Socceroos great Craig Foster: Why Tottenham is ‘perfect’ for new Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou
Football fanatic Craig Foster explains why Tottenham are the ‘perfect’ club for Ange Postecoglou – and why Spurs missing out on the Champions League could be good for the Aussie
- Ange Postecoglou will be the next manager of Tottenham Hotspur
- Former arch rival Craig Foster praised the move
- Pair has a colorful history dating back to 2006
Award-winning ex-Socceroos midfielder Craig Foster has explained why Tottenham are the ideal Premier League club for Ange Postecoglou – and why not playing in the UEFA Champions League next season could work in the Aussie’s favour.
Postecoglou, 57, has agreed to become Spurs’ new boss on a three-year contract, with only the formalities of his appointment still to be completed.
It comes after ‘Aussie Ange’ recently made an impressive treble at Celtic, winning the Scottish Premiership, League Cup and FA Cup.
Foster – who was infamous in a 2006 SBS interview called Postecoglou to step aside as coach of the Australian under-20 youth team after failing to qualify for the under-20 World Cup – is on a completely different page 17 years later.
Speaking on Channel Nine’s Today show on Tuesday, Foster labeled the forthcoming Postecoglou appointment at White Hart Lane as ‘groundbreaking’.
Ex-footballer Craig Foster believes Tottenham are the ‘perfect’ club for Ange Postecoglou
Postecoglou, 57, is on the verge of signing a three-year contract with White Hart Lane after winning the treble this season with Celtic.
‘It’s related to an Australian [basketball] coach gets a chance in the NBA,” he told sports reporter Alex Cullen.
“Ange goes to a club with a great history, a top six team [in England]it’s very exciting.
“This is a club that can compete internationally and it will have quality players at its disposal and money to buy more [to build squad depth].
“It’s an incredible opportunity for Ange and an Australian sports fan should be thrilled.
“It’s the perfect environment for him as it’s a club historically committed to playing attractive football, which is of course what he’s so well known for.”
And it also has the resources to compete at the very highest level. Four years ago they were still in the final of the Champions League.’
Postecoglou will have to make a flying start.
Several Spurs fans have taken to Twitter to express their dismay at his appointment, and it would be a disaster to lose talisman striker Harry Kane to Real Madrid or Manchester United.
After finishing a disappointing eighth this season, they will not compete in the UEFA Champions League, which Foster believes could work in Postecoglou’s favour.
“It means he can concentrate fully on the Premier League,” he said.
Losing talisman striker Harry Kane to Real Madrid or Manchester United would be a disaster for ‘Aussie Ange’
“He has won trophies in Scotland, Japan and Australia and he will have a team capable of doing great things.
“I’m so happy for him.”
Spurs fans are understandably nervous with Real Madrid circling intent on Kane, who finished with another 30-goal Premier League season return.
He is seen as the main target of the Spanish club after the departure of iconic figure Karim Benzema.
It is believed chairman Daniel Levy is unwilling to sell the England captain, who at 29 may be looking for a new challenge in a bid to land some silverware at club level.