From Australia to a European champion. It’s been a “hell of a ride” for Ange Postecoglou. With three other A-Leagues icons by his side, Tottenham’s historic triumph is a significant moment for Australian football and the domestic game.
As the full-time whistle blew in Bilbao, Ange Postecoglou embraced his coaching staff.
It was an image of immense significance for Australia and the A-Leagues on the world stage.
AN AUSSIE STAR VALUED AT $7.3M?! Your A-Leagues club’s most valuable player
There he was, the Aussie trailblazer and first Australian to win a European cup, with his trusted allies. It is three of those men – A-Leagues legends like the man himself – who have taken Tottenham somewhere they have not been in 41 years by winning a European trophy.
Mile Jedinak, Nick Montgomery and Sergio Raimundo, like Postecoglou, have had their obstacles but have gone on to influence Aussie football in various ways, via the A-Leagues.
Jedinak has been at Spurs the longest. The former Socceroos captain reunited with Postecoglou when the ex-Roar and Melbourne Victory boss was appointed in 2023.
WONDERKID WATCH:Â 16-goal teen tearing up NSW as outrageous form continues with 4-minute blitz
An Asian Cup winner as a player under Postecoglou, Jedinak was 22 years old when he landed a trial with Central Coast Mariners in the Isuzu UTE A-League. He went on to become one of the league’s finest players, winning a Premiership before enjoying a stellar career abroad with Crystal Palace and Aston Villa.
Then there is Englishman Montgomery and Portuguese Raimundo. The duo were both brought in at the start of 2024-25 after leaving Scottish Premiership side Hibernian.
The two coaches behind Central Coast’s stunning renaissance in 2023-23 are the newest pupils in the University of Ange. Raimundo was Montgomery’s right-hand man with the Mariners’ academy team at a time when the senior side were languishing at the foot of the Isuzu UTE A-League standings.
From the start, the duo placed an emphasis on youth with one very clear message – to believe. It led to a drought-ending Isuzu UTE A-League Championship in 2022-23, the club’s first title in a decade. It laid the foundations for back-to-back Grand Final wins in Gosford.
DEEP DIVE: Five key stats highlight ‘exceptional’ City star’s elite quality
Fast forward to Wednesday night at San Memes, and Tottenham’s historic achievement was the ultimate vindication of the A-Leagues. A quartet who left their mark on the local game and showed they can do it on the global stage.
“It’s hard to put into words the emotions,” Postecoglou told reporters post-match. “I’m super proud of the players.
“To quote my favourite Australian prime minister, Paul Keating, after an unlikely victory he said, ‘This is one for the true believers.’ and this is certainly one of the true believers. That means an unbelievable group of players who never wavered, never lost faith in me and what we were doing.
“Unbelievable football staff, led by brilliant coaches. People who work at the club from the board down, Lilywhite House, the training ground. The supporters.”
‘WE’LL SEE IT OVER THE NEXT MONTH’: Coach’s exciting transfer prediction as academy stars shine
The 1-0 win over Premier League rivals Manchester United, not only ended the club’s agonising wait for silverware but secured UEFA Champions League football in 2025-26. It was also the ultimate mic drop moment for Postecoglou.
Early in his second season at Tottenham, Postecoglou delivered the quote: “I don’t usually win things, I always win things in my second year”. He doubled down on it.
It was a comment used to mock him amid speculation over his future. At a club not known for winning things, it was jarring to some but it was a coach simply stating facts – he did it at boyhood club South Melbourne in the NSL, Brisbane Roar in the A-Leagues, the Socceroos, Yokohama F.Marinos in Japan and Celtic in Scotland.
Eight months later, and Postecoglou stood on business.
“People misinterpreted me,” Postecoglou told TNT Sports afterwards. “It was not me boasting, just me making a declaration and I believed it.”
It is an extraordinary achievement in the face of adversity. An Aussie taking Tottenham to the promised land. Something high-profile managers Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho could not manage at Spurs. Nor could one of Spurs’ most beloved coaches Mauricio Pochettino.
“I understand why it would be difficult for a club like this to buy into one person’s vision,” Postecoglou said.
“I remember even when I signed, the club and even Daniel said, ‘we went after winners, it didn’t work and now we’ve got Ange’, but mate, I’m a winner. I have been a serial-winner my whole career.
“It’s what I have done more than anything else. I know people talk about my football, which I am very proud of. I know people dismiss my achievements because they didn’t happen on this side of the world, but for me they were all hard earned and all I have done my whole career is win things.”
Postecoglou, who shared a heart-warming moment with his family after the game, has done it all by walking a road less travelled.
From boyhood club South Melbourne to Australia, Postecoglou has won it all – a pair of National Soccer League championships, back-to-back Isuzu UTE A-League titles and a record 36-match unbeaten streak at Brisbane Roar, plus a ground-breaking 2015 Asian Cup triumph with the Socceroos.
RODGERS, ARE YOU WATCHING? Socceroo makes Celtic point after finding his ‘missing piece’
Add in a J1 League title at Yokohama F.Marinos that transformed Japanese football and back-to-back Scottish Premiership crowns with Celtic, including a treble.
This, after Postecoglou was in the coaching wilderness 16 years ago. Struggling to land a job while doing media work, he spent a short stint at semi-pro club Whittlesea Zebras in 2009.
There are also parallels between Postecoglou’s start at South Melbourne and his second season with Spurs.
Not initially in the equation to make the step up from assistant to head coach at South Melbourne in the 1990s following Frank Arok’s departure as the club’s hierarchy eyed bigger and more established names – from Zoran Matic to Raul Blanco – a BBQ changed all of that.
But it was not all smooth sailing after fighting tooth and nail to appoint Postecoglou – a run of just one win from seven games to open the 1996-97 season had some South Melbourne committee members calling for Ange’s head.
“There were a few phone calls from committee members and I remember one guy, he said ‘you need to get rid of him at midnight tonight so no one sees him leave the club because you’ve made a mistake, and because you orchestrated all of this, you can follow him behind’,” former general manager Peter Filopoulos told Stats Perform previously.
“It came down to the eighth game at Marconi for a coach’s career, really, because the pressure was on. We won after a scrappy 87th-minute goal. Had we not won that game, it would have been a different future for Ange. The rest is history.”
A son of migrants who was born in Greece, Postecoglou went on to guide South Melbourne to four trophies, including a pair of NSL Championships and that famous 2000 FIFA Club World Cup berth.
It has been similar to an extent this season. Media and pundits had virtually put a line through Postecoglou’s name.
Dubbed a “clown” by some in the press, the pioneer has made them look like jokers.
While some may think this is his crowning moment, this may be just the start for Postecoglou at this level.
“Whatever happens, my own belief in what I do doesn’t waver and I’ll continue to push on and do what I do,” he said.
