Just one win separates Ange Postecoglou from engaging in a feat achieved solely seven occasions in Celtic’s grand historical past.
The home treble — the Scottish Premiership, Scottish League Cup and Scottish FA Cup — is inside touching distance for the Hoops.
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The League Cup has already been secured and so too has the league title, whereas a date with second-tier Inverness Caledonian Thistle looms within the Scottish FA Cup Final on June 4.
What makes this feat even sweeter is the very fact Postecoglou’s aspect knocked out bitter rivals Rangers in each cup competitions and can end forward of them within the league standings.
Each trophy hoisted above Postecoglou’s head solely strengthens a bond between supervisor, membership and fan hardly ever seen in trendy soccer.
But it additionally means the hyperlinks for Postecoglou and Premier League golf equipment won’t relent.
There’s a powerful case for the previous Socceroos boss to park up in Glasgow for the foreseeable future.
Guaranteed trophies, an adoring fan base and the chance to compete towards Europe’s elite has an infinite pull.
But so too is the prospect to check your self within the greatest, most watched league on the planet with entry to funds groups throughout the continent may solely dream of.
It’s unlikely The Clash’s hit track ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go’ is performed on repeat on Postecoglou’s Spotify account, however at some stage, he’ll be confronted with such a predicament, if he isn’t already.
Postecoglou and Celtic declare Premiership | 02:33
EURO-SIZED ‘CARROT’ LEAVES ANGE BEGGING FOR MORE
Everywhere Postecoglou has stopped off on his managerial journey he has received a trophy and, in some circumstances, multiple.
But ought to Postecoglou match a feat Celtic managed simply thrice in a staggering 113 years earlier than an unprecedented run of 4 trebles in a row from 2016 to 2010, it might be his most profitable spell at a single vacation spot.
Hamish Carton, the writer of Never Stop: How Ange Postecoglou Brought the Fire Back to Celtic, conceded Celtic’s 2016/17 ‘invincibles’ treble “is rarely going to be overwhelmed.”
But ought to Postecoglou full the clear sweep, it might definitely come shut.
“I feel it might be the second finest out of that current run of 5,” Carton instructed foxsports.com.au.
“Just provided that the connection there’s between the followers and the crew and the way relentless we’ve been.
“Also given we’ve overwhelmed Rangers in all three competitions, I feel that makes it particular. We’ve overwhelmed the second-best crew within the nation in each competitors to hopefully win the treble.”
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Ange emotional after Premiership win | 00:44
With the target of retaining their standing as kings of Scotland secured, it additionally means Postecoglou will get one other crack at main his troops within the profitable UEFA Champions League.
Thanks to Scotland being ranked ninth in UEFA’s coefficient desk on the conclusion of final season, the Scottish Premiership champions obtain automated entry into the group stage.
Postecoglou was handed a brutal actuality verify when it comes to the ruthlessness of Europe’s elite in his debut Champions League marketing campaign.
Despite creating loads of possibilities, even towards the likes of defending champions Real Madrid, Celtic shipped 15 targets throughout their 5 group video games.
But the heartening truth Celtic greater than held their very own and performed Postecoglou’s eye-catching model of soccer ought to present loads of respite even when they didn’t win a sport.
It’s why Socceroos legend Robbie Slater believes Postecoglou will need to keep in Glasgow to proper these European wrongs.
“The solely query mark over Celtic this season is the Champions League,” Slater stated on the Fox Football Podcast.
Postecoglou is one trophy away from main Celtic to one more treble. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“That’s one of many causes I feel he’ll keep. I feel the Champions League carrot of going once more.
“(He’s) skilled it with this group of gamers, there’s some new ones however this group of gamers largely have skilled that one (marketing campaign), which could make them do even higher within the subsequent one.
“I feel that makes him keep.”
Champions League apart, the mere truth Postecoglou is at a large membership can’t be understated.
Throughout his total managerial profession, the 58-year-old has yearned for a job that might replicate the eagerness he has for the sport.
At Celtic, it’s a match made in heaven.
Granted, the success Postecoglou has had in Glasgow is aided by the deep pockets of the membership, assets which blow virtually each crew in Scotland out of the water.
It inevitably led to Rangers boss Michael Beale’s notorious “fortunate man” jibe as a result of funds accessible to Postecoglou however, in typical Ange trend, the Aussie had the proper reply.
And it highlights simply why he loves the job a lot.
Postecoglou has developed an distinctive bond between himself, his gamers and Celtic followers. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“I’d by no means use that language about any person in my place,” Postecoglou stated.
“I’m undecided which bit is ‘fortunate’. I feel Michael on the time was referring to the very fact I had cash to spend however I didn’t get to this place out of luck.
“I labored 25 years of teaching to be entrusted at a membership like this. This isn’t my first job.
“If it was my first job possibly I’d be fortunate however it’s not, it’s 25 years of exhausting work.”
Trophies, fixed participation within the Champions League and an adoring fanbase is a way of life Postecoglou may get used to.
But, as his managerial profession has proven, he’s by no means been one to arrange store at one membership for too lengthy.
Which is why the noise surrounding a transfer south of the Scottish border is barely going to ramp up the longer he stays at Celtic and the extra trophies he wins.
If something, it’s already began.
Postecoglou has caught the attention of Premier League groups. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
‘ONLY A MATTER OF TIME’ BEFORE PL SWITCH?
Scottish soccer followers comprehend it’s very a lot a case of demise, taxes and a profitable Celtic or Rangers supervisor being linked with a Premier League transfer.
Brendan Rodgers and Steven Gerrard had been the newest managers of the well-known rivals to make the change down south to considerably various levels of success.
Rodgers joined Leicester City halfway by means of the 2018/19 season from Celtic, a choice that left a bitter style within the mouths of many Hoops followers.
The Northern Irishman went on to guide Leicester to consecutive fifth-place finishes from 2020 to 2022 whereas additionally successful the 2020/21 FA Cup, the primary time the Foxes had received the distinguished trophy.
However, Rodgers’ Midas contact finally ran out this season and was sacked by Leicester with the membership hurtling in the direction of the Championship.
As for Gerrard, he moved to Aston Villa in November 2021 to switch Dean Smith.
Despite 4 wins from his opening six video games and making certain the membership’s security, the wheels rapidly fell off the Gerrard wagon and he was sacked lower than a 12 months into the function.
Perhaps each are a cautionary story for Postecoglou, though the success of Rodgers shouldn’t be seen as a deterrent.
However, Carton’s daring declare on Postecoglou’s capacity in comparison with Rodgers and Gerrard bodes effectively for any such Premier League change.
Steven Gerrard’s failed spell at Aston Villa ought to function a cautionary story for Posteecoglou. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“I’d say for me, Ange might be a greater supervisor than these two,” Carton stated.
“He’s doing presumably much more wonderful issues than these two. I do know Rodgers received back-to-back trebles, however the competitors now could be significantly better.”
After his profitable first season on the helm Postecoglou has gone from strength-to-strength in Glasgow and eviscerated the early scepticism that surrounded his appointment.
It’s why there was hyperlinks aplenty for Postecoglou and numerous Premier League vacancies.
The likes of Brighton, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leeds United and Everton to call a couple of had been all credited with some type of curiosity within the Celtic boss.
Carton notes it’s “turn out to be a little bit of a laughing matter among the many Celtic help” at simply how often Postecoglou’s title pops up every time there’s a brand new function to fill.
But the intrigue surrounding Postecoglou’s future stepped up a notch when he went from being linked to mid-table golf equipment to the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea.
Granted, it’s doubtless the London heavyweights go down a distinct route relating to their new man of their respective dugouts.
But the shift in calibre of groups Postecoglou was linked with reiterates a declare former Manchester City star Micah Richards made in his column for the Daily Mail.
“It was fascinating to see Ange Postecoglou linked with the Chelsea job,” Richards wrote.
Former Manchester City star Micah Richards is a fan of Postecoglou. (Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“I spoke to Joe Hart shortly after he joined Celtic in August 2021 and he raved about his new supervisor, notably about his character and outlook on life.
“He performs courageous soccer and Joe stated nothing flusters him. It is barely a matter of time earlier than a membership right here takes a plunge on him.”
There’s additionally the varsity of thought, truthful or unfair, that there’s a ceiling on what Postecoglou can do in Scotland.
With Celtic, Postecoglou is anticipated to vacuum up trophies given the hole in high quality between the Hoops and the remainder of the Scottish high flight except for Rangers.
But within the Premier League, essentially the most watched soccer league on the planet, it’s a wholly completely different ball sport, a degree soccer author John Duerden made in a column for The Guardian.
“Postecoglou is a person who does issues his personal means however not even the 2015 Asian coach of the 12 months can change how trendy European soccer works,” Duerden wrote.
“There is a restrict to what anybody can do in Scotland, even at an enormous membership like Celtic and even with top-class recruitment.
“If the ambition is to work on the highest stage of world soccer, the Premier League presents the perfect alternative with cashed-up golf equipment, elite fellow coaches and worldwide consideration.”
Leicester fall again into relegation zone | 01:01
Although the brilliant lights of the Premier League are extraordinarily engaging, it’s one in every of, if not essentially the most, cutthroat leagues on the planet.
This season, 15 managers have come and gone in a massacre the likes of which we have now by no means seen.
It highlights the ruthlessness during which house owners are keen to eliminate managers within the pursuit of the massive greenback indicators the Premier League brings.
Slater believes the trigger-happy nature of Premier League house owners may have Postecoglou cautious of taking any job down south.
“What we’ve talked about within the unstable setting of the Premier League the place principally it seems like when you take over and also you don’t hit the bottom working, you get sacked,” Slater stated.
“That’s the place Ange may (be involved). If he does flip round and goes to, say, Chelsea, he is aware of that you simply’ve obtained to hit the bottom working. You don’t get time. That’s not a query, only a truth.
“Can he take care of that? He did at Celtic. He needed to hit the bottom working. The first few weeks they had been speaking: ‘he’s not the best [man].’ Then he turned it round in a short time and clearly received the title and all the things was candy.”
Yet the flipside of the exceptional managerial turnover is that there’s prone to be extra Premier League openings than ever earlier than.
Could Chelsea proprietor Todd Boehly make a play for Postecoglou? (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Going into subsequent season, Crystal Palace, Leeds, Tottenham, Chelsea and Leicester City will all want new managers.
Granted, one in every of Leicester or Leeds are a excessive probability of dropping all the way down to the Championship, one thing Postecoglou appears unlikely to do at this stage of his managerial profession.
Chelsea additionally appear destined to nominate former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino which takes them off the desk.
But it nonetheless leaves numerous Premier League groups needing a contemporary face within the dugout and a few golf equipment not listed earlier could swing the axe on the finish of the season.
The sheer quantity of vacancies within the English high flight is one thing we’ve by no means seen and it could not come round once more.
It presents a giant dilemma for Postecoglou: may he select to money in on his shares once they’re sky excessive, or does he roll the cube on a 3rd season with Celtic and keep his trajectory?
If, and it’s a giant if, outcomes start to slide away just a little, the naysayers will instantly latch on.
It may also solely drive up the argument that Postecoglou could not have the ability to lower it within the Premier League if he can’t hold the momentum up for 3 seasons in Scotland the place it’s primarily a two-horse race.
Additionally, Postecoglou doesn’t have the instant backing of media pundits in England who will fortunately namedrop former gamers as appropriate candidates for managerial openings.
No matter how typically they might have failed in earlier roles, sure people (ahem, Frank Lampard) proceed getting jobs in excessive positions.
Postecoglou virtually definitely wouldn’t obtain the identical remedy by these pundits, particularly if issues flip just a little bitter up north.
Where will Ange find yourself subsequent season? | 00:56
ANGE IS ‘THE KING’ OF GLASGOW … LONG MAY HE REIGN?
Despite being hailed as considerably of a deity within the inexperienced and white half of Glasgow, The Guardian’s Ewan Murray is aware of there’s a ceiling as to what Postecoglou can obtain with the membership.
“There ought to, nonetheless, be no hurt in speculating on or, in Celtic’s case, planning for the inevitable,” The Guardian’s Ewan Murray wrote.
“This is a consequence of success. Clubs who want a supervisor to reboot attitudes, a taking part in squad, ways and a switch imaginative and prescient will be aware Postecoglou’s physique of labor.
“Celtic shouldn’t be the top sport for gamers or managers who aspire to be the perfect.”
What’s most clear when assessing the views of pundits all over the place is Postecoglou will finally transfer on.
Modern soccer dictates as such.
Rarely do managers keep in a single place for very lengthy anymore, with Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp at Manchester City and Liverpool respectively the notable exceptions to the rule.
It stays to be seen whether or not Postecoglou would depart on his personal phrases or if he might be nudged apart, however all indicators level to the previous given his tight-knit reference to the fanbase.
Of course, essentially the most important ingredient of this dialogue, which has been largely ignored by all events involved, is {that a} membership should make a concrete provide to Postecoglou.
At this stage, it’s all paper discuss and betting markets sending the hearsay mill into overdrive.
And for all of the glitz and glamour on provide within the Premier League, the grass isn’t all the time greener on the opposite aspect.
Just ask Steven Gerrard.
Everton thrash Brighton in necessary win | 01:16
It’s why Slater believes the level-headed Postecoglou received’t even solid a lot as a sideways look on the Premier League.
“I’ve obtained a sense he would possibly keep at Celtic,” Slater stated.
“He’s the king. They love him. And he’s obtained one other crack on the Champions League.
“I feel that’s the factor that grabs him. If you go to Chelsea he’s obtained no European soccer. If you go to the (different mid-table) groups we’re speaking about there’s no European soccer. Even Spurs doesn’t seem like (taking part in) European soccer. Do you give away the Champions League?
“If there’s a protected seat in soccer on the planet, Ange is in one in every of them.”
Safe seats in soccer are extraordinarily tough to return by, as are fixed alternatives to qualify for the Champions League.
And Carton, very like massive parts of the adoring Celtic fanbase, can’t see why Postecoglou would give that up so quickly into his Glasgow journey.
“He’s waited so lengthy for this type of gig, the followers adore him,” Carton stated.
“Wherever he goes for the remainder of his profession, he’ll by no means discover one other membership the place he’s beloved as a lot as this, I’m assured in saying that.
“He’s obtained a gaggle of gamers who’re doing wonderful and have a lot extra potential.
“It’s not as if he’s solely obtained 5 to 10 years left in administration, he may have one other 20 years so he’s obtained loads of time to take pleasure in and obtain at Celtic after which finally transfer on.
“I genuinely assume he realises that too.”
