The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Postecoglou quits with heavy heart
Ange Postecoglou insists he “will forever” be a Celtic supporter after leaving the Parkhead club for Tottenham.
The London club ended days of speculation by appointing the 57-year-old Australian as their new head coach on a four-year deal.
Postecoglou – who won the domestic treble with the Hoops this season to make it five trophies in two campaigns in charge – replaces Antonio Conte at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
In his parting statement on Celtic’s official website, the former Australia manager thanked the club’s majority shareholder Dermot Desmond, chairman Peter Lawwell and chief executive Michael Nicholson as well as the supporters as he reviewed his time at the Premiership club.
He said: “I would like to sincerely thank everyone at the club for everything they have given me.
“In particular, Dermot, Peter and Michael and the Celtic board have shown me tremendous support in every aspect of my time at Celtic and I will forever be grateful for this.
“They brought me to the club and I have worked so closely and so well with them for the past two years, I will always have a special relationship with them.
“They wanted me to extend my time at Celtic and, while I am so respectful and understanding of their position, a new opportunity has been presented to me and it is one which I wanted to explore.
“It was an honour to be asked to be Celtic manager and, during my two years, I have given everything I have to deliver success to our supporters.
“Culminating in the treble at the weekend, my players and backroom team have been brilliant for me on this journey.
“Celtic is a phenomenal football club and so much more – and I will forever be a supporter of this great
institution. I wish everyone connected with Celtic nothing but continued success.”
Nicholson described Postecoglou as “a great football manager and a good man”, who has “served
the club with such energy and determination and delivered a phenomenal level of success”.
He said: “We wanted Ange to stay with us at Celtic and, while there is real disappointment that
we are losing him, he has decided he wants to look at a new challenge, which we respect.
“As treble-winning champions, the club looks ahead with confidence to the future.”