The Australian FA has hailed former Socceroos manager Ange Postecoglou’s appointment at Tottenham as a “moment of great pride for Australian football”.
Postecoglou, 57, has been announced as Spurs’ new permanent head coach, after Cristian Stellini and Ryan Mason both oversaw spells on a caretaker basis following Antonio Conte’s sacking in March.
The Greek-born Aussie was in charge of the national team between 2013 and 2017, guiding them to Asian Cup glory in 2015. He joins Spurs after two seasons at Celtic, where he won the Double in his first season and the domestic Treble this season.
In a statement on the Football Australia website, their CEO James Johnson said: “On behalf of Football Australia, we would like to congratulate Ange on his appointment to English Premier League club, Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. This appointment is a personal triumph for Ange and his family, and we are absolutely delighted for them.
“Ange personifies the Australian football story: a proud Greek-Australian who immigrated to Australia at a young age and found his place in a new Australia through football. Ange has gone on to test himself successfully in the global football arena against the world’s best.
“This new chapter at Spurs for Ange is a testament to his enduring determination, skill, and vision as a leader. It is also a moment of great pride for Australian football and highlights this current golden age as we see more of our coaches making an impact on football around the globe and a steady presence of players across European leagues, particularly in Great Britain.”
Johnson added: “Together with our co-hosting of the FIFA Women’s World Cup commencing next month, this is a clear indication that our country has emerged as a new power in global football and underlines the compelling legacy we are building for Australian football.”
