Michael Dawson has compared Ange Postecoglou to Mauricio Pochettino and told football.london that he believes Tottenham's attacking players like Harry Kane will flourish in his system.
Spurs appointed the 57-year-old Australian this week as they look to rebuild after a disappointing eighth-place finish in the Premier League which meant they will have no European football next season for the first time in 14 years. Postecoglou won the domestic treble with Celtic this season, meaning he won five out of the six available Scottish trophies during his two seasons at the Glasgow club.
His brand of fast, possession-based football has caught the eye of clubs across Europe and it was Tottenham who made their move. Former Spurs captain Dawson, who was at the launch of the club's new Nike home kit at Alexandra Palace, told football.london that he believes Postecoglou is a great appointment.
"I think it's very positive. I think the way Ange Postecoglou plays with the 4-3-3 formation, it's very attacking with full-backs going inside at times," he said. "He's done it in Australia, he's done it in Japan, he's gone to Scotland and at the time you were thinking how's he going to go.
"Well he certainly took it by storm, winning the trophies he won and I always say the Premier League is the best league in my opinion. When the opportunity arrives to come to a massive football club and to the Premier League I'm sure he didn't have to think too long.
"Credit to him, the treble at Celtic this year and he plays attacking football. We know that's what Spurs fans want to see and we know we've got players at the top of the field that can hurt any team. Harry Kane, I can only speak so highly of him on and off the field. Spurs' all-time leading goalscorer and England's all-time goalscorer. He's a genius and when he plays football, he will always score goals. He's absolutely unbelievable.
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"Obviously there's Sonny, he won the Golden Boot this time last year with 23 goals, Harry's just gone and got 30, as well as Kulusevski and Richarlison. We've got attacking players in the squad and that's the way Postecoglou plays and good luck to him. Very positive appointment and great for the football club."
Spurs fans have been desperate for attacking football after the reigns of Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte brought mixed displays on the pitch. Dawson believes that the appointment of Postecoglou is more comparable to the man who preceded those three - Pochettino.
"When Jose was appointed we were all thinking what an unbelievable manager, his history, his record. We know how he sets up," said Dawson. "Unfortunately if you don't get results then you come in for a little bit more criticism. Same with Antonio. You've got two of the most iconic managers of certainly my era, with Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and others.
"Jose and Antonio have won everything so I look back with the appointment of Ange and compare it probably to the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino. He finished eighth with Southampton in 2014 when I was here and I moved on. It takes time but he was playing with attacking players, and brought in young players, developed them into superstars, world class players. I think that's something that Ange Postecoglou will be looking to do and hopefully he can implement his way and be a success."
One player who is unlikely to be part of the Australian's new-look Tottenham squad is captain Hugo Lloris, who announced his desire to leave for new challenges in a recent interview back in France.
"As a servant to Spurs, Hugo has been nothing short of exceptional. I was fortunate to play in front of him and also captain Hugo. He's a great guy, he's 36, he's got another year on his contract," said Dawson. "Only Hugo and Daniel Levy know what the decision will be but he's got a year left and I'm sure he will turn up for pre-season. Only time will tell and it's hard for us to comment on it, but what a servant he's been for the football club."
At Wednesday's event at Alexandra Palace, the new Spurs home kit was on display for a select group of season ticket holders and Nike members, with the club switching to an all-white look this season with their shorts and socks and the Dawson family are certainly fans.
"Very nice. When Ledley [King] and I were on the way here I phoned my boy and told him we were going to see the new kit and he was excited," said the former England international. "Every fan of every football club, all over the world, you're always waiting at this time of year to see your new kit. Kids certainly want to go out and get them, many adults do too, and my boys certainly as soon as they come out I'll be on the phone to order it for them."
When asked what his favourite Spurs shirt was during his playing days, Dawson said: "I'd probably look back to 2009/10 as one that stands out with the yellow and Mansion on the front, when we got in the Champions League. It didn't fit great that one because the styles were a little bit different then.
"They were just starting to go a little bit slimmer then and one of the Under Armour, about 12/13, somewhere round there, they started going slimmer and longer. People liked them tighter. Before they were slim and not so long. They have to think about all these kinds of things.
"You look at them now for players and all of them fit so perfectly. I look back to the Kappa one I wore when I first came and it was very, very, very, very fitted. They always change. It's the same as when you look at the clothes people wear. It feels like we're going back to the baggy way whereas everything has been slim fit. Styles change but whether the shirts go baggy again I very much doubt because I like the slim fit."
Tottenham Hotspurs and their supporters are hoping that Postecoglou proves to be the perfect fit for the north London club.
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