Merely months after being shown the exit door by Tottenham Hotspur, Ange Postecoglou is back managing in the Premier League with Nottingham Forest. Their fans seem to be unconvinced about the Australian manager, despite his Europa League success with Spurs. But as Celtic supporters know well, he is no stranger to proving critics wrong.
Postecoglou arrived at Celtic after the club had failed to secure the appointment of Eddie Howe after long-drawn-out talks. Guess some things never change.
Postecoglou proved to be a major success at Celtic though. He rebuilt the squad in a short span of time and delivered a Scottish Premiership and League Cup double in his very first season, something that not even the most optimistic of fans would have expected after how things had turned out for the club the year before.
He followed that up with a treble in his second season. But it is that double that Postecoglou reminded the English media about while speaking as the new Nottingham Forest manager.
Ange Postecoglou makes superb Celtic claim to English media
Postecoglou's quote about always winning in his second season will live on forever after he delivered the Europa League with Tottenham Hotspur. But that does not mean that he does not know how to win straight out of the gates.
When a reporter brought up that he always wins in his second season, Postecoglou quickly replied:
"I've won a couple in my first as well. Celtic, I won a double in my first year."
Well, he certainly did do that. And those were great times to be a Celtic fan, that is for sure. There is just something special to win, when you are not expected to. That was the position that the Hoops had found themselves in after finishing 25 points behind the Rangers and trophyless in the 20/21 season.
Nobody expected Postecoglou to be a grand success at Celtic. He was viewed as a panic appointment. But he proved everybody wrong and in spectacular fashion.
The mood around the club during that time was special as well. That 3-0 win over Rangers at Parkhead is one atmosphere everybody will remember.