Latest news with #NationalSoccerLeague
Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Ange Postecoglou completely unrecognisable as skinny footballer in playing days
Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou is celebrating after guiding Spurs to Europa League glory, but he looks markedly different now compared to his time with South Melbourne Ange Postecoglou proved to be the right man to end Tottenham Hotspur's trophy drought after guiding his side to victory in the Europa League final. Spurs defeated Manchester United 1-0 on Wednesday night with a more cautious game plan than the team ordinarily deployed in the Premier League. Spurs were wholly different from the front-foot side that were on the cusp of a top four spot last season. And the tweaks from Postecoglou helped lead the club to its first major trophy for 17 years, as well as their first European success since 1984. In celebration of Tottenham's Europa League triumph, Postecoglou's former side South Melbourne shared a video on social media, documenting his playing days and coaching journey, in which the Spurs boss looked practically unrecognisable. Postecoglou rose through the youth ranks at South Melbourne and became a title-winning captain before being forced to retire through injury. He also started his coaching career with his boyhood club, but Postecoglou – who turns 60 in August – looked markedly different from the man who would later lead Spurs to European glory in Bilbao. In the video shared by South Melbourne, Postecoglou is shown as a no-nonsense, yet attack-minded, full-back, with a mop of hair, distinctive moustache, and wiry frame. His career was cut short by a knee injury, retiring aged 27, but not before he had spent several seasons being coached by football legend Ferenc Puskas. He won two National Soccer League titles as a player and lifted the trophy as captain in 1991. Postecoglou, who also earned four caps for Australia, joined the club's coaching staff after hanging up his boots and was named South Melbourne head coach in 1996. In his first managerial job, Postecoglou ended the club's seven-year trophy drought and won back-to-back NSL titles. He also won the Oceania Club Championship, which led him to face off against Sir Alex Ferguson's United in the 2000 Club World Cup. Although his appearance may have changed over time, Postecoglou has consistently won trophies in almost every job of his coaching career. Upon leaving South Melbourne in 2000, he won silverware with Australia's U17 and U20 sides before returning to the A-League with Brisbane Roar, where he clinched consecutive league championships. After a short spell with Melbourne Victory, Postecoglou was named Australia manager, a post he held for four years, claiming the 2015 Asian Cup. He subsequently won the J1 League with Yokohama F. Marinos in 2019. Postecoglou was appointed by Spurs following his trophy-laden spell at Celtic, earning five major honours during his two-year stint in Glasgow. Following an encouraging first season in north London, Postecoglou has come under scrutiny due to Spurs sitting 17th in the Premier League after choosing to prioritise their Europa League campaign. However, speaking after his side's win on Wednesday, the Tottenham manager claimed he had not worried about losing his job in the build-up to the final. "I've had such a laser focus on winning this thing that I didn't... whatever happens happens. I said yesterday that we are still building this team. It's still a very young team and we need to add some experience to it," he told TNT Sports. "We're in the Champions League and my thought process, and what I've been doing this year is trying to build a team that can be successful for four, five, six years. Now, I'm the manager of a football club. That decision is not in my hands. It doesn't affect me. If it was going to affect me then you would have seen it in the build-up to here. 'All that I cared about was this thing [the medal]. You know, having this thing around my neck means this football club has won a trophy." When asked if he planned to walk away from Tottenham on a high, Postecoglou added: "No. I've said that and I don't feel like I've completed the job yet. We're still building. "The moment I accepted the role I had one thing in my head and that is to win something. More than anything else. We've done that now and I want to build on it." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
West Australian
22-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Former Perth Glory chief executive Peter Filopoulos proud of long-time friend Ange Postecoglou's success
Former Perth Glory chief executive Peter Filopoulos has hailed his long-time friend Ange Postecoglou as a visionary and praised the legacy he has left for Australian football. Postecoglou is basking in the glow of ending Tottenham's 17-year trophy drought after overcoming a poor domestic season to steer the English Premier League side to the Europa League title. Spurs' 1-0 win over Manchester United in Bilbao on Thursday morning WA-time was their first European trophy since 1984 and cements Postecoglou's place in history after a trying second season in charge. Filopoulos grew up as a South Melbourne fan who idolised Postecogolou the player; he progressed from the terraces to the backroom around the same time Postocoglou transitioned into the head coaching role. Before he went on to serve as Glory's chief executive from 2015-18, Filopoulos cut his teeth as South Melbourne's general manager and had front-row seats to Postecoglou's four-year tenure as coach of the National Soccer League powerhouse. Having watched Postecoglou win two grand finals, a league title and qualification to the 2000 FIFA Club World Cup during his time at Albert Park, Filopoulos said he was thrilled to see his friend triumph on one of Europe's biggest stages. 'I've seen him from player to coach, and have worked with him side by side. I'm delighted for him, because he's a visionary, and he's always setting a positive tone, always striving to rally teams around him for success,' he said. 'This year, it's been ups and downs for him and for him to get this European trophy for a club that hasn't won anything in decades, is a testament to who he is: first and foremost, Ange Postecoglou, and also for his heritage, being a proud Greek-born Australian. 'I'm proud that someone I call a friend, a former colleague, and my former idol when he was playing for South Melbourne when I was a fan on the terraces, has done so well on a global stage. 'We used to spend a lot of time as colleagues and friends, talking about ambitions for Australian football, for South Melbourne, ambitions for respect for our game within our country. 'We talked about how we gain respect across the world as well, and how we continue to grow the sport — that's been his passion.' Throughout all his coaching stops, Postecoglou has brought in coaches with Australian ties into his staff; Harry Kewell, Kevin Muscat and Peter Cklamovski are among the coaches to have landed head coaching roles after working with him. Meanwhile, the current Spurs set-up includes ex-Socceroos great Mile Jedinak and former Central Coast Mariners duo Nick Montgomery and Sergio Raimundo. Filopoulos, who now serves as Football Australia's chief customer, brand and marketing officer, said Postecoglou had never forgot where he has come from and endeavoured to give fellow Australians coaching opportunities he never had. 'He's always wanted to leave a legacy and everywhere he's been, he's groomed Australian successfully has taken other people along with the journey,' he said. 'He's given other people in Australia, whether it's a player, referee, match official, coach, they look at Ange and think 'I can do that too; if Ange can do it. I can do it.' As for the future, as speculation begins about whether he will stay or leave, Filopoulos said Postecoglou would not revel in the glory for too long. 'He always had a lens on the future, but he never loses sight of the present. He always lives in the moment,' he said. 'Is he going to leave? Is he going to stay? He's not going to be drawn into that. If I know Ange, he would have been focusing immediately on the following things: get back to the hotel, be with his friends that traveled from Australia, his family, having a few scotches. 'I think his mind now is turning to the Brighton game on Sunday.'
The Advertiser
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Postecoglou puts naysayers in their place
Ange Postecoglou has lived up to the early-season promise he made. "I always win things in my second year. Nothing has changed," the Tottenham manager said after back-to-back defeats early in the Premier League campaign. That narrative has followed him all season yet eight months later, Postecoglou delivered on his word by leading Spurs to the Europa League title with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the final in Bilbao, Spain on Wednesday night. "It wasn't me boasting. It was a declaration ... If we fell short, I was ready to cop it," Postecoglou told TNT Sports. His stint at Tottenham has been "the toughest couple of years" of his career, he said. "I knew it going into it," Postecoglou told CBS Sports. "This football club has had world-class managers, a lot better-credentialed than I am, and haven't been able to get there, so I knew I had a massive challenge in front of me." Here's a rundown of those second-season trophies won by Postecoglou across his career: * South Melbourne (1996-2000) In his first job as a head coach, Postecoglou won Australia's top-flight title — the National Soccer League — in his second season with South Melbourne and again the following year. * Brisbane Roar (2009-12) Postecoglou achieved the same feat at Brisbane Roar, winning the league title — by now it was called the A-League — in his second season and retaining it the following year. * Australia (2013-17) During the second year of Postecoglou's four-year stint with the Socceroos, Australia hosted the Asian Cup in early 2015 and reached the final against South Korea. The Australians conceded an equaliser in added time — coincidentally scored by current Tottenham captain Son Heung-min — but clinched a 2-1 win after extra time. It was Australia's first Asian Cup title. * Yokohama F. Marinos (2018-21) In his first big job outside Australia, Postecoglou lost the Japanese Cup final in his first season with Yokohama F. Marinos but made up for it by winning the top-flight league title by six points the following year. It was the club's fourth Japanese league championship. * Celtic (2021-23) At Celtic, Postecoglou was in charge of the biggest team in Scotland — albeit one which had relinquished its league title the previous year. Under the Australian, Celtic regained the Scottish Premiership title by four points in his first season and retained it — by seven points — in his second season. Postecoglou then left for Tottenham. * Postecoglou's other clubs Postecoglou has been coach at three other clubs in his managerial career, but never got to the end of a second full season with any of them. He was at Greek lower-league team Panachaiki (2008) for less than a year, with Australian team Whittlesea Zebras for just three months in 2009 and at Melbourne Victory for 18 months — but left at the start of his second full season to take over the Socceroos. Ange Postecoglou has lived up to the early-season promise he made. "I always win things in my second year. Nothing has changed," the Tottenham manager said after back-to-back defeats early in the Premier League campaign. That narrative has followed him all season yet eight months later, Postecoglou delivered on his word by leading Spurs to the Europa League title with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the final in Bilbao, Spain on Wednesday night. "It wasn't me boasting. It was a declaration ... If we fell short, I was ready to cop it," Postecoglou told TNT Sports. His stint at Tottenham has been "the toughest couple of years" of his career, he said. "I knew it going into it," Postecoglou told CBS Sports. "This football club has had world-class managers, a lot better-credentialed than I am, and haven't been able to get there, so I knew I had a massive challenge in front of me." Here's a rundown of those second-season trophies won by Postecoglou across his career: * South Melbourne (1996-2000) In his first job as a head coach, Postecoglou won Australia's top-flight title — the National Soccer League — in his second season with South Melbourne and again the following year. * Brisbane Roar (2009-12) Postecoglou achieved the same feat at Brisbane Roar, winning the league title — by now it was called the A-League — in his second season and retaining it the following year. * Australia (2013-17) During the second year of Postecoglou's four-year stint with the Socceroos, Australia hosted the Asian Cup in early 2015 and reached the final against South Korea. The Australians conceded an equaliser in added time — coincidentally scored by current Tottenham captain Son Heung-min — but clinched a 2-1 win after extra time. It was Australia's first Asian Cup title. * Yokohama F. Marinos (2018-21) In his first big job outside Australia, Postecoglou lost the Japanese Cup final in his first season with Yokohama F. Marinos but made up for it by winning the top-flight league title by six points the following year. It was the club's fourth Japanese league championship. * Celtic (2021-23) At Celtic, Postecoglou was in charge of the biggest team in Scotland — albeit one which had relinquished its league title the previous year. Under the Australian, Celtic regained the Scottish Premiership title by four points in his first season and retained it — by seven points — in his second season. Postecoglou then left for Tottenham. * Postecoglou's other clubs Postecoglou has been coach at three other clubs in his managerial career, but never got to the end of a second full season with any of them. He was at Greek lower-league team Panachaiki (2008) for less than a year, with Australian team Whittlesea Zebras for just three months in 2009 and at Melbourne Victory for 18 months — but left at the start of his second full season to take over the Socceroos. Ange Postecoglou has lived up to the early-season promise he made. "I always win things in my second year. Nothing has changed," the Tottenham manager said after back-to-back defeats early in the Premier League campaign. That narrative has followed him all season yet eight months later, Postecoglou delivered on his word by leading Spurs to the Europa League title with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the final in Bilbao, Spain on Wednesday night. "It wasn't me boasting. It was a declaration ... If we fell short, I was ready to cop it," Postecoglou told TNT Sports. His stint at Tottenham has been "the toughest couple of years" of his career, he said. "I knew it going into it," Postecoglou told CBS Sports. "This football club has had world-class managers, a lot better-credentialed than I am, and haven't been able to get there, so I knew I had a massive challenge in front of me." Here's a rundown of those second-season trophies won by Postecoglou across his career: * South Melbourne (1996-2000) In his first job as a head coach, Postecoglou won Australia's top-flight title — the National Soccer League — in his second season with South Melbourne and again the following year. * Brisbane Roar (2009-12) Postecoglou achieved the same feat at Brisbane Roar, winning the league title — by now it was called the A-League — in his second season and retaining it the following year. * Australia (2013-17) During the second year of Postecoglou's four-year stint with the Socceroos, Australia hosted the Asian Cup in early 2015 and reached the final against South Korea. The Australians conceded an equaliser in added time — coincidentally scored by current Tottenham captain Son Heung-min — but clinched a 2-1 win after extra time. It was Australia's first Asian Cup title. * Yokohama F. Marinos (2018-21) In his first big job outside Australia, Postecoglou lost the Japanese Cup final in his first season with Yokohama F. Marinos but made up for it by winning the top-flight league title by six points the following year. It was the club's fourth Japanese league championship. * Celtic (2021-23) At Celtic, Postecoglou was in charge of the biggest team in Scotland — albeit one which had relinquished its league title the previous year. Under the Australian, Celtic regained the Scottish Premiership title by four points in his first season and retained it — by seven points — in his second season. Postecoglou then left for Tottenham. * Postecoglou's other clubs Postecoglou has been coach at three other clubs in his managerial career, but never got to the end of a second full season with any of them. He was at Greek lower-league team Panachaiki (2008) for less than a year, with Australian team Whittlesea Zebras for just three months in 2009 and at Melbourne Victory for 18 months — but left at the start of his second full season to take over the Socceroos.
West Australian
22-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Postecoglou puts naysayers in their place
Ange Postecoglou has lived up to the early-season promise he made. "I always win things in my second year. Nothing has changed," the Tottenham manager said after back-to-back defeats early in the Premier League campaign. That narrative has followed him all season yet eight months later, Postecoglou delivered on his word by leading Spurs to the Europa League title with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the final in Bilbao, Spain on Wednesday night. "It wasn't me boasting. It was a declaration ... If we fell short, I was ready to cop it," Postecoglou told TNT Sports. His stint at Tottenham has been "the toughest couple of years" of his career, he said. "I knew it going into it," Postecoglou told CBS Sports. "This football club has had world-class managers, a lot better-credentialed than I am, and haven't been able to get there, so I knew I had a massive challenge in front of me." Here's a rundown of those second-season trophies won by Postecoglou across his career: * South Melbourne (1996-2000) In his first job as a head coach, Postecoglou won Australia's top-flight title — the National Soccer League — in his second season with South Melbourne and again the following year. * Brisbane Roar (2009-12) Postecoglou achieved the same feat at Brisbane Roar, winning the league title — by now it was called the A-League — in his second season and retaining it the following year. * Australia (2013-17) During the second year of Postecoglou's four-year stint with the Socceroos, Australia hosted the Asian Cup in early 2015 and reached the final against South Korea. The Australians conceded an equaliser in added time — coincidentally scored by current Tottenham captain Son Heung-min — but clinched a 2-1 win after extra time. It was Australia's first Asian Cup title. * Yokohama F. Marinos (2018-21) In his first big job outside Australia, Postecoglou lost the Japanese Cup final in his first season with Yokohama F. Marinos but made up for it by winning the top-flight league title by six points the following year. It was the club's fourth Japanese league championship. * Celtic (2021-23) At Celtic, Postecoglou was in charge of the biggest team in Scotland — albeit one which had relinquished its league title the previous year. Under the Australian, Celtic regained the Scottish Premiership title by four points in his first season and retained it — by seven points — in his second season. Postecoglou then left for Tottenham. * Postecoglou's other clubs Postecoglou has been coach at three other clubs in his managerial career, but never got to the end of a second full season with any of them. He was at Greek lower-league team Panachaiki (2008) for less than a year, with Australian team Whittlesea Zebras for just three months in 2009 and at Melbourne Victory for 18 months — but left at the start of his second full season to take over the Socceroos.
Perth Now
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Postecoglou puts naysayers in their place
Ange Postecoglou has lived up to the early-season promise he made. "I always win things in my second year. Nothing has changed," the Tottenham manager said after back-to-back defeats early in the Premier League campaign. That narrative has followed him all season yet eight months later, Postecoglou delivered on his word by leading Spurs to the Europa League title with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the final in Bilbao, Spain on Wednesday night. "It wasn't me boasting. It was a declaration ... If we fell short, I was ready to cop it," Postecoglou told TNT Sports. His stint at Tottenham has been "the toughest couple of years" of his career, he said. "I knew it going into it," Postecoglou told CBS Sports. "This football club has had world-class managers, a lot better-credentialed than I am, and haven't been able to get there, so I knew I had a massive challenge in front of me." Here's a rundown of those second-season trophies won by Postecoglou across his career: * South Melbourne (1996-2000) In his first job as a head coach, Postecoglou won Australia's top-flight title — the National Soccer League — in his second season with South Melbourne and again the following year. * Brisbane Roar (2009-12) Postecoglou achieved the same feat at Brisbane Roar, winning the league title — by now it was called the A-League — in his second season and retaining it the following year. * Australia (2013-17) During the second year of Postecoglou's four-year stint with the Socceroos, Australia hosted the Asian Cup in early 2015 and reached the final against South Korea. The Australians conceded an equaliser in added time — coincidentally scored by current Tottenham captain Son Heung-min — but clinched a 2-1 win after extra time. It was Australia's first Asian Cup title. * Yokohama F. Marinos (2018-21) In his first big job outside Australia, Postecoglou lost the Japanese Cup final in his first season with Yokohama F. Marinos but made up for it by winning the top-flight league title by six points the following year. It was the club's fourth Japanese league championship. * Celtic (2021-23) At Celtic, Postecoglou was in charge of the biggest team in Scotland — albeit one which had relinquished its league title the previous year. Under the Australian, Celtic regained the Scottish Premiership title by four points in his first season and retained it — by seven points — in his second season. Postecoglou then left for Tottenham. * Postecoglou's other clubs Postecoglou has been coach at three other clubs in his managerial career, but never got to the end of a second full season with any of them. He was at Greek lower-league team Panachaiki (2008) for less than a year, with Australian team Whittlesea Zebras for just three months in 2009 and at Melbourne Victory for 18 months — but left at the start of his second full season to take over the Socceroos.
