"I haven’t come from outer space": Looking Back At Ange Postecoglou's Best Celtic Quotes Before The Sydney Super Cup

Ange Postecoglou

Ange Postecoglou is certainly leaving his mark on Scottish football, not just for winning last seasons Scottish Premiership title against the odds, but for his memorable quotes.

The Greek-Australian manager now has a reputation among the Scots for being a straight talker with a quick tongue, but also honest and open to a joke.

As Celtic prepare to face Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium for the Sydney Super Cup on Thursday, Keep Up looked back at some of Postecoglou’s most iconic quotes in Glasgow's East End thus far.

Ange Postecoglou

ANGE BITES BACK

Celtic caused somewhat of a stir in the United Kingdom when they prised Postecoglou from J1 League outfit Yokohama F.Marinos ahead of the 2021-22 season.

The former Socceroos boss wasted no time laying down the gauntlet in his first press conference as Celtic manager. When asked how he would cope working at a higher level, Postecoglou hit back.

“I’m assuming you’re saying I worked at a lower level, or something,” said Postecoglou, who won the 2015 AFC Asian Cup having coached Australia at the 2014 FIFA Men’s World Cup, while also guiding the Socceroos to Russia 2018.

“I guess that’s a matter of opinion. I’ve coached at a World Cup.”

C’MON MATE!

Postecoglou isn’t an alien! Prior to his Scottish Premiership bow with Celtic last season, he quipped at the suggestion he wasn’t prepared to go head-to-head with Hearts at Tynecastle.

“I’m still on the same planet mate, I haven’t come from outer space,” Postecoglou said. “You’d be surprised how much I know about Hearts.”

I’M NOT AN ACCOUNTANT MATE

Postecoglou was at his classic best with this comeback.

When asked about the financial boost European football provides, the former Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory coach replied: “I’m not an accountant mate. I’m a football manager.

“When people start talking to me about finances they miss the essence of what I’m about.”

ACCENT ANGE

Postecoglou utilised his knowledge of the J1 League by signing Japanese trio Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda and Yosuku Ideguchi during the January transfer window.

With the three players on board in Glasgow, Postecoglou was quick off the mark having been asked if he could understand the locals in Scotland.

“Not really,” he said.

“I’m okay. I feel sorry for the Japanese boys. They worked really hard to learn English before they got here and found out it doesn’t help them at all.”

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?

Postecoglou and BBC reporter Kenny McIntyre are usually box-office entertainment.

The pair have enjoyed some great run-ins, including when McIntyre put it to Postecoglou that Celtic’s 2-0 win over St Mirren was a “hard watch” last season.

“It depends on what you are looking for,” he responded. “Maybe you are disappointed with the way it went, mate. I’m not really sure about that.”

ONLY YOU COULD MAKE IT FEEL LIKE A DOWNER

Yes, it’s Postecoglou and McIntyre again… this time after Celtic’s 4-1 rout of Hearts prior to the Bhoys clinching the title last term.

McIntyre asked if Postecoglou had a preference as to when Celtic would clinch the title to dethrone bitter rivals Rangers.

Postecoglou joked: “Only you could make winning a championship feel like a downer.

“No, mate, any way it comes, thank you.”

SACKED BY CHRISTMAS: ANGE’S AWARD BARB

With the two trophies secured in his first season, Postecoglou was voted the PFA and SWFA Manager of the Year.

Postecoglou was quick to make fun of a certain chant after some fans were quick to tip him for the sack upon moving to Celtic in 2021-22.

“Going into it, there wasn’t a huge deal of expectation in terms of success,” he said.

“Whether that was because of me and my own background or because of the ground we needed to make up.

“People just recognise the challenge we had and how we have embraced that challenge.

“I take great pride in it, but like I said on the night, I didn’t get the one I was favourite for – sacked by Christmas.”

BEST OF THE REST

And here’s some other gems from Postecoglou.

“If you want evidence of how well Scottish clubs can do in Europe, there’s a trophy I can show you just down the road here, mate,” – Postecoglou replied last season when asked if Rangers’ UEFA Europa League run demonstrated how well Scottish teams could do in Europe.

Before Celtic’s blockbuster showdown against UEFA Champions League holders Real Madrid in September, Postecoglou bristled at talk over an apparent lack of ‘plan B’: “Maybe if I was German, Dutch or Spanish, people might look at me differently as a manager in terms of tactics. Apparently I’ve got one simple approach, a plan A. But we’ll just stick to that.”

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