Former England manager Stuart Pearce admits it has been incredible to see Ange Postecoglou come some way from the last time he was at Parkhead.
The former West Ham coach was part of David Moyes' squad that travelled up to Glasgow for a pre-season friendly in 2021 as Postecoglou was at the infancy stages of his rebuild at Celtic. The Aussie coach had barely been in the door five minutes when the Hammers hammered the Hoops 6-2 prior to the start of the Scottish Premiership season and the Hoops' Champions League qualifying campaing.
A Celtic squad that still included the likes of outcasts Vasilis Barkas, Ismaila Soro and Boli Bolongoli were put to the sword in the sunshine in Glasgow. And Pearce admits he has been delighted to see how far the Aussie has come, securing two trophies in his first season and with an eye on a potential Treble this year.
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The 60-year-old also went against the grain as he responded to Postecoglou's links with top jobs in the English Premier League, claiming there would be no reason to up sticks from Glasgow.
He told Talksport: "At West Ham, we played against them when he first walked in and we won 6-2 up at Celtic in a pre-season friendly and, quite often, when you meet someone for the first time when their team’s just been beaten it gives you a decent slant of what they’re like as people.
"He came across as very humble, very genuine, and I’m delighted to see him doing particularly well.
"There’s this clamour to get to the Premier League but if you’re enjoying where you’re working - and he clearly seems to be at Celtic - then why not stay where you’re enjoying your work?"
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