Celtic: Ange Postecoglou confirmed as new manager of Scottish Premiership club
Ange Postecoglou is thrilled by “one of the greatest honours in football” after being named as Celtic’s new manager.
The 55-year-old replaces Neil Lennon, who resigned in February as the club failed in a bid to win a record 10th consecutive Scottish Premiership title.
The former Australia boss joins from Yokohama F Marinos in Japan on a 12-month rolling contract.
“I will be doing everything I can to get our great club back on top,” said Greece-born Postecoglou.
“We want to entertain our fans and we want to win, these are the objectives which I always set myself and which I now begin work on.
“The opportunity that has been given to me is one of the greatest honours in football.”
Celtic turned to Postecoglou after Eddie Howe rejected the opportunity to move to Glasgow, with the club citing “reasons outwith both his and our control”.
A 10-day quarantine period means he will miss the beginning of pre-season training on 17 June, while his opening game will be a Champions League second qualifying round tie in July.
The club say they have received “recognition and endorsement” from Uefa after applying for an exemption on pro licence rules since Postecoglou does not possess the required European coaching badges.
However, Celtic make no mention of a new director of football or the future of coach John Kennedy, who stepped in as interim manager following Lennon’s departure.
Who is Postecoglou?
Postecoglou won back-to-back A-League titles with Brisbane Roar and spent a season with Melbourne Victory before becoming manager of Australia in 2013.
He led the national team at the following year’s World Cup and earned qualification for the next finals in Russia but left in late 2017 to move to Japan, where he won the J-League with Yokohama in 2019.
His main task will be to regain the Scottish Premiership title after city rivals Rangers halted Celtic’s quest for the historic 10 in a row.
The Australian arrives in the midst of a major rebuild, with chief executive Peter Lawwell being replaced by Dominic McKay, Nick Hammond stepping down as head of football operations and long-serving captain Scott Brown leaving to join Aberdeen.
Agencies