Ange Postecoglou was hired in June of last year in what was a surprise appointment by Celtic. The Australian had managed at a World Cup and won trophies in his native land as well as Japan before landing the role after Celtic’s courtship of Eddie Howe fizzled out. It turned out to be a great result for Celtic as Postecoglou quickly committed to becoming the new manager.
This decision was scoffed at by many in the media, insisting that Celtic could be about to appoint a Pedro Caixinha character. However, as the season enters its final month, Ange has the league title firmly within his sights. In December he picked up the League Cup and a win on Sunday will effectively seal a Double in his debut season. One man who was fully aware of what the manager would bring was Tom Rogic. The 29-year-old played under Postecoglou for The Socceroos and Rogic said he was ‘quietly confident’ that his former boss would prove the doubters wrong.
Speaking to STV after he was nominated for PFA Scotland’s Player of the Year, Rogic said that he was the source in the dressing room regarding providing an insight into the manager’s methods and way of playing.
“Having worked with him previously, a number of boys asked ‘what’s he like?’ and I was happy to share my thoughts and opinions.
“I laugh sometimes when I look back because although I knew him quite well, I think there was a perception of ‘he’s from Australia, from the other side of the world, who is this guy?’
“People have found out pretty quickly that he’s good at what he does and there’s a reason the club brought him here.
“Football’s a funny game and it doesn’t always work how you expect, but having worked with him I knew the way he goes about managing so I was quietly confident he’d be a success here.
“I know it’s easy to say that now, but as a player I would say he’s a top manager and it’s nice to see him get the recognition he deserves.
“It’s been good having him here. He’s a fantastic manager. Everyone can see the style of football we’re playing, the success we’ve had to date and will hopefully have in the future.
“I worked with him for four or five years in the national team so I knew him better than any of the other boys in the team, but working with him day to day and experiencing the intensity of working under him every day has been something I’ve enjoyed.
“As a manager he treats everyone the same. I knew I wasn’t going to get any preferential treatment.”
Suffice to say that Rogic and his teammates bought into the manager’s way of working and we are enjoying the rewards now. Hopefully, the team will be able to push on next season and progress in Europe as well as dominating at home. The hysteria surrounding the appointment was driven by the media looking to sell papers and put the man under pressure before he had even arrived. Ange worked away quietly, he put the media in his place quickly and since then he has been a revelation.
For Rogic, his Celtic renaissance has been helped by the arrival of Ange. He appeared to be destined for the exit last season as he struggled to get into Neil Lennon’s starting XIs. He will be competing with his Celtic skipper for the accolade when the awards are dished out.
