen at Hampden this weekend, the Irishman acknowledged Postecoglou’s major accomplishment after Tottenham’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United in Bilbao. “Yeah, it was brilliant,” said the Celtic manager.
“I am so pleased for Ange on a personal level. It has obviously been a tough season, and he has had to cope with a lot of nonsense this year. So, to see him happy at the end of the game and the team, I was so pleased for him.”
Earlier in the campaign, Postecoglou told the media he “always wins things in his second season” – a fact that bizarrely had drawn criticism all season and even in the build-up to the game in Bilbao.
The current Celtic boss was pleased to see Postecoglou back up his words with success yet again. “I think he was just declaring what he had done in his career, so obviously he has been held up to that statement,” Rodgers said.
“But no, it’s absolutely brilliant for him. I think he’s gone there, he’s worked very hard, brought an idea to the club, trying to change a culture, and that’s never easy.”
Harry Redknapp made me fall in love with Spurs as a kid. Pochettino was magic. But what Ange gave us last night? Nothing comes close.
Best day of my life as a Tottenham fan.
Thank you, Ange Postecoglou. 💙🏆 pic.twitter.com/ZqMpAgXivo
— The Spurs Watch (@TheSpursWatch) May 22, 2025
“So, to go in and arrive there and then to do that and then give the club the Champions League again, which is great, and then look to build and continue moving forward next season.”
During his two-year tenure at Celtic, Postecoglou secured five pieces of silverware, among them two Premiership titles, two Scottish League Cups, and a Scottish Cup.
He also earned praise for recruiting key players, including Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda, and Reo Hatate from Japan, along with talents like Cameron Carter-Vickers, Jota, and Matt O’Riley.
Wales international Brennan Johnson netted the decisive goal for Postecoglou’s Tottenham side on Wednesday night at San Mamés as they defeated Manchester United 1-0.
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