The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Postecoglou has no appetite for thinking about Old Firm rivals
Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou insists he has “no interest” in the recent managerial change at city rivals Rangers – but backed former adversary Giovanni van Bronckhorst to be a success wherever he ends up next.
The Ibrox club appointed Michael Beale on Monday as a replacement for the Dutchman, who was sacked a week previously with Rangers having fallen nine points adrift of the Hoops at the top of the cinch Premiership.
Asked what he made of events on the other side of Glasgow, Postecoglou was dismissive.
“On the scale of things that have been on my mind over the last two weeks, I reckon that’s registering below what I’m having for dinner tonight,” he said.
“It just doesn’t really come on my radar.
“What opposition clubs do with their managers is of no real interest unless we’re playing them in the next game. Beyond that, no real interest.
“From my perspective, I thought Gio was and is a fantastic manager.
“He’s got a great record in Holland and he’s actually got a great record here in Scotland.
“If you look at his record, he won a trophy and got to a European final. I’ve got no doubt he’ll be successful again wherever he goes.
“In terms of my thoughts on what other clubs do, I have zero interest. I’ve got enough on my plate.”
Postecoglou is delighted to have seen all four of Celtic’s players at the World Cup make it through the last 16: Josip Juranovic (Croatia), Aaron Mooy (Australia), Cameron Carter-Vickers (United States) and Daizen Maeda (Japan).
“The World Cup’s gone really well,” he said. “All the boys there have played significant roles.
“Having been to a World Cup myself (as Australia manager), it’s a great experience. And if you do well like our boys have, you come back with more belief and more confidence in your ability to perform at the highest level.
“I think it’s going to be of great benefit to us that our players have been exposed to that level of football and have done well.”
Meanwhile Peter Lawwell has returned to Celtic as non-executive chairman a year and a half after stepping down as chief executive.
The 63-year-old will take up his new role from January 1 following the retirement of current chairman Ian Bankier.
During Lawwell’s tenure of almost 18 years, Celtic won 29 trophies, including 13 leagues, but the boyhood Hoops fan stepped down in the summer of 2021 at the end of a disastrous campaign in which Rangers stopped the Hoops claiming 10 titles in a row.
He said: “These are exciting times for the club and I look forward to contributing to the wellbeing and success of the club.”