Ange Postecoglou embarked on a journey from Greece to Australia when he was just five years old.
The most striking image of Ange Postecoglou isn’t from his time at Celtic, his victorious moments in Scotland, or even his prosperous days at Yokohama Marinos, Brisbane Roar, the Socceroos, or South Melbourne Hellas. The most poignant image is one from his childhood, where at five years old, he holds a card with the number 24, his immigration number when he was whisked away from the military junta regime in Athens, Greece to the relative safety of Melbourne, Australia.
The photograph depicts a young boy looking directly into the camera with a piercing stare that would later become familiar to his players during his tenure as Australia’s coach, as former Socceroo Tim Cahill recalls. His friend, Paul Trimboli, speaks of Postecoglou’s quiet demeanor and unnerving aura that challenges those around him.
Despite his parents legally changing his name to Angelos Postekos five years after moving to Australia, Postecoglou rejected this name, preferring to honor his Greek roots.
After a successful stint in Scotland, Postecoglou won his fifth domestic trophy and was appointed the new head coach of Tottenham Hotspur. He had turned Celtic’s fortunes around after inheriting a struggling team that had lost the league title by a staggering 25 points and failed in the Scottish Cup and the League Cup. Following a tumultuous period involving management changes, failed negotiations, and fan outrage, Celtic found their savior in Postecoglou, who swiftly brought coherence and order to the club.
His impressive achievements prior to joining Tottenham – brilliant player signings, an attacking style of play, and his cool demeanor amidst Glasgow’s football frenzy – were remarkable, yet the essence of Postecoglou lies in his personal journey.
His parents’ sacrifice to provide him with better opportunities, as he recounted, was pivotal to his success. “People say they go to another country for a better life. My parents did not have a better life, they went to Australia to provide opportunities for me to have a better life.”
His sister, Liz, speaks of the family’s early hardships after arriving in Melbourne. His father, Dimitris (also known as Jim), a hardworking man for whom football was an escape and salvation, introduced young Postecoglou to the sport at South Melbourne Hellas, a club for Greek immigrants.
Postecoglou’s journey as a football player was cut short due to injury, but he found his calling in coaching. His success as the manager of South Melbourne, despite doubts and skepticism, brought great pride to his father.
His career saw many ups and downs, from being sacked at the national under-age level to having to work in the Greek third tier, to then returning to Australia jobless. These difficult times were interspersed with triumphant periods, such as when Brisbane Roar hired him in 2009, and he led the team to become one of the best club sides in Australian history.
He later led the Socceroos to the World Cup twice and won the Asian Cup in 2015. He subsequently won the J-League with Yokohama Marinos, gaining invaluable experience that would later prove beneficial at Celtic.
Despite his father’s passing, Postecoglou still acknowledges him as the cornerstone of his success. He pledges to honor his father’s sacrifices by acknowledging his privileged position, never taking it for granted, and being mindful of his parents’ hard work.
Now, as his story unfolds at Spurs, the narrative of the Greek immigrant child turned football sensation continues to inspire.
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