The 59-year-old is used to lifting silverware in his career, but when Tottenham play Manchester United in the Europa League final on May 21, it’s going to be one of the biggest moments of his career.
A lot is riding on this for Postecoglou because things haven’t gone well since he headed for the Celtic Park exit door during the summer of 2023.
Tottenham are sitting 17th in the Premier League table; they have lost 20 league matches and 24 in total this term – In comparison, Postecoglou only lost 18 games throughout his time at Celtic.
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Rangers forward Vaclav Cerny is going viral for his outrageous touchline celebration, just moments after Hamza Igamane netted a late winner in Sunday’s dramatic Old Firm derby. It was an afternoon to remember for Barry Ferguson and his Rangers side, just days after they secured their place in the Europa League quarter-final with victory over Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce. The visitors went two goals ahead at Celtic Park through Nicolas Raskin and Mohamed Diamonde but after Diazen Maeda pulled one back for Celtic in the opening stages of the second-half, things took a turn. In fact, they levelled the scores with 74 minutes played as Japan international Reo Hatate slotted past Jack Butland with ease. But then, with two minutes of normal time remaining, substitute Hamza Igamane scored his 14th goal of the season as in-form Rangers clinched an unforgettable three points in Glasgow. Moments after Igamane ended a recent goal drought in the dying embers, Czech winger Vaclav Cerny could be seen squirting his water bottle at a section of Celtic supporters in the front row. As you can see from the post below, footage of the incident soon emerged on X, formerly Twitter, as fans reacted to Cerny’s animated celebrations. One said: “Vaclav Cerny sprayed Celtic fans with a water bottle after their goal,” and a second wrote: “Whatever it costs to sign Cerny. We will pay double.” A third wrote: “He’ll be lucky to finish their season now. Since when was this this appropriate from any professional?” A fourth said: “Top level s***housery…..should actively be encouraged in football,” and a fifth added: “Creased every time I see it. Could watch this on repeat all day.” Speaking in his post-match interview, Rangers boss Barry Ferguson was asked about the incident involving Cerny. “No, listen, I was just concentrating on celebrating and making sure we were getting back into our shape,” he told Sky Sports. “I didn’t see the incident if I’m honest.” Vaclav Cerny sprayed Celtic fans with a water bottle after their goal… 😅 After becoming the first Rangers manager since Walter Smith in 1991 to win at Celtic Park on his first attempt, Ferguson was full of praise for his players. “It’s a really good feeling coming to your fiercest rivals and deserving to win the game,” he said. “I just said to the players to go and enjoy the next couple of days because it’s been a long time, I think five years. But I think if you look at the game overall, we deserved it. “I thought in the first half, that was the game plan that we came with. I thought the boys stuck to it perfectly. The second half, you always know Celtic are going to come at you because the crowd is getting frustrated. “I thought Brendan would make a change or two and he certainly did that, and it made a different to the Celtic team. They obviously got back into the game at two each. “But then I take a step back and what I’ve been trying to drum into the boys is there’s more needed at Rangers than being a good player. It’s been labelled by you guys, everybody in the media about character, and that’s one of the things I stressed to them when I come in today.” Cerny has been one of Rangers’ standout performers under Ferguson. Image credit: Getty Ferguson added: “It takes a certain type to be a very good Rangers player. My group of players are certainly starting to show that.” Thoughts on the moment involving Cerny? Let us know in the comments.
March 16, 2025
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It’s fair to say that if Postecoglou doesn’t secure that trophy, then all he can fall back on is the club’s league form, and it has been beyond dreadful.
But ahead of that crunch match in Bilbao, against an equally abject Manchester United, the man who led Celtic to a Treble is pretty upbeat, and he gave Scotland’s most successful club a mention.
Ange Postecoglou on Celtic going ‘one year’ without a trophy
When Postecoglou joined Celtic in 2021, Rangers had just won the Premiership title under Steven Gerrard, and stopped the ten.
It was a disastrous season for the club, after years and years of dominance, the trophy count stopped, and the fans made their feelings clear.
When discussing what winning a trophy would mean at Tottenham, Postecoglou listed and shared his trophies during his career, including brilliantly stating that, going one year without any silverware for Celtic, is ‘a long time in Scotland’, as he told his Europa League press conference.
“A lot of the success I have had has been stuff that’s pretty significant,” said Postecoglou. “Yokohama hadn’t won a championship for 14 years. Australia had never won a continental championship.
“Brisbane had never won one. South Melbourne, my first job, we hadn’t won one in seven years.
“Celtic was one year. Trust me. That’s a long time in Scotland. But they had to wrestle back the dominance they had for so long.
“It’s the significance of them. You know what it does to the club and to the people. When you look at the historical backdrop of this club (Tottenham), and what it has sort of been on for the last 20-odd years. I feel like it could be a turning point in the way that the club is perceived, but more so, how it perceives itself, which I think is the biggest thing.”
https://youtu.be/_JtY70jyZsg?si=SrhkKdwDIC-nI_wE
Postecoglou’s trophy haul as a manager ahead of Tottenham vs Manchester United Europa League final
Postecoglou has managed 11 teams, including his current one, during his managerial career, which started in 1996 with South Melbourne.
The Greek-born Australian spent many years coaching in his homeland, including finding success in Japan, before that road led him to Glasgow.
The trophies continued throughout those clubs, and he has a pretty full trophy cabinet, with his most famous and successful time coming in the colours of Celtic.
