“I never thought that was right, that where we come from should come into it.” – Ange Postecoglou
Tottenham manager and proud Australian Ange Postecoglou is back home in Melbourne following the conclusion of the Premier League season, for a friendly against follow Premier League giants Newcastle United.
It was a successful season for Tottenham; they finished eighth in 22-23, in a season which saw previous head coach Antonio Conte sacked two months before the end of the campaign.
This season, the Australian has had a calming effect on the North London club, guiding them to a fifth placed finish and back into European Football, with a place in the Europa League now secured for 2024-2025.
“Yeah, it does still feel like home,” Ange Postecoglou began on Melbourne,
“Obviously, we’ve hit the road over the past couple years with the family.
“I don’t have family over here anymore, but my friends are over here.”
Tonight’s game sees Tottenham take on Newcastle at the MCG; it won’t be the be the first time that Postecoglou has been to the MCG.
“I went to the Centenary Test in ‘77. It was pretty special, it was a cracking game. I love my cricket, I remember that,” Postecoglou was a couple months short of his 13th birthday at the time of the Test taking place.
“I don’t think I went to a Grand Final before that, I might’ve gone to a Boxing Day Test.
“It’s an iconic stadium. I was coach of Melbourne Victory when we played Liverpool there, [in 2013] that was a special night.
“I remember the Socceroos playing against Brazil,” he said, a reference to the friendly against the South American giants in 2017, which Ange oversaw as coach of Australia.
“I said to the lads, it’s a long way, but they’ll enjoy playing at the G, it’s a great stadium. It looks there is going to be a big crowd tomorrow.”
The MCG is so iconic because of the moments of Australian sport that it’s hosted; times where the whole country was watching the same thing, unfolding live in front them.
One of the most famous moments at the MCG was Leo Barry’s mark in the dying seconds of the 2005 Grand Final to gift Sydney its first flag in over seven decades. The Swans were originally known as South Melbourne prior to their relocation to the harbour state, and it’s there that Postecoglou began his career playing for South Melbourne Hellas as a nine-year-old.
South Melbourne took on Preston in the Australian Cup on Tuesday night, securing a 5-2 victory to advance into the seventh round of the Australia Cup. Ange, however, couldn’t join the 6.6 thousand strong crowd at BT Connor Reserve.
“I had a few visits to BT Connor Reserve when I was a player, it was always lively down there, it’s a football breeding ground there. I won’t feature out there [tonight],” Postecoglou stated.
On his own journey, Ange had plenty to say;
“I take great pride in the Australian people following my journey. I wasn’t born here, but I was bred here from a sporting perspective.
“I’ve always admired Australian sporting people, where players and coaches have excelled overseas, and I’ve always followed their careers.
“It’s the first time I been back to Melbourne since 2019. Obviously I’m a little bit detached, but I’ve got friends here, it made me aware [of the impact Ange is having].
“Part of me understands that. There was a large part of my life, where I was here and I was following other people’s careers overseas.
“You get to go on that journey with them, there was [Harry] Kewell, [Mark] Schwarzer, [Tim] Cahill. I could name all of them. You followed the team they played for. I understand the impact that makes.
“If I can continue to make inroads where I am, that continues to shine on light on Australia and the Australian people.
“I’ve made it a part of the mission that I’m on, to open doors for Australian coaches,
“I’m proud to be flying our flag, not just for Australian football, but for Australian sport.
“I’m really pleased to see some guys forging some careers overseas already.
“I’ve got Mile [Mile Jedinak] with me now, he’s a great guy. If I can open those doors for other guys coming through, then that’s something I’ll take great pride in.”
Before beginning his coaching career overseas, Ange Postecoglou was coach of Australia for four years. When asked about the possibility of coaching the nation of his birth, Greece, he had this to say;
“It’s definitely in my future, you’ll see me in Greece, but its far more likely to be on an island, on a sunbed somewhere. I’ve got a big challenge here at Spurs, and I’m looking forward to bringing some success here.
“I was born in Greece, I definitely feel Greek, I’ll be there this summer, but I’m happy where I am at the minute.”
Another showpiece event for Australian Football is the A-League Grand Final, with the Central Coast to play host to Melbourne Victory in Gosford, approximately one hour north of Sydney.
“No, I don’t think [it’s taken the spotlight from the football in Melbourne]. It gets people talking about the game.
“I don’t think games in Australia games compete with each other. The fact that there’s a big game tonight, the Newcastle/All Stars game [on Friday], I think it all just highlights the fact that the Grand Final is here. Which should be a cracking game, I watched both semi-finals last week.”
“They’ll be a big crowd tomorrow night; they’ll get a big crowd on Friday. Obviously, the girls are playing as well. It should be a great week for Football.”
Spurs take on Newcastle on Wednesday evening from the Melbourne Cricket Ground.