It is safe to say that Celtic fans are absolutely delighted to have Ange Postecoglou in the managerial hot seat at this point of time. The former Australian national team boss has done an incredible job ever since arriving in Glasgow. He took over a team that was in trouble after a disaster of a 2020/21 campaign and took them back to the top of the Scottish game, winning the league by four points.
They also managed to win the League Cup. This season has started spectacularly as well, as the Hoops currently sit five points clear at the top of the table and are fresh off of winning the first Glasgow Derby of the season by a 4-0 margin.
Thus, things are looking rosy for Celtic at this point of time to say the least. Interestingly though, Postecoglou had not always been the club’s first choice to be manager. Back then, his appointment was considered a huge risk.
In fact, they had chased Eddie Howe for months and only went for Postecoglou when it became clear that the former Bournemouth manager would not be coming to Parkhead. Since then, he has moved to take the job at Newcastle United and now given his reasons for turning down the Parkhead job.
Howe reveals why he decided to turn down chance to manage Celtic
While speaking to Alan Shearer for The Athletic and as reported by 67 Hail Hail, Howe said:
"“Celtic was the one job I’d been offered that really appealed. The issue there was my staff. I felt that if I was to come into a pressured job like that, I needed to go in with a sense of stability.“I could have recruited new staff, but then you’re working each other out and there’s a transition process where it probably takes three, four, five months. That’s five months too late. I needed my staff with me and we couldn’t get them together.”"
Back then, Howe not coming to Parkhead after chasing him for months did leave a lot of Celtic fans frustrated but in hindsight, it proved to be a blessing in disguise for the club.
It is hard to imagine that anybody could have done a better job than what Postecoglou has done ever since coming to Celtic. Not only have the Hoops produced results on the pitch while playing some beautiful football but the manager has also been able to bring the fans together like very few people could have.