The Australian coach’s legacy in Scotland is best left untouched while he needs a period of reflection – not to take the next job that comes along
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t is fair to say that Ange Postecoglou had a hard time during his 40-day stint at Nottingham Forest, but there is perhaps a more difficult test on the way. Being out of work means that his name is automatically going to be linked with available coaching jobs in Europe. It’s a nice problem to have, especially as the northern winter approaches and axes start to fall. There are few available coaches whose fingerprints are still on a major European trophy and who also have recent and major Premier League experience.
There have already been changes in England’s top tier with Forest being the main driver, firing Nuno Espírito Santo who then went on to replace Graham Potter at West Ham United, then bringing in Postecoglou and then replacing him with Sean Dyche. In the coming weeks and months, more will follow. There are lots of skill sets that a successful head coach must have, but one of the most important – and the least talked about – is knowing when to shake the head instead of hands when there is an approach.
In that sense, Celtic is the ultimate test. In the past five months, the Australian has experienced real highs and lows that must be dizzying. It’s been, at the very least, a chaotic time. Being fired twice from the league with the highest profile in the world has to hurt, and so it must be tempting to jump into a warm and familiar embrace. The two years in Glasgow from 2021 to 2023 were full of happy memories and glittering trophies – two league titles, an FA Cup and two League Cups. Postecoglou is a legend at Parkhead.
