Brisbane Roar great Jack Hingert says playing under Ange Postecoglou is an all-or-nothing kind of affair.
"It was clear right from the start what you had to do. To be honest it was tough," he said, describing what it was like to join Postecoglou's thrilling Brisbane Roar side as it romped to three A-League championships.
"But he was very good at that at making you believe in the way of playing.
"The way he could motivate you, he just had this presence. You wanted to be a part of the whole culture."
Postecoglou has established that legendary culture in no time at all in his latest pressure-cooker role.
The Australian manager is the toast of Scotland after leading Celtic to the Scottish title in his first season as manager.
After clinching the premiership on Thursday morning away to Dundee United, overnight his Celtic side had a celebratory homecoming, thumping Motherwell 6-0 in front of the club's fans.
"Champions, that's who we are," an emotional Postecoglou told delirious Celtic fans after the match.
Last season, the club finished a whopping 25 points behind their great rivals, Rangers.
"I just want to thank everyone involved from the board management and the best staff in the land — unbelievable effort," he said
"I've got a group of players who have been unbelievable — champions of Scotland and well deserved. And for you, the best [fans] in the planet — unbelievable.
"You've embraced me, my family, this jumper. And I want everyone to enjoy today, enjoy the summer and we'll come back bigger and better — because we never stop."
Postecoglou is so popular in Scotland he says he cannot possibly keep up with the amount of whiskey being sent to his home since letting it slip he is partial to a drop.
A 'powerful' presence
Another Roar hero from their Postecoglou days said the coach created a similar sense of purpose in Brisbane, almost single-handedly changing the entire trajectory of the club.
"He came to the Roar with a very strong approach, mindset and vision, where he thought Brisbane Roar could create a legacy," Matt Smith, a defensive linchpin of the side, said.
"The way he spoke about creating something special certainly grabbed my attention.
"He sold his vision and his legacy to the players and everyone around the club, and we bought into it.
Smith said the training was often harder than the actual games.
"Day to day, it was very, very intense," Smith said.
"You could feel his passion and desire every single day. His style of football was non-negotiable. It was very high risk but very rewarding.
"The environment he created was very powerful."
Exciting style of play requires everyone to buy in
Postecoglou was a left-field signing for Celtic and his start at the club was rocky.
Joining when the famous club was at a low ebb, he took just two wins and a draw from eight matches to sit sixth on the ladder.
But Hingert said the key with Postecoglou was to keep the faith and the coach would deliver.
Just as he did for Celtic.
"For a long time, he has believed playing in that style," Hingert said.
"A lot of people might change, but he stuck to his guns regardless of early results.
"He has always stuck to what he believed in and that made you want to buy into it.
"He made you think that this is the only way to play."
'Reshaped Australian football'
Smith said it was something special to be a part of.
"He was very firm in ensuring players stuck to their role."
Smith sees a lot of similarities between the current Celtic side and the "Roarcelona" team Ange created.
"How he transforms clubs is probably the greatest measure of the man," he said.
"He reshaped Brisbane Roar, he reshaped the landscape of Australian football.
"It was remarkable based on the situation of the Roar at the time.
"And it's a similar to Celtic, to completely reposition how the team goes about things."
What's next for Ange?
Both Smith and Hingert said they had no doubt Postecoglou would be a success at Celtic, as long as he was given the time to mould the side in his image.
"To be frank, everywhere he's been, he's won," Hingert said.
And if continues to be successful with Celtic?
"I’d like to see him in the Premier League. I think he can go on to bigger and better things," Hingert said.
Smith believes big clubs will already be eyeing off the Australian coach, and a Champions League campaign next season will further showcase him to the rest of Europe.
"I would be surprised if Celtic manage to hang on to him," he said.
