Driven by a lifelong ambition and a relentless will to win, Ange Postecoglou has climbed to the summit of international football, securing his place as one of Australia’s and Greece’s most successful sports figures. Ange Postecoglou realises his impossible dream with Tottenham’s Europa League Triumph.
Now relaxing with family in southern Greece after a rollercoaster season, the Tottenham Hotspur manager reflects on his greatest achievement yet—guiding Spurs to a historic Europa League victory.
“Something told me this was always my destiny… this is what I was meant to do,” Postecoglou says in an exclusive Australian Story interview.
Despite Tottenham’s dismal league campaign and growing speculation about his job security, Postecoglou remains resolute.
“From day one, my mission was clear—win a trophy. And we’ve done that,” he says. “Now, I want more.”
From Melbourne streets to European glory
Postecoglou’s journey began as a young boy who migrated to Australia from Greece at age five. Encouraged by his football-obsessed father, he dreamed of English football stardom.
“My bedroom wall was covered in English First Division posters. That’s where I pictured myself,” he recalls.
Though the path seemed far-fetched, Postecoglou never wavered. A promising playing career was cut short by injury at 27, but he quickly transitioned to coaching—driven by a determination to succeed.
A track record of Winning
His first major coaching breakthrough came with Brisbane Roar, where he won back-to-back A-League championships (2011, 2012). His success earned him the national team job, tasked with rejuvenating an ageing Socceroos side.
In 2015, Postecoglou led Australia to its first-ever AFC Asian Cup win. But he wasn’t satisfied with continental success—he wanted to win the World Cup.
Yet, sensing the ambition wasn’t shared by Football Australia, he stepped down shortly after qualifying for the 2018 tournament.
“I just didn’t believe we could win the World Cup,” he admits. “Leaving gave me the freedom to chase bigger goals.”
Taking on Japan and Europe
Reenergised, Postecoglou joined Japan’s Yokohama F. Marinos, where he rebuilt the squad and claimed the J.League title in his second season.
This success caught the attention of Celtic FC, where he faced early skepticism. But he quickly silenced doubters, delivering multiple trophies and restoring Celtic’s dominance.
“Once you succeed in Scotland, the Premier League comes calling,” says football pundit Max Rushden.
A dream fulfilled at Tottenham
In 2023, Postecoglou became the first Australian to manage a Premier League club when Tottenham Hotspur handed him the reins.
The season began spectacularly: eight wins and two draws in the first 10 matches had Spurs fans in raptures. Music icon Robbie Williams even released a Postecoglou-inspired version of his hit song Angels.
But a string of injuries and suspensions derailed their campaign, and criticism mounted. Still, Postecoglou refused to abandon his high-risk attacking style.
As Premier League hopes faded, he shifted the club’s full focus to the Europa League—a tournament that offered a route back to Europe’s elite via Champions League qualification.
“Every decision we made was with that goal in mind—how do we win this trophy?” he says.
History made in Bilbao
Excitement reached fever pitch in Bilbao, Spain, where Spurs faced Manchester United in the Europa League final—17 years since their last trophy and 41 since a European triumph.
“Ange put everything on the line,” recalls close friend Nick Deligiannis, who watched the game with Postecoglou’s wife, Georgia.
Spurs clung to a tense 1–0 lead, and seven minutes of added time felt like an eternity.
“Every second mattered. We were so close to something special,” Postecoglou says.
When the final whistle blew, he became the first Australian to win a major European club competition—an iconic moment in Australian sporting history.
Celebrations and what comes next
Tens of thousands filled the streets of London to celebrate. Addressing the jubilant crowd, Postecoglou left a cryptic message:
“All the best TV shows—season three is better than season two.”
While speculation continues about his future at Spurs, the fans’ chants of “Big Ange” made clear who they want in charge.
“This wasn’t just about the win. I wanted the players, the fans, and the club to feel what success tastes like—so we never stop chasing it,” he says.
A new standard for Australian Coaches
According to veteran journalist Richard Hinds, Postecoglou has “redefined what’s possible” for coaches from Australia.
At 59, Postecoglou is far from finished.
“When we sat down for Australian Story a decade ago, maybe you thought that was my peak,” he says. “But there’s more to come. Ten years from now, I know we’ll have even more stories to tell.”
