FORMER Australian goalkeeper and expert analyst Mark Bosnich believes Ange Postecoglou has the tactical acumen and winning experience to succeed as Celtic manager.<\/p>\n
The 55-year-old will take the reins at Parkhead on a rolling contract, after bringing silverware to Brisbane Roar, the Socceroos and Japanese club Yokohama F. Marinos in the last decade.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor Australian football it\u2019s as big as it comes, there\u2019s no doubt about that,\u201d Bosnich told SEN Breakfast.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn terms of the realm of world football, it\u2019s big news. Celtic are a massive football club, they\u2019ve got the worldwide support of millions.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s great news for Australian football, and I believe eventually it will be great news for Celtic Football Club as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bosnich says Postecoglou will be on a hiding to nothing in Scotland, where the Glasgow giants have had a hold on the Premiership since northern club Aberdeen finished seven points clear in 1984-85.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe bottom line is that the supporters won\u2019t have as much patience as with someone more familiar to them,\u201d the former Manchester United custodian explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve got to win. They\u2019ve come off the back of winning nine in a row, they lost the title last season to Rangers by 25 points.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not going to be easy\u2026 but if there\u2019s a man that can take them back to the summit of the Scottish Premiership, it\u2019s Ange. I truly believe that.\u201d<\/p>\n
A decade ago, Postecoglou transformed Australians\u2019 expectations of the football the domestic scene could produce, encouraging his players to possess the ball and manipulate space.<\/p>\n
His Brisbane side went undefeated over 36 games, earning the \u2018Roarcelona\u2019 moniker in homage to the Blaugrana dominance of Europe under Pep Guardiola.<\/p>\n
He was similarly aggressive in the Socceroos role, using the 2014 World Cup as a \u201cpre-season\u201d of sorts as he plotted a path to the victorious 2015 Asian Cup on home soil.<\/p>\n
Australia experienced a frustrating run-up to the 2018 World Cup however, taking the long road to Russia via a play-off against Central American nation Honduras.<\/p>\n
Postecoglou came under fire from Australian pundits, Bosnich included, for his tactical obstinacy at the time.<\/p>\n
As the Socceroos came to the pointy end of qualification, he gave the impression he felt betrayed by the criticism, and frustrated by what he perceived as a lack of aspiration in Australia.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt some point in time I will be replaced by \u2018John the Pragmatist\u2019 and you can all be happy and revel in it,\u201d Postecoglou told a press conference at the 2017 Confederations Cup.<\/p>\n
Bosnich says the South Melbourne champion has discovered his own pragmatic edge after a winning stint in Japan, however.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe style he plays, modern football played in that style is something for fans to really behold. That\u2019s very important,\u201d Bosnich explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe and I used to debate it at the time but he knows after being in Japan, and he\u2019ll definitely know after being at Celtic, you need to marry it in with winning football, which he\u2019s done in the past.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe last thing is the determination of coming and being a bit of an outsider will drive him to success.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose three things, in my opinion, will give him the impetus to go on and be successful.\u201d<\/p>\n
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