In his first interview as Tottenham Hotspur’s new manager, Ange Postecoglou said he hopes he can help “fulfil the dreams and aspirations of every supporter” and painted a picture of how his side may look under his tutelage as pre-season got underway on Saturday.
After an impressive two-year tenure at Scottish giants Celtic, Postecoglou was announced as Spurs’ new manager last month, signing a four year deal with the North London club.
Postecoglou is tasked with rejuvenating a Spurs side which missed out on Europe this season – following an eighth placed finish in the Premier League – and hasn’t won a piece of silverware since 2008.
The Australian has won plaudits wherever he has gone for his attacking, exciting brand of football, a farcry from the pragmatic approach of his predecessor Antonio Conte and prior to that – Jose Mourinho.
Sitting down with SPURSPLAY, Postecoglou said he’s ready to embrace the challenge ahead and understands the “great expectation” that comes with being manager of one of England’s biggest clubs.
READ: Aussie reunion! Former Socceroos captain joins Postecoglou’s Spurs coaching staff
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“I’m very excited about the challenge ahead – an enormous football club, exciting league, I guess all the things you strive for in your professional career. It’s great to be here and getting ready to work,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to all of it. There is not one bit of it I’m not looking forward to. I understand that there is great expectation here, great responsibility, that’s not lost on me.
“It’s not just about going out there and saying, ‘this is wonderful, what a great experience’, I’ve taken the responsibility on of a massive football club, great history and with a supporter base that’s craving for football and more great moments to add to the historical base we’ve already got.
“I understand that. I love that too. That’s exactly where I want to be. I don’t want to be anywhere else. I want to be in that position of having that responsibility, understanding that and embracing that. I’m looking forward to that challenge.
“It’s a great moment, a proud moment not just for myself but for my family and friends and people who have been on that journey, because they’ve all lived those experiences with me.
“My main thoughts will be on the responsibility I bear and the excitement I have within me that I can fulfil those dreams and aspirations of every Tottenham supporter.”
In his two seasons at The Hoops, Postecoglou helped take Celtic back to the top of the Scottish Premier League, winning back-to-back league titles, two Scottish League Cup finals and the Scottish Cup – completing the treble in his final campaign at the club.
And in his 113 games in charge, Celtic only lost 18 times, leaving the club with a 73% win record.
However, winning has become something of a norm for Postecoglou at just about every club he’s managed throughout his almost 30 year coaching career at South Melbourne, Brisbane Roar, Yokohama F Marinos and at international level withe Socceroos.
He believes his style of football can help “bring success” to a club starved of silverware, but also entertain a beleaguered fanbase who have longed for the return of a more attacking brand.
“I like to win, that’s the main thing, and I’ve done that wherever I’ve been,” Postecoglou said.
“The football is designed to bring success. Alongside that it’s really important to me that there is an element of what I think most fans and players want to be associated with, and that’s football that’s exciting, that people talk about, not just the end result but also the manner in which you played your football.
“That’s really important to me, a, because I think it’s a way to be successful and also secondly, because it allows people to grab onto those things that are most special about our game, those memorable moments.
“People want to see their team scoring goals, being exciting, not conceding goals, being aggressive in their approach, all these kinds of things that everyone seeks in their own football team. That’s what I want to try to provide. The basis of it will be that we want to be a team that wins things and, ultimately, entertains our fans.”
ANGE TO TOTTENHAM
OFFICIAL: Full details of Postecoglou’s appointment at Spurs
FIRST WORDS: Ange excites Spurs fans in first Tottenham address
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Postecoglou’s tenure as Spurs boss officially got underway on July 1, with the squad set to return next week. Harry Kane and new signing James Maddison are due to return on July 10 after an extended break as a result of going on international duty.
Before their Premier League campaign kicks off on August 13 away to Brentford, Spurs will head down under to face West Ham in Perth on July 18, before jetting to South-East Asia to take on Leicester City and Roma.
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“Staff, players, people associated with the club, they need to get to know me and what I’m about. If they get to know me and believe in me, whatever I need to do after that is easier. That’s the first bit,” he said.
“It’s a huge organisation and, for me, to allow that to happen means I have to be present in as many areas as I can be in this early part, and that’s what I will try to do, make sure I’m present in every aspect of the football club, so people at least have some exposure to me.
“Beyond that, it’s working with the players. They are the most important people. Players are the most important people in this football club and every football club. We have six weeks – how can we prepare these guys to make sure come the first weekend of Premier League football that we’re ready to go?”
He has already got to work on the transfer front too, signing promising Italian goalkeeper Gugliemo Vicario and England international Maddison, along with making Dejan Kulusevski’s move permanent from Juventus.
Harry Winks – who was on loan at Sampdoria last season – was also sold to Leicester City.
However, questions continue to linger about the future of Kane, who has been linked with a move away to the likes of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid as of late.
