Angelos Postecoglou is a man of immense poignancy, and the most arresting picture of him is not from any of his successful days on the football field, but from when he was five years old, holding a card with the number 24 on it – his immigration number when his parents took him out of the military junta regime of Athens, Greece to a safer but uncertain haven of Melbourne in Australia. His parents legally changed his name to Angelos Postekos, but he never cared for Postekos and was proud of his background.
On Sunday, Postecoglou won his second straight Premiership title with Celtic and a fourth domestic trophy from a possible five since his move to Scotland from Japan in the summer of 2021. He is now being talked about by nine Premier League clubs, and it is easy to see why. He has made excellent signings, implemented an attacking style, been relentless with his team, and remained cool in the maelstrom of Glasgow football.
The real story behind Postecoglou comes from his back story. His parents sacrificed their whole life for him to have a better life in Australia, and he remembers many nights hearing his mother crying. Football was his father’s escape and salvation, and it was also his one opportunity to bond with his hero. He retired at 27 through injury and then went into coaching, winning two national championships as manager of South Melbourne when everybody said he couldn’t.
Postecoglou then coached at national under-age level but was sacked, had to go to the Greek third tier to find work, and then came back to Australia with nothing. Brisbane Roar took him on in 2009 and he created what some seasoned observers say is the best club side in the history of the Australian game. He then moved to Melbourne Victory and then to the Socceroos, saw his team compete at the World Cup in 2014, won the Asian Cup in 2015, rebuilt the team and got them to another World Cup in 2018. He then went to Japan and won the J-League with Yokohama Marinos.
Postecoglou’s father passed away, but he still keeps honouring his sacrifices. He understands what an honest day’s work is about, what sacrifice is about, and what being in a privileged position is about. He knows that he is living a dream that was founded by other people’s sacrifice, particularly his parents. This is why Postecoglou’s work has taken him to a double last season, probably a treble this season and who knows what else in whatever time he has left in Glasgow. His story continues.