Aussie icon Ange Postecoglou unrecognisable in special video tribute

News.com.au

23-05-2025

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has received a touching tribute from his first ever club after his historic Europa League triumph.
Postecoglou, 59, led Spurs to their first trophy since their 2008 League Cup win under Juande Ramos and lived up to his promise that he always wins silverware in his second year at a club.
The Aussie tactician's stunning run continued after enjoying similar success with the likes of South Melbourne, Australia, Yokohama Marinos and Celtic before moving to Spurs.
And Thursday's 1-0 victory over Manchester United at San Mames in Bilbao led to an incredible tribute from the South Melbourne outfit where he started both his playing and coaching career, as The Sun reports.
The Australian club shared a stunning three-minute clip showing the Tottenham boss' rise from humble beginnings all the way to his trophy-laden managerial run.
South Melbourne tweeted: 'Ange Postecoglou – the man, the myth, our legend.
'From his early days as a Hellas junior, to a championship-winning captain and coach, Ange has gone on to become a serial winner wherever he's been.
'His football journey is truly one of a kind. Now, he stands as a European champion with Spurs. Here's a look at his incredible journey.'
Set to the beautiful, somewhat haunting track appropriately called Awakening by Secret Garden, the video showed Postecoglou looking completely unrecognisable as a child and later with a moustache, goatee and rich curly hair.
The Spurs boss is also heard explaining how it all started, with his parents having to leave Greece in 1970 during the country's military dictatorship for a better life in Australia.
The former defender started out at South Melbourne in 1978 as a youth player where he spent a total of 15 years and won two National League titles in 1984 and 1991.
The Greek-born head coach's stint with the Aussie outfit also holds a special place in his heart as he worked under the legendary Ferenc Puskas.
The Hungary and Real Madrid superstar managed the Melbourne club from 1989 until 1992.
Postecoglou was Puskas' right-hand man and translator as the icon had a successful stint in Greece managing Panathinaikos and AEK Athens before moving Down Under.
The Aussie tactician then took over as South Melbourne boss in 1996 following a short stint as an assistant coach and won three titles during his four-year spell in the dugout.
And the rest is history as he then won the Asian Cup with Australia, the Japanese league with Yokohama and everything with Celtic before joining Tottenham in 2023.