Chelsea's search for a new manager continues and fresh names are still being linked with the role vacated by Graham Potter over four weeks ago. Mauricio Pochettino is the new favourite for the job after Julian Nagelsmann backed out of the running but a surprise third choice has arisen.
It was long believed that Nagelsmann was the front-runner for the role having been sacked by Bayern Munich following a run that threatened their Bundesliga and Champions League aims. The 35-year-old has since come out of the race to be the third permanent head coach in 10 months under Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital.
Luis Enrique was also amongst the early contenders but has since dropped out. Outsiders Vincent Kompany, Ruben Amorim and Oliver Glasner have also been discussed but one name was reported as being a mystery and surprise even after the latest Nagelsmann update.
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That man appears to be the less known figure of Ange Postecoglou. Who is he, why do Chelsea want him and is there a chance he could be in the Stamford Bridge dugout?
At 31, Postecoglou was forced into retiring early but was quickly appointed as manager of South Melbourne, a club he represented nearly 200 times during his playing days. Now 57, the Athens-born boss is currently managing Celtic and has a 12-point gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
Over 32 league games this season the Glasgow side have won 30, losing one and drawing just one ahead of Saturday's game with Motherwell. Other than defeats in the Champions League - in which they were handed a tough group alongside Real Madrid, RB Leipzig and Shakhtar Donetsk - the Hoops have lost no other games.
It is a continuation from Postecoglou's first season in which he oversaw a comfortable title win. In total he has an incredible domestic record of 93 games played, 76 wins, eight draws and nine losses. Across nearly two years in Scotland he is close to winning back-to-back league titles as well as the League Cup in both seasons too.
Many will say this is to be expected though. However, Postecoglou's rise through managing in Australia and Japan have seen him attract multiple offers from England, with Leicester and Everton amongst the clubs that have looked at him already.
His past ventures include five years in the Australia youth set-up, Postecoglou is an Aussie citizen, as well as coaching the senior team and leading them to qualification for the 2018 World Cup. It is his previous links with the City Football Group that perhaps gathers the most interest, though.
His former side, Yokohama FC, are one of the many clubs under the City Football Group bracket as the multi-club model involving Manchester City. He won 80 of his 161 games at the club and has seen his name grow in stature after winning the league during his time.
He has proven himself to be an extremely capable coach, bringing often dynamic and attack-minded football as well as working with young players. These are all characteristics that place him in the attention of Chelsea.
According to the Guardian it is he that completes the main three-man shortlist with Kompany and Pochettino, though the latter is in the clear to be named the next man in charge at SW6.
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