Ange Postecoglou can pinpoint a snappy bust that became the turning point in his once-fledgling coaching career, which saw Craig Foster inadvertently give him the kickstart he needed, landing him at Tottenham.
Postecoglou, 57, is expected to be the Premier League club’s new coach after a stunning spell at Celtic that saw him win five of the six domestic trophies on offer, all while playing an attractive brand of football.
Should he sign on the dotted line for the north London club, Postecoglou will become the first Australian to make it in the Premier League and cap off a remarkable journey from South Melbourne to the big stage.
And an explosive on-air feud with Foster proved to be the catalyst for Postecoglou’s incredible route, which came after the Australian U20 team’s miserable run at the World Cup.
Postecoglou has since admitted that the interview “put me out of work,” but it’s fair to say it provided enough motivation to prove his doubters wrong. He then enjoyed a 36 match unbeaten run with Brisbane Roar, winning the Asian Cup with the Socceroos, Japan’s J-League before finding success in Glasgow.
At the beginning of his career, Postecoglou was involved in a fierce fight on live TV
The interview started calmly, with the main presenter asking him to explain what he thought went wrong – with Posetecoglou insisting the South Koreans were just too strong – before former Crystal Palace player Foster stepped in to accuse him of hurting his players to blame for the failure.
“I’m not pointing out the players, Fozzy. Wait a second. Did you just hear what I said? Am I pointing at the players? This is what irritates me – if you want to criticize me, do it right.’
The pair then continue to bicker before Fosters asks him to take responsibility for poor results before questioning the quality of his coaching.
“I take full responsibility for it, I always have in my career. In terms of the quality of my coaching, I would like you to become a session mate, because in the six years I’ve been in charge I haven’t seen you at a qualifier, I haven’t seen you at a World Cup.’
Foster suggests that Postecoglou resign, to which the coach hits back: ‘Of course I’m not going to resign. I always put my future in people who make those decisions. The people I put much more credibility in than your assumption…”
Foster insists he’s not trying to attack the manager personally, to which the youth coach sarcastically replies, “That’s great, I feel much better because you’re a really good friend.” I don’t care what you think of me Fozzy.
“We’re not here to be buddies,” says Foster. ‘I’m not here to be your friend. I’m saying you get paid to get results and you didn’t get them.’
Postecoglou can see that moment as the turning point in his once fledgling career
He achieved success in Australia, Japan and Scotland and is ready for Tottenham
The back and forth bickering lasts for nearly 15 minutes, with Postecoglou lamenting, “If you continue, what’s the point of this interview?” He ends the segment by chiding the hosts for being “disrespectful” and directing “garbage” at him.
He was finally relieved of his duties that same year and took some time off to work as a TV pundit. But he returned to management with Panachaiki of the Greek third tier and later Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory before making a return to the Socceroos with Australia’s senior side.
Looking back at the car crash interview, Postecoglou said, “I just didn’t feel it was necessary, I didn’t feel it was productive.
“I knew that interview wasn’t going to go well because we just missed out on qualifying for both World Cups, our first time in Asia and my reason for doing it was to explain to people what was coming.
‘The responsibility was already with me, but what it did made me unemployed. I couldn’t even get an assistant coach role.
“It was the reason I went to Greece for a year because I wouldn’t let Australian football stop me from my ambitions as a coach. It was disheartening because I felt like everything I had done with South Melbourne as a manager had been forgotten.
“Like all things in life, we take our punches and move on, and it’s safe to say it hasn’t held me back for too long.”
