Soccer

Celtic confirm appointment of Ange Postecoglou as new manager


Celtic have finally appointed a successor to Neil Lennon after confirming Ange Postecoglou is the Parkhead club’s new manager. After 107 days without a permanent boss, the Australian is now on his way to Glasgow to take over after leaving Japanese outfit Yokohama F Marinos.

The club confirmed news of Postecoglou’s appointment in a statement to the Stock Exchange shortly before 9am BST which read: “Celtic is pleased to announce the appointment of Ange Postecoglou as the club’s first-team manager with Ange commencing employment with immediate effect. The board is pleased to welcome Ange to the club and looks forward to working with him in the future.”

However, a 10-day quarantine stint means Postecoglou is unlikely to be at the club’s Lennoxtown training base on 17 June when the first-team squad report back for the start of their pre-season preparations. Celtic are also waiting to hear back from Uefa after applying for an exemption on rules requiring managers to possess a Pro-Licence – which Postecoglou does not hold – if they wish to manage in European competition.

After Lennon resigned on 23 February, Celtic spent weeks chasing No 1 target Eddie Howe. But when their move for the former Bournemouth manager broke down, they were forced to switch their attentions to Postecoglou.

The former Australia boss has won league titles in his homeland and in Japan, while he also led the Socceroos at the 2014 World Cup before resigning just weeks ahead of the 2018 finals in Russia. But the 55-year-old only has limited experience of managing in Europe, following a nine-month spell in charge of Greek third-tier outfit Panachaiki.

“The opportunity that has been given to me is one of the greatest honours in football and the responsibility to lead our magnificent football club into the future is one that I will cherish dearly,” said Postecoglou.

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“Celtic is one of the names in world football, of that there is no doubt – a giant of a club, a proper footballing institution and so much more – real history, real substance, real authenticity and real soul. I know Celtic is a true way of life for so many people and I know the demands which come with this position – I am ready to do all I can to meet those demands.”



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