Ange Postecoglou never doubted he would bring silverware to Celtic

Hibernian v Celtic – Premier Sports Cup – Final – Hampden Park
(Image credit: Jane Barlow)

Ange Postecoglou never doubted he would get success at Celtic and understood it would have to come quickly.

But the Premier Sports Cup-winning boss hopes their Hampden success on Sunday will furnish his newly-assembled squad with further belief and resilience.

Postecoglou’s marquee signing, Kyogo Furuhashi, delivered at Hampden with a brilliantly-taken double as Celtic came from behind to beat Hibernian 2-1 and claim their first trophy since the delayed 2020 Scottish Cup.

Postecoglou took over a club in the midst of a major transition in June and had to deal with transfer delays and a string of injuries, the latest to David Turnbull during the first half against Hibs.

But he relished the challenge and understood the expectations.

“When I took on this role, whilst no-one knew of me, I certainly knew what I was undertaking and particularly after last year,” he said.

“This football club cannot go two or three years without success and I knew that, me accepting this position, that was the expectation.

“And I wanted that. I wouldn’t have accepted the role if I didn’t want that responsibility.

“I wanted to get there as soon as possible because that’s what the expectation of any Celtic manager is.”

Postecoglou opened his reign with a Champions League exit and three consecutive away defeats in the cinch Premiership but he quickly got his team playing football that got the fans on his side.

“Without sounding arrogant, I have never doubted myself or wavered in my own self-belief about what I could do,” the former Australia head coach said.

“I understood when I took this role… I mean all of you were probably running a book on how long I would last. A few of you probably had December but that’s out the window. Which is fair enough, but that doesn’t affect me.

“It’s not arrogance but I am really passionate about what I do. I have been passionate since I can remember as a little kid, and I have got a real certainty about the way I want to do things.

“And with that, the more obstacles put in my path, I guess the more I lean in against it.

“That’s the bit I love, that’s what gets me going. When it’s smooth, I get really irritated. I have moved on in every job I have had after having success because I felt, well, what’s the next challenge?

“The difficulties this year, the challenges so far – and there’s many more to come – I love that. That’s what I love to do.”

Postecoglou admitted he had tried hard to sell the supporters some hope when he first arrived in difficult circumstances.

He added: “Success turns that hope into something more tangible now – OK, maybe this team can do some special things. The players, the staff, everyone involved, will feed on that.

“It’s the manner in which you do it that counts just as much as the success itself, because this football club has had a lot of success over many years. But a lot of the time it has been the dominant team.

“We weren’t the dominant team at the start of this year. Very few people would have thought we could have had any kind of success, particularly this early.

“So to do that, overcoming what we have, definitely builds belief and resilience.”

Read more
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 09: Ange Postecoglou manager / head coach of Tottenham Hotspur after the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park on February 09, 2025 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
‘I still back Ange Postecoglou – people haven’t respected what he’s said, that injuries have made a massive difference’ Tottenham Hotspur legend defends manager from criticism
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 09: Ange Postecoglou manager / head coach of Tottenham Hotspur after the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park on February 09, 2025 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
'Ange Postecoglou will not change. He's got to where he is playing this style of football, whether its in Australia, Japan, to Scotland at Celtic and now at Spurs, so why would he change it?' Tottenham manager backed by Australia and Premier League legend
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe is desperate for success this season
'We said this season that we needed to do something different. We know we have a good team, but to make history we have to win something.' Newcastle United regular under Eddie Howe says the club HAS to win silverware in order to be respected
Cody Gakpo (2L) celebrates scoring the team's second goal with Liverpool's Dutch defender #04 Virgil van Dijk during the UEFA Champions League football match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on November 27, 2024.
'With Jurgen Klopp, we would play a long ball and then fight, but now that we’re playing with more patience and shorter passes, you can fully see how much quality our midfield has' Cody Gakpo reveals how Liverpool have altered style under Arne Slot
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 16: Alexander Isak of Newcastle United celebrates scoring their 2nd goal during the Carabao Cup Final between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium on March 16, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Why more Newcastle success will follow now their Wembley heartache has been avenged
Liverpool fans show their support with flags and banners prior to the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Ipswich Town FC at Anfield on January 25, 2025 in Liverpool, England
Arne Slot can win more than Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool but one thing needs to happen
Latest in
Fulham manager Marco Silva looks on from the dugout ahead of the FA Cup fourth round tie against Wigan Athletic at the Brick Community Stadium in Wigan, England on 8 February, 2025
'I think Marco Silva is the best manager in London - he managed to really maintain the desire to play attractive football, which was really hard over the years': Former Fulham talisman showers praise on 'impressive' Marco Silva
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim looks on following his side's defeat against AFC Bournemouth
Report reveals 10 Manchester United players leaving this summer
James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur scores their 2nd goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Etihad Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Manchester, England.
Tottenham and Manchester City could smash transfer record for British wonderkid: report
Tottenham Hotspur back row (L-R) Dele Alli, Mousa Dembele, Eric Dier, Davinson Sanchez, Hugo Lloris, Jan Vertonghen; front row (L-R) Son Heung-min, Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane, Kieran Trippier, Ben Davies during the Champions League match against Juventus at the Wembley Stadium on March 7, 2018 in London United Kingdom
Tottenham cult hero calls retirement - to avoid 'painkiller dependency'
Thomas Tuchel will take charge of England for the very first time this evening
'He pushed us. It was tough love, but that's Thomas' Former player reveals that the new England manager will be HARD on his players
Arsenal squad for 2024/25 LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: William Saliba of Arsenal celebrates scoring his teams first goal with teammates during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Arsenal FC and Olympique Lyonnais at Emirates Stadium on August 11, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal warned, as Real Madrid are coming for their star next: report
Latest in News
Fulham manager Marco Silva looks on from the dugout ahead of the FA Cup fourth round tie against Wigan Athletic at the Brick Community Stadium in Wigan, England on 8 February, 2025
'I think Marco Silva is the best manager in London - he managed to really maintain the desire to play attractive football, which was really hard over the years': Former Fulham talisman showers praise on 'impressive' Marco Silva
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim looks on following his side's defeat against AFC Bournemouth
Report reveals 10 Manchester United players leaving this summer
James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur scores their 2nd goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Etihad Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Manchester, England.
Tottenham and Manchester City could smash transfer record for British wonderkid: report
Tottenham Hotspur back row (L-R) Dele Alli, Mousa Dembele, Eric Dier, Davinson Sanchez, Hugo Lloris, Jan Vertonghen; front row (L-R) Son Heung-min, Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane, Kieran Trippier, Ben Davies during the Champions League match against Juventus at the Wembley Stadium on March 7, 2018 in London United Kingdom
Tottenham cult hero calls retirement - to avoid 'painkiller dependency'
Thomas Tuchel will take charge of England for the very first time this evening
'He pushed us. It was tough love, but that's Thomas' Former player reveals that the new England manager will be HARD on his players
Arsenal squad for 2024/25 LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: William Saliba of Arsenal celebrates scoring his teams first goal with teammates during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Arsenal FC and Olympique Lyonnais at Emirates Stadium on August 11, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal warned, as Real Madrid are coming for their star next: report