Celtic boss says lifting manager of year gong is “very humbling”

ANGE Postecoglou understood the scepticism in the early stages of his Celtic rebuild, but feels his PFA Scotland award shows the challenges he faced were recognised.

Postecoglou collected the prize for manager of the year, which was voted for by the Scottish league’s 42 bosses.

The 56-year-old Australian is on the cusp of delivering the cinch Premiership title in his first season after Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Rangers left Celtic six points and 19 goals clear with three matches remaining.

The healthy lead was an unlikely scenario seven games into the season when a home draw with Dundee United left Celtic in sixth place on 10 points.

Postecoglou refused to share the doom around the title race at that stage, but he took no pleasure in proving doubters wrong after collecting his prize.

“It’s not what drives or motivates me,” the former Australia head coach said.

“I’m not too harsh on people – the jury was out on me. I understand there wasn’t a great recognition of what I had done. When you come from the other side of the world, that’s understandable.

“It was up to me to show people what I could do and, with a lot of support, people will recognise the challenge that I had.

“Particularly in a year most people thought would have been a transition year, we’ve managed to be really competitive and hopefully the next couple of weeks we can tick off the big one.”

He described the accolade as “very humbling” after pipping Arbroath’s Dick Campbell, Malky Mackay of Ross County and Cove Rangers’ League One-winning boss Paul Hartley to the prize.

“It’s representative of not just my work but all the staff,” Postecoglou added.

Ange Postecoglou with his award.