Ange Postecoglou explains Pep Guardiola Celtic rumour

Ange Postecoglou is not an overnight success by any means even though it might feel so to many football fans. The Australian had been managing for decades before he had gotten his well-earned worldwide recognition. Of course, the beginning of his meteoric rise was at Celtic, who appointed him in the summer of 2021.

At that point in time, Postecoglou was unknown to most of European football fans even though he had enjoyed significant success in Australia and Japan already. Many even questioned the Hoops’ decision to hand him the job and predicted it to be a failure.

It turned out to be the complete opposite. Postecoglou won five trophies in two seasons at Celtic. That caught the eye of Tottenham Hotspur, who appointed him in the summer.

Once again, there were doubters and critics. Postecoglou is used to proving people wrong though and currently has Tottenham Hotspur sitting atop the Premier League table. It remains to be seen if that is sustainable or not.

Postecoglou explains Guardiola Celtic rumour

Of course, things would have turned out very differently if Postecoglou was not handed the Celtic opportunity when the move for Eddie Howe did not work out. And rumours have suggested that Pep Guardiola played a factor in the Australian’s appointment.

There have been suggestions that Guardiola talked up Postecoglou to Dermot Desmond during a chance meeting. As reported by Football Scotland, when asked about the matter by Four Four Two, the Australian said:

"“I’m not sure. You know what it’s like – success has a million fathers, so who knows what the actual story was. But it was Desmond who reached out to me.“I chatted to him and literally straight after that conversation, he made his decision. What other background work they did, I’m not really sure, but I was delighted he saw something in me to give me the opportunity.”"

Interestingly, Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur are leading Guardiola’s Manchester City in the Premier League right now. Of course, it is a marathon and not a race. Just last season, Arsenal looked like clear favourites to win the league for the majority of the campaign, only to slip in the final stretch and hand the title to the Citizens.