Ange Postecoglou reveals key difference between Celtic and Spurs jobs and names player he couldn't replace
The former Celtic head coach has been discussed his spell with Tottenham Hotspur.
Ange Postecoglou has lifted the lid on how the pressure and expectations at Tottenham Hotspur set his experience apart from his time at previous clubs—including his Celtic reign.
The 60-year-old boss spent two trophy-laden seasons with Celtic, leading the Glasgow giants to two Scottish Premiership titles, two Scottish League Cups, and a Scottish Cup before he left to replace Antonio Conte in the Tottenham Hotspur dugout in 2023.
The Australian continued his tradition of winning silverware in North London, securing the Europa League trophy in his second season with the club, but was sacked just weeks later after a disappointing 17th-place finish in the English Premier League, with the club saying they came to the decision “following a review of performances and after significant reflection.”
Replaced by Brentford head coach Thomas Frank in the weeks after his sacking, the club are searching for a another new manager, having opted to sack the Danish boss just eight months into his tenure. Speaking on Gary Neville’s The Overlap series, the Aussie manager shared his thoughts on Frank’s dismissal and revealed the key differences between Tottenham Hotspur and his previous clubs, such as Celtic.
“I do think part of Tottenham's DNA, for want of a better word, is they do like their team to play a certain way,” said Postecoglou. “I think it's fair to say with Mauricio [Pochettino] they were going down that path. They're [each club he has managed] all unique. They're all different, but when you walk into Tottenham, what you see everywhere is [club slogan] to dare is to do. It's everywhere, and yet their actions are almost the antithesis of that in terms of that.
“Whether you like or dislike them, you give credit to Daniel Levy [ex-Spurs executive chairman] because that path has got a new stadium, new facilities, but taking a safe path. I think what they didn't realise was that to actually win, you've got to take some risks at some point.
“I had to make sure my frustrations didn't come out publicly. I'd seen Antonio come out, Jose, even Mauricio, towards the end, and it didn't end well. So, I go, ‘I've got to be really disciplined here and not say...’ maybe that does the club a disservice. I felt that that doesn't get you anywhere. I don't think Daniel liked that sort of laundry to be sort of put out in public.”
Briefly in charge of Nottingham Forest at the beginning of the current season, Postecoglou was dismissed just two months into his tenure at the City Ground after failing to win any of his eight opening games in charge. However, he admits he believes he could have still been at Spurs, if not for the sale of a key player that he claims was irreplaceable.
“I think people have been too dismissive of Harry Kane’s influence through that period,” he said. “He's an unbelievable player. If I had Harry the last two years, that first year we finished fifth, I'm convinced we would have finished in Champions League spots. So even him leaving, you can't plug that hole. It's just impossible.”
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