The jolt that led to Ange’s decision

Scars played part in choice

ANGE Postecoglou has finally opened up on his motivation to walk out on the Socceroos.

The popular coach sensationally quit the Socceroos coaching job after securing Australia’s place at next year’s World Cup finals in Russia following a marathon qualification campaign that boiled down to a play-off win over Honduras in November.

In an interview with Fox Sports, Postecoglou admitted the scars of past run-ins with Australian football commentators played a part in his decision to resign instead of lead Australia at the World Cup.

Postecoglou revealed his determination not to bow to media pressure was a big part of his strange decision to quit.

He also admits his infamous interview with SBS football commentator Craig Foster before his sacking as coach of Australia’s Youth team in 2007 — after failing to qualify for that year’s Youth World Cup — has stuck with him.

“Absolutely (it’s a factor),” he admitted.

“Your life’s experiences mould you and for sure, I think there was a point at the start of this year where ... I went to do an interview on another station and the first question I was asked was ‘will you resign if you don’t beat the UAE’.

“And I’m kind of just sitting there and gone into a time warp of 10 years ago ... after everything that’s happened.

“It jolted me a little bit. It didn’t steamroll things. The person who asked the question isn’t involved in the sport but as so often happens, I say that regularly, is a lot of people in this country when the Socceroos are playing, or it becomes a pivotal time, they glance at our game.

“They test the water by seeing what people in the game are thinking — at the time, after we drew in Iraq and I changed the formation to the three and it upset everyone in the football world, which was okay with me, I kind of like that fact.

“People outside glance at the game and go ‘this is chaos’ — so that question was asked of me.

“I thought after everything we’ve achieved and the journey we’re on, qualification in our hands, I said I’m not going to go down that path again where I allow external forces to decide my fate.

“That wasn’t all of it but certainly a part.”

Postecoglou was speaking of his appearance on Channel 9’s Sports Sunday panel show.

Postecoglou featured as a guest panellist in March ahead of Australia’s World Cup qualifier against the United Arab Emirates and was put under the pump by co-host Peter FitzSimons. MORE ONLINE See the full Postecoglou interview