There's no need for hot and cold balls in the bowls when the football fates are prepared to interfere in UEFA’s administrative matters.
Ange Postecoglou had no idea at the time, but all those year spent as Ferenc Puskas’s captain, interpreter and chauffeur sent him on a path that would lead him to his old gaffer’s sacred home at the Santiago Bernabeu. It’s fair to say the Celtic manager is chuffed with his side’s Champions League draw after landing the reigning champions Real Madrid.
And he’s convinced his old mentor Puskas would be as well. Postecoglou cherishes the time he spent under the Hungarian legend when he pitched up as manager at his South Melbourne Hellas in 1989. Back then the Hoops boss was a rampaging full-back, sporting a magnificent mullet and moustache. Puskas was a superstar in their midst and with more Greek than English as his disposal, thanks to his time at Panathinaikos, Postecoglou got more out of the the humble master than most.
The then-skipper must have been tempted to take the long road to training as he was treated to tales from Real Madrid’s illustrious past - a past Puskas helped create while laying the foundations for a modern-day footballing giant. Now Postecoglou has the chance for his own moment of history and he admitted he’ll be thinking about the Mighty Magyar.
The Hoops boss turned 57 today but he’s already received the best present and he said: “Puskas would have loved this, absolutely. He’d have taken a hell of a lot of pride in this because he was a massive influence on my career.
“He’d have loved seeing me lead a team out against his side. Certainly when I was with Ferenc for those three years, I tried to tap into as much of his experiences as possible.
“I’d read the stories and watched television pictures but to get a first hand account of what it was like to be a part of that special team was great. I think most people would have a bond because of it.
“If you are a football lover then Real Madrid is one of those iconic clubs. They are the most successful team in the history of the European Cup and Champions League. They’ve had a long history of long history of unbelievable success. Some of the world’s best players have gone through their ranks.
“And that team that Puskas was a part of was a very special team. They created a lot of the foundations of what you see today. The fact that I had a relationship with one of the key people in that, I’ve always felt that it was a blessing for me.”
Postecoglou has put Puskas’s advice to good use over the years in a career that burst out of the Melbourne suburbs and enjoyed success all over the globe. The Celtic manager is building a stellar reputation but he knows the journey has led him to a crossroads with one of the best in the business in the current Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti.
Two European Cup winners’ medals as a player and another four as a manager, the Italian is the most decorated gaffer in history and a living legend. Postecoglou said: “I’ve not met him but everyone I’ve spoken to about him says he’s an absolute gentleman.
“He’s one of the all-time greats, without a shadow of a doubt. The big clubs he’s been to all have huge histories and they chose him because he can add to it. He’s tested himself in different leagues and will go down as one of the best. He’s not done yet either. He won the Champions League last year and he probably has his sights on silverware again this season.”
Postecoglou has his own targets as prepares to become the first Aussie to manage in the Champions League. He added: “It’s exciting and now we know our group as well. I’m just really looking forward to it and experiencing the special nature of the competition.
“You want to test yourself against the best and we’ve got the very best in our group. They have got great pedigree in the competition and are the reigning holders. What a great opportunity for us to measure ourselves and have an experience that we want to be a part of.”
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