Reports from Japan today are indicating that it’s now a done deal as far as Ange Postecoglou becoming the new manager at Celtic, with talk of white smoke at the Vatican and green smoke at Celtic Park, although we’re unclear as to whether that would be from a flare from an excited Green Brigade.
Journalist Dan Orlowitz, writing in Japan Times is reporting as follows: Yokohama F. Marinos manager Ange Postecoglou on Sunday declined to comment on media reports linking him to the vacant position at Celtic, saying that he remains focused on his current role in charge of the J. League first-division side.
The Australian has emerged as the heavy favorite to take the hot seat at Celtic Park after Englishman Eddie Howe was said to have rejected the job with the Scottish Premier League side, which finished the 2020-21 season a shocking 25 points behind archrival Rangers to end a run of nine straight domestic titles.
“Everyone knows me, knows that my focus is always on what’s in front of me,” Postecoglou said after Marinos’ 2-1 home win over Shimizu S-Pulse at Nissan Stadium. “ I’ve understood there’s some speculation around the future, but I’ve stopped thinking about the what-ifs in the world a long time ago.
“My focus the last couple of days has been on making sure we play well today.”
The Greek-born Australian has become a beloved fan favorite since arriving at Yokohama in 2018. After finishing a scant four points above the relegation zone that season despite boasting the league’s second-best attack, Postecoglou’s revamped 2019 squad ended the club’s 15-year wait for a fourth J1 title when they overcame FC Tokyo in the league’s final weeks.
Prior to his time in Japan, Postecoglou led Australia’s Socceroos to qualification for the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups and won the country’s first major silverware at the 2015 Asian Cup, which it hosted.
Aside from a brief spell with Greek third-division side Panachaiki, the bulk of Postecoglou’s managerial experience has been in Australia’s A-League, where he captured back-to-back championships with Brisbane Roar in 2010-11 and ’11-12.
Were he to make the move to Glascow, he would be the highest-profile J. League manager to take over a European club since Nagoya Grampus Eight’s Arsene Wenger was appointed to run Arsenal in 1996.
But Postecoglou, who is affectionately called “Boss” by his players and Marinos fans, insisted that his mind was squarely on his side, which will enter the international break in third place with 34 points from 16 games.
“My focus is here (with Marinos). This is the job I’ve got, and I’ve always done that my whole career,” Postecoglou said. “I’m just focused on the job I have and making sure I do it well — or else other people will decide my future.
However another journalist Scott McIntyre has tweeted: “My understanding is that a deal to take Ange Postecoglou to @CelticFC has been agreed, the only holdup is securing a release from his current club and the appointment of a suitable replacement. Long overdue move for one of the world’s most innovative and unrelenting coaches.”
On reading that Dan Orlowitz reckons that it’s as good as done tweeting “A tweet like this from Scott might as well be white smoke from the Vatican. Or, as the case may be, green smoke from Celtic Park”
COMMENTS HERE: https://t.co/fPxExiokqw
— Dan Orlowitz (@aishiterutokyo) May 30, 2021
My understanding is that a deal to take Ange Postecoglou to @CelticFC has been agreed, the only holdup is securing a release from his current club & the appointment of a suitable replacement. Long overdue move for one of the world’s most innovative & unrelenting coaches.
— Scott McIntyre (@mcintinhos) May 30, 2021
A tweet like this from Scott might as well be white smoke from the Vatican.
Or, as the case may be, green smoke from Celtic Park. https://t.co/pLVRQjtDxD
— Dan Orlowitz (@aishiterutokyo) May 30, 2021
READ THIS…Brisbane Based Celtic Supporter Gives us the Lowdown on Ange Postecoglou
Of all the insular chat about Postecoglou and his pedigree, the suggestion he’d be a compliant yes man must be the most baseless of all.
The guy does not suffer fools. We're far more likely to see him falling out with the Celtic board and Scottish press than kowtowing to them.
— Stephen Sullivan (@SullivanSK) May 30, 2021
