Postecoglou’s second-season success – what and how has he won?

In my second year, I always triumph. Nothing has changed. I don’t say things unless I believe them.

Ange Postecoglou, the manager of Tottenham, was in a defiant mood when his team lost 1-0 to Arsenal at home in September, and he has since heard that phrase all the time.

The 59-year-old Australian, who took over Spurs in July 2023, has had the last laugh by winning Manchester United 1-0 on Wednesday in the Europa League final.

Tottenham, whose most recent success was the 2008 League Cup, was only a few points away from proving him wrong earlier this year.

After the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Liverpool, they took a 1-0 lead before falling to 4-0 in the reverse fixture at Anfield. Tottenham also lost to Aston Villa in the FA Cup fourth-round hurdle.

The Europa League victory, which kept Postecoglou’s excellent second-year record, and may keep him in his job, also sealed his 100th game as manager of Spurs, which also included his 100th appearance in charge of the club.

In his second or third full year in charge, he won the Australian title with Yokohama F. Marinos, the Japanese league with South Melbourne and Brisbane Roar, and the Australian league with Yokohama F. Marinos.

Postecoglou also won the Scottish championship and the Asian Cup twice while leading Celtic, two years after taking over as Australia manager.

He spent two seasons in charge of the three smaller clubs he failed to win anything at, including Melbourne Victory, which he left after 18 months in search of the Australian job.

Matches: 113. Wins: 83 Draws: 12. Losses: 18. Goals scored: 284. Goals conceded: 108.

Postecoglou joined Celtic in June 2021, just after Rangers won the Scottish Premiership.

The Australian won five trophies with the Bhoys in his two years at the club, but he didn’t need two more to do it.

In his first campaign, they won the League Cup and became Scottish champions, before adding the Scottish Cup to complete the domestic treble in his second year with him, moving to Tottenham.

Before joining Celtic, former England goalkeeper Joe Hart had already won two Premier League titles with Manchester City. He believed that teaching his players new skills and a different perspective on the game was one of Postecoglou’s greatest strengths.

Following Postecoglou’s second Scottish title triumph in May 2023, Hart remarked, “He is top, really, really good.” He says, “It makes me feel alive because he is very clear about what he wants, and the biggest buzz for me is playing for someone who is pushing me.”

I’ve played for a number of successful teams. This is the first time I have played for a team with that kind of identity, despite the fact that it has always existed.

Matches: 161. Wins: 79. Draws: 30. Losses: 52. Goals scored: 313. Goals conceded: 228.

Prior to joining Yokohama F. Marinos, Postecoglou spent three and a half years in Japan.

In his first ten months there, he almost won a trophy, but Shonan Bellmare lost 1-0 to him in the J. League Cup .

However, his team’s success was not far away, winning the J1 League to become Japan’s champions and moving six points clear of FC Tokyo.

After Yokohama had fought back from 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2 down to leave it at 3-3 after 90 minutes, the team was invited back to the Japanese Super Cup (their version of the Community Shield).

Japanese football writer Dan Orlowitz remarked, “Ange really gave the club a purpose.”

It was a fresh approach to football that the league had not yet witnessed. Even when YFM struggled to achieve its goals in 2018, it was obvious that the players, and more importantly, Ange, were committed to what he was doing.

Matches: 49. Wins: 22. Draws: 12. Losses: 15. Goals scored: 86. Goals conceded: 58.

Postecoglou played for Australia four times during his playing career, and in 2013 he was given the opportunity to become the nation’s national manager.

Australia finished third in a tough group that included the Netherlands, Chile, and 2010 champion Spain at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

More than 76, 000 spectators watched the Socceroos’ victory in Sydney’s Asian Cup match against South Korea in January 2015 in the home country of Australia.

Before Son Heung-min, Postecoglou’s current captain at Tottenham, scored in the 91st minute to bring the tie to extra time, Massimo Luongo (currently at Ipswich Town) put Australia ahead. However, James Troisi, who developed through Newcastle United’s academy, delivered the winning goal as Postecoglou and Australia won the tournament by 2-1.

Tim Cahill, a former Everton midfielder, was a key player for Australia at the time, and he praised Postecoglou in an interview with Optus Sport in 2024.

I never knew Ange until he started working in Australia, where he had a great pedigree, Cahill said. Everything he says when he speaks is clear and logical: he wants the players to have the ball in the air, action, and intensity.

Matches: 83. Wins: 42. Draws: 24. Losses: 17. Goals scored: 142. Goals conceded: 91.

Postecoglou spent 18 months with Melbourne Victory before assuming the role of Australia manager. However, he was unable to return for a second full season.

He returned after a fantastic season with another Australian team, the Brisbane Roar. They won the A-League Championship in 2010-11 after a two-and-a-half-year hiatus, and they kept it that way the following year.

Former Brisbane captain Matt Smith stated to BBC Sport, “Ange’s main strength is his ability to bring players along that journey and buy into what he does.”

“Players who don’t want to follow have no tolerance for it. We never felt comfortable; instead, we were constantly striving to improve, develop, and work harder than any other group I’ve ever encountered.

Postecoglou served as the head coach of the Australian youth teams for seven years, winning three games and competing at the Oceania Under-17 and Under-20 Championships.

Matches: 155. Wins: 82. Draws: 30. Losses: 43. Goals scored: 276. Goals conceded: 194.

Postecoglou’s first managerial position was in South Melbourne’s A-League, which was the A-League’s predecessor.