It was June 2021 and Celtic, still reeling from having their nine-year grip on the Scottish Premier League title ended by arch-rivals Rangers, seemingly gambled on an Australian manager called Ange Postecoglou.
Yes, there were some token honours on his CV from Down Under, an Asian Cup win with the national side, and J-League success in Japan with Yokohama F. Marinos. But perception was as swift as it was damming; here we had a budget-appointment essentially handing the club's arch rivals 'two in a row'.
Such views have since been proved wrong - and in emphatic fashion. And in Postecoglou, detractors ran into a figure not fazed by outside naivety. Questioned on on his knowledge of Celtic's opponents in one of his initial games in charge, the riposte was as brilliant as it was brutal: “I’m still on the same planet mate, I haven’t come from outer space. You’d be surprised how much I know about Hearts.”
