Angelos “Ange” Postecoglou, one of the most celebrated figures in international football, was honoured on Tuesday evening at the Stoiximan Super League 2025–26 season draw for his groundbreaking achievement as the first coach of Greek-Australian heritage to win a European trophy.
Held at BLE Azure, with the draw scheduled to begin at 21:00, the event took on a more emotional and historic tone as Super League President Vangelis Marinakis presented Postecoglou with a special award in recognition of his 2024 UEFA Europa League victory with Tottenham Hotspur.
Visibly moved, Postecoglou accepted the honour in front of a distinguished audience. In his acceptance speech, he delivered a heartfelt reflection on his journey from a young Greek migrant in Australia to becoming a European trophy-winning coach.
“It is a great honour to be here. I left Greece when I was five years old, very young,” he said. “My father passed on his love of football to me. He was an AEK fan. He taught me names like Mavros, Papaioannou, and Delikaris. I wanted to reach that level. As a player, I realised early on that I couldn’t, so I tried as a coach to reach the highest level and make my parents proud.”
With emotion in his voice, he added:
“My father is no longer with us, but I know he’s watching. I have my children and my wife with me. I’m not done yet. I hope to make Greece and Australia proud.”
In his remarks, Vangelis Marinakis praised Postecoglou’s humility and pride in his roots:
“Ange has spoken many times about Greece. It is very important for someone to be proud of their origins. With this success at Tottenham, he made Greece proud.”
Postecoglou’s rise from South Melbourne Hellas to the elite levels of European football has long inspired players and coaches across Greece and Australia. His triumph over Bayer Leverkusen in the 2024 Europa League final firmly established his legacy as a global ambassador for Hellenism in sport.
Now a guest of honour at Greece’s most prestigious football event, Postecoglou’s presence symbolised not just sporting excellence, but a powerful cultural homecoming—a son of the diaspora returning with pride and purpose, fulfilling a dream nurtured across two continents.
With Tottenham eyeing further success, and his reputation as a transformative manager continuing to grow, Ange Postecoglou is, in his own words, “not done yet.”
As he stood beside his wife and children, the message was clear—two nations, one legacy:
“I want to make you proud—Greece and Australia.”
