Ange Postecoglou has been struggling to take it all in.
A whirlwind first season at Celtic has allowed him to fulfil a lifetime ambition with success at a big club in Europe.
Postecoglou has marched into the hearts of the Parkhead faithful by his winning of the Scottish Premiership title within 11 months of striding in the door to add to a Premier Sports Cup which he had tucked away before the turn of the year.
The Aussie is now firmly part of the club’s history and folklore. He’s a title-winning boss. Only 11 individuals in 134 years had done that at Celtic before him.
Pictures of Postecoglou and his players lifting silverware will now hang around Celtic Park.
His face, just like those who have successfully walked before him as manager, will take a pride of place on the giant mural outside of the stadium.
It’s all happening in a blur of pressure and achievement as Postecoglou smiled: “I hadn’t even thought about that as it’s still kind of hard for me to comprehend it all.
“It’s been a remarkable year in many respects in terms of what we have achieved as a group. The ending on Saturday was perfect from our perspective.
“I just felt when I came to this club that I was given an unbelievable opportunity that I wasn’t going to pass up.
“I have worked my whole life to get to a club like this and I wasn’t going to slip through my hands.”
Postecoglou has earned himself a break after the rigours of the campaign.
But, of course, as the manager of a major club which is still in a period of building, he can’t just put the tools away completely.
The phone never stops. Calls will come with news of signing targets or updates in the planning.
We Never Stop is the motto which his club has adopted from his words and that’s pretty apt given the fact Postecoglou won’t really be stopping at any point in the summer.
He said: “I will get a break. It’s a break in inverted commas as you never stop working. But I need to spend time with my family and I want to.
“I have a responsibility there with two young boys and my wife gets on with real life while I do the fun bits.
“I want to spend time with them and I do need a break. I said during last week that it’s taken every bit of me this season.
“I came from Japan to Celtic and I have done a season and a half without a break.
“I need to recharge the batteries and what I do know is that the expectations at Celtic, and my expectations, will be to be better.
“To do that, I have to be ready to go.”
Postecoglou’s desire to get stuck into his next phase will be music to the ears of the supporters who see great things ahead for the club on the evidence of the manager’s work so far.
His bosses have seen it, too. Talks are due to start over a new contract for the boss.
However, when you speak with Postecoglou, it becomes crystal clear that job satisfaction and drive to succeed come way above any terms on a deal on his particular agenda.
He said: “People shouldn’t fret about that stuff. That’s not what drives me. It’s not what I am kind of seeking.
“I have always been driven by trying to create things that are special and being part of something that lasts.
“I am at a big football club, with 60,000 people here each week.
“It’s one of the most famous clubs in the world, we will be playing in the Champions League next year and I can win trophies. I couldn’t be happier.”
That Champions League carrot is one that really whets the appetite of the Celtic manager.
For all the domestic achievements last season, Europe was one arena which just proved a step too far for his new-look squad.
Postecoglou is savouring the opportunity to mix with the cream of the continent in the upcoming campaign as he’s already spoken openly about what it would mean to him to make a real mark on that stage with Celtic.
Automatic entry to the group stages due to his title win gives breathing space away from qualifiers and the chance to plan and plot the assault.
Postecoglou has gone through the list of teams who he could face and the mere sight of the potential opposition gets the juices flowing.
It’s not possible to pick out a desired rival as he said: “Have I had a look at the list of clubs in the Champions League? Yeah.
“Who do you fancy? You fancy all of them because you know it’s going to be a tough gig whoever you get.
“But it’s where you want to be. It’s where the clubs wants to be and where I want to be.
“I want us to go into that competition and make an impact. Champions League nights are special at Celtic Park and I can’t wait for them.”
