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West Australian
23-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Perth Glory and Socceroos striker Adam Taggart reflects on former coach Ange Postecoglou's success
Perth Glory captain Adam Taggart says his former Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou's unwavering belief in his methods and players is what sets the triumphant Tottenham manager apart. It comes as Tottenham captain Son Heung-min called for the Spurs boss to keep his job in the wake of his breakthrough Europa League title. The plaudits are still piling up for Postecoglou after he overcame a raft of injuries and horrid English Premier League form to steer Tottenham to a first trophy in 17 years and a first European title since 1984. Taggart, who was part of Postecoglou's 2014 Socceroos World Cup squad and featured in their final two group games off the bench, said he was thrilled to see his former boss break Spurs' barren run. 'He obviously had a lot of doubters, but I think all of us who have seen him close up always had the full belief that he was going to do it,' he said. 'We all sort of had that almost guaranteed feeling, just knowing the way that he is, that he'd get the job done.' Much was made of Postecoglou's now famous statement he always wins silverware in his second season at a club. 'He's got balls of steel. To say that and then go and do it, it's an unbelievable thing that he's done, and the belief that he has in himself and what he's doing is so strong,' Taggart said. 'But there's obviously clear backing behind that, because it works, he's seen it work and he knows 100 per cent that it will keep working. 'He was the perfect man to obviously guide them into their first trophy in a long time and you're only going to be able to do that with that kind of belief and attitude. The striker, currently in camp with the Socceroos in Abu Dhabi ahead of their crucial world Cup qualifier against Japan in Perth, said the belief Postecoglou was able to instill in his players was irrepressible. Taggart was just 21 years-old when he played at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and said Postecoglou's high standards and specific tactical requests stood out, even at an early age. 'It was very clear about your responsibilities and roles and what you needed to contribute to the team but as a young player, it was an invaluable experience to have that time with him,' he said. 'I wish it could have been longer, and I wish it could have got to work with someone like Ange for a lot longer and a lot more throughout my career. 'His standards are obviously very high, but there's a specific way that he likes to do things, and it makes it easier for players in terms of what you need to do, because there's no doubt; it's about executing it and because you're doing it consistently, the execution becomes easier and easier, and it starts to flow more.' Following Spurs' Europa League win, Korean superstar Son threw his support behind Postecoglou to stay in the job despite poor domestic form which has left Tottenham in 17th in the EPL. 'He won the trophy. Nobody (else) did it,' he said. 'Look, it's not up to me or the players, but we just have to look at the facts, at the fact we haven't won in 17 years and this is the day we finally won it. It's the manager who wins the trophy, so we see what's going to happen.'
Arab News
08-04-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Esports World Cup 2025 will be ‘best ever,' says foundation chief
RIYADH: The Esports World Cup 2025 is set to be the 'best esports tournament ever,' said Faisal bin Horman, Chief Product Officer of the Esports World Cup Foundation, during an interview with Arab News at the Sports Investment Forum. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport The Sports Investment Forum in Riyadh, taking place from April 7-9, is providing a platform for industry leaders to explore entrepreneurial opportunities, said Homran. 'Sports is a big industry, and we have newcomers every year, and one of them is esports' he said. 'Forums like this introduce the private sector for the future investors, for the future stakeholders, to be a part of this. It gives more information and kjore crdibility for [sports industries]' Homran who oversees the major development of esports in the Kingdom, predicts that by 2034, the Kingdom will have the top two events for sports: football's FIFA World Cup and the Esports World Cup. Speaking on theEsports world Cup 2025, he commented: 'This year will see the best esports tournament ever, for anyone who loves gaming or esports. Online or physical [audiences], they will have the best time of their life.' During LEAP, the Kingdom announced being the host of the first-ever Esports Olympic Games in 2027, a landmark achievement in the country's ambitious quest to become a global leader in gaming and esports. Homran says everyone will watch the game and be proud of Saudi Arabia's evergrowing achievements. Similarly to Japan and China, two nations known for their video gaming culture, Saudi Arabia has looked to showcase its heritage and culture through esports. 'It is a good opportunity for us (Saudi Arabia) to connect community culture with Esports.' As part of its Vision 2030 initiative, Saudi Arabia is accelerating efforts to diversify its economy, with the industrial and manufacturing sectors playing a key role in reducing the country's reliance on oil. Programs like the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program are central to the Kingdom's strategy, aiming to establish Saudi Arabia as a leading regional hub for advanced manufacturing, with a focus on petrochemicals, mining, and renewable energy. The inaugural edition of the three-day Sports Investment Forum sees local and international leaders, officials, investors, and entrepreneurs exploring opportunities in the Kingdom's evolving sports landscape. The forum aims to expand the scope of sports investment in Saudi Arabia by fostering effective partnerships, attracting capital, and launching initiatives to drive growth across the sector.
