In the words of Ange Postecoglou, Aaron Mooy has been “outstanding” since joining Celtic, but there is more to come, with the former A-Leagues star looming as a key component to the Scottish giants’ title defence and Champions League aspirations.
Mooy reunited with former Socceroos boss Postecoglou at the start of the season when he returned to Scotland via Celtic – hot on the heels of his standout performances on Australia’s gruelling FIFA World Cup play-off journey.
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Despite limited competitive football entering June’s showdowns with the United Arab Emirates and Peru, Mooy still starred in back-to-back matches as the Socceroos punched their ticket to Qatar 2022.
Mooy is no stranger to Postecoglou but his exploits in Doha still impressed the A-Leagues legend, who has eased him into life at Celtic Park, where the former Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne City midfielder has made 10 appearances for the league leaders.
That includes his first taste of UEFA Champions League group-stage football against the holders Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk.
“Az has been outstanding for us,” Postecoglou – back in Australia to launch November’s Sydney Super Cup involving Everton, Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers – told reporters on Wednesday. “Kind of eased him in.
“The last competitive game he played before I signed him was against Peru and I thought he was brilliant. I thought he was the best on ground and that’s on the back of him not playing too much previously.
“I know Aaron really well from the national team. For me it was an easy one to bring him into the club. I knew he would fit culturally and I knew him as a player he would contribute a lot.
“Over the last few weeks, you can see his fitness is getting up to where it needs to be and I think he is enjoying his time with us. I think he will be one of the key players. He has a great deal of experience.
“He is one of the few who’s played at the highest possible level in the Premier League so I’m really looking forward to seeing how he goes.”
Mooy isn’t the only Australian at Celtic. There is also Socceroos legend Harry Kewell.
Ex-Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Heart forward Kewell joined Postecoglou’s coaching staff ahead of the 2022-23 campaign, having been out of work since September last year.
With Kewell joining the Postecoglou revolution, Celtic made a flawless start to the season and crushed bitter rivals Rangers 4-0 before their 38-match unbeaten streak in the league was ended by St Mirren last week.
“H has been great,” Postecoglou said. “Wherever I’ve travelled in my career, in Australia or overseas, I’ve kind of tried to open a bit of a pathway and give opportunities to other guys I feel are maybe aren’t getting that opportunity, irrespective if I’ve had an association with them.
“Particularly in coaching, Australian coaches probably aren’t at the forefront of people’s minds, particularly in overseas markets. I’ve tried to open up as many doors as I can for them.
“He [Harry] was really keen to come in and be part of our environment. He is learning a lot. He has his own ambitions about his own managerial career which I’m sure he’ll get onto at some point. But he is in the right environment now at a big football club.
“He wants to contribute to our success and I’m sure he will.”
Postecoglou is back in Australia for the first time in years, mostly due to the COVID-19 pandemic and border restrictions.
He will be back in a couple of months for a date with Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium on November 17 before facing Premier League outfit Everton at Accor Stadium on November 20.
But while abroad, firstly with Japanese outfit Yokohama F.Marinos and now Celtic, Postecoglou has continued to keep an eye on local matters and the Isuzu UTE A-League.
Switching on the TV “in the morning and watching the A-Leagues”, there has been a noticeable change for Postecoglou when it comes to the ALM as the likes of Garang Kuol and Nestory Irankunda shine.
“A lot of young players have had an opportunity,” Postecoglou – the winner of two Championships with Brisbane Roar to go with an unprecedented 36-game unbeaten streak – said.
“Whether that’s through economics rather than by design, I think that’s been a positive because a lot more young players have got a lot more senior football than in the past. Which then gives them a platform to go overseas.”
