Celtic FINALLY appoint Neil Lennon’s successor, almost four months after he quit, as little-known Australian Ange Postecoglou is confirmed as their new boss on a 12-month rolling contract
- Celtic have confirmed the appointment of Ange Postecoglou as their new boss
- The manager will join the Scottish side from his old club Yokohama F. Marinos
- He will join the squad in Lennoxtown and take charge of their pre-season training
- Postecoglou has signed a 12-month rolling contract with the Scottish club
Celtic have officially appointed Ange Postecoglou as the club’s new manager and Neil Lennon’s successor.
Postecoglou will join Celtic from his former club Yokohama F. Marinos – where he delivered the J League title – and end their 107 day wait for a permanent boss.
The 55-year-old will join the squad in Lennoxtown and take charge of their pre-season training camp in Wales, which begins on July 5.
Celtic have officially confirmed the appointment of Ange Postecoglou as their new manager
The Greek-born Australian boss has limited experience of managing in Europe but has claimed the Premiership and Championship titles in Australia’s A League.
He also led the Socceroos at the 2014 World Cup before resigning just weeks before the 2018 finals in Russia.
Postecoglou – who has signed a 12-month rolling contract with the Scottish club – says the opportunity to manage such a team is a ‘great honour’.
He told the club’s official website: ‘The opportunity that has been given to me is one of the greatest honours in football and the responsibility to lead our magnificent football club into the future is one that I will cherish dearly.
Postecoglou will succeed former Celtic manager Neil Lennon on a 12-month rolling contract
‘Celtic is one of THE names in world football, of that there is no doubt – a giant of a club, a proper footballing institution and so much more – real history, real substance, real authenticity and real soul. I know Celtic is a true way of life for so many people and I know the demands which come with this position – I am ready to do all I can to meet those demands.
‘I will be doing everything I can to get our great Club back on top and, at the same time, deliver the kind of football which our fans appreciate. We want to entertain our fans and we want to win, these are the objectives which I always set myself and which I now begin work on.
‘When you think of Celtic, you think of supporters and my dream is to see our fans back at Celtic Park with us as soon as possible. We all hope things are changing for the better and can see our fans soon as they are vital to everything I want to do. We need our supporters back by our side and I can’t wait to be with them back in a packed Paradise.
He will join Celtic from his old club Yokohama F. Marinos – where he delivered the J League title
Postecoglou also won the Premiership and Championship Titles in Australia’s A League
‘I have already had great discussions with Peter, Dom and the Board about their ideas and strategy for the future of the club. I know the Club’s new modern vision aligns very much with mine and we now look to go and deliver on this. In everything we do we aim to give our fans a successful team of real quality, which they are excited about and can be proud of.
‘We have already begun work on our plans for adding to the squad – we aim to bring players of quality to Celtic to enhance the existing core of great talent.
‘I very much look forward to meeting with the players on their return from the close season break and I can’t wait to get started as Celtic Manager.’
While Celtic confirmed the news of Postecoglou’s appointment in a statement to the Stock Exchange which read: ‘Celtic is pleased to announce the appointment of Ange Postecoglou as the club’s first team manager with Ange commencing employment with immediate effect.
Postecoglou – who has signed a 12-month rolling contract – says it is a ‘great honour’
‘The board of Celtic is pleased to welcome Ange to the club and looks forward to working with him in the future.’
However, a 10-day quarantine stint means Postecoglou is unlikely to be at the club’s Lennoxtown training base on June 17 when the first-team squad report back for the start of their pre-season preparations.
Although he is expected to link up with the team for their training camp in Wales, which begins on July 5.
Additionally, Celtic are still waiting to hear back from UEFA after applying for an exemption on rules requiring bosses to possess a Pro-Licence – which Postecoglou does not hold – if they wish to manage in European competition.