The Importance of Being Ange

By Stephen Kountourou

It was the 26th of March 2023. Antonio Conte had left Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur by mutual consent and, with the club and supporters uncertain of who would be the Italian manager's long-term successor. 

Speaking to my dad, a long-time Spurs fan, who was rather bemused with his team's performances and the lack of direction of the club, the first manager that I told him could be a good fit, was Ange Postecoglou. 

The Greek-Australian manager was in the middle of a historical treble-winning season with Celtic. Despite my dad's scepticism, I insisted that Ange could be the man to bring an attractive attacking style of football that Lillywhite's fans had been crying out for since the departure of Mauricio Pochetino, which would in turn improve the fortunes of a club that was in decline.

Lo and behold, Three months later, on the 9th of June Ange was announced as the new manager of Spurs, becoming the first Australian and first Greek to manage in the Premier League.

At last, we have a top-level manager that we can shout about, albeit he did not come through the ranks of the Greek system of manager. But then who does? 

The Greek diaspora football supporters have wanted to see coaches and players with a shared ethnicity in the Premier League for a very long time and finally, we have that. 

Seeing the Greek-Australian manager start so brightly at Tottenham, and the culture he has brought to the club since his arrival, is a welcome source of positivity for us, while we wait for the day we can truly feel the same pride for our Greek Super League. 

Hard To Come By

Greece has not been blessed with talented top-level managers in the modern era. There are a few attributing factors to this. 

There are few opportunities for players to become managers and start by plying their trade in the Greek game. 

The pressure placed on the Greek coach's shoulders from a young age which, like with many Greek players, has meant they may not have been able to achieve their full potential. 

Even Greek managers that are regarded as ‘good’, ply their trade in leagues that, with the greatest of respect, are not seen as the true elite level. The biggest example is Giorgos Donis, who was many people's favourite to be the manager of the Greek national team and currently manages at Saudi Pro League side Al Wehda FC.

Ange is very much the exception to the rule, as he came through the Australian football system, first as a player and then as a youth coach with Semi pro side South Melbourne FC, the origins of which came after being formed by Greek immigrants, and Australia u17s and u20s. 

Even still, Postecoglou has shown that, even in a different football system, he had to work just as hard to come from the bottom of football management to where he is now, in the league ranked as the best in Europe, at one of the richest clubs in the world, and that should be celebrated.  

The First Months In North London

Since his arrival last summer, Ange has started well, giving Tottenham their best start to a season in the Premier League era. Victories over, Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle, with credible performances also including draws away to North London rivals Arsenal and Manchester City, show the early blueprint for what Spurs are capable of under him. 

With a return to a more exciting attacking brand of football, which was sorely missed by the Spurs faithful, Postecoglou, sets his teams up in a 4-2-3-1. The fullbacks invert to join in on the counter and the number 10 and eight also press higher, meaning that Spurs in attacking phases is almost playing a 2-3-5 formation. 

As with all projects the Greek-Australian manager needs to be given time to implement his style and for his team to fully realise their potential under him. There have been some blips during the first half of the season too, despite a strong start overall. 

After going undefeated in their first 10 league games, Postecoglou’s side promptly went winless in five matches with losses to the likes of London rivals Chelsea, Wolves, and high-flying Aston Villa. 

This can mainly be attributed to the injuries to key players at that time, with Tottenham losing Rodrigo Bentancur, James Maddison, Micky van de Ven and Micky van de Ven and Manor Solomon all unavailable for a long period. 

With Spurs returning to form in the latter stages of 2023, and once players return from injury, there is nothing to suggest the Spurs and Ange would continue their upward trajectory.  

Proving Them All Wrong 

From his early beginnings, Ange has always had doubters when arriving at a new club. Whether that be because he’s believed to lack the credentials of his peers in the game, the teams he has previously managed which, before Celtic and Spurs, were all outside of Europe except for a brief stint in the Greek lower Leagues with Panachaiki. But every time he has managed to prove his sceptics wrong and succeeded. 

While he may not have come directly through the Greek football system, Postecoglou and his career are something that Greek football fans can watch, and be proud of. We can only hope that, as he has even expressed, one day we can see him take charge of the Greek national team, which is a dream that he and all of us share.

@SteveKountourou

Hellas Football