The world of football is relentless, often brutal, and almost always unpredictable. An apt case in point is Ange Postecoglou’s journey over the last couple of years - particularly the last four months - in English football. At the start of June, Spurs sacked him despite winning the Europa League - their first important trophy since the 1991 FA Cup– and three games into the following season, he appeared for his first press conference as Nottingham Forest manager.
The 60-year-old arrives at Forest on the back of a rollercoaster Premier League season with Tottenham that saw the club finishing 17th with just 38 points. Replacing Nuno Espirito Santo, Postecoglou takes over a side looking to establish itself firmly in the top half of the table, and the former Celtic manager was in high spirits in his first press conference.
“Yeah, I’m excited. Honestly, I wasn’t really sure when the next opportunity would come, but it happened, and I’m really looking forward to it. It’s obviously great to be back in the Premier League, but more importantly, to be in charge of a club with such a storied history — a club I firmly believe is on its way up. I think it’s a great place for me to be, and it all happened so quickly."
When asked about taking over from his predecessor and how that will affect the style of play this season, he said:
“It'll be a gradual process, but I think, you know, if you look at the squad and even the first two or three games, I think Nuno himself was probably transitioning to something a little bit different from what it was. But you know what, even if I was playing exactly the same, we're all different. We're all different people. We talk differently, we coach differently, even if we're going to play the same style. So, it's just a matter of making it as smooth as possible for the players.”
Nuno Espirito Santo reportedly fell out with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, which was perhaps why the club parted ways with him, despite finishing 10th last season. Speaking about his relationship with Marinakis, Postecoglou said:
“I've probably been in his company three or four times. I don't know him well… I haven't spent a lot of time with him but you know from afar you just got to admire his ambition and his willingness to take everything on and create something special.”
The Australian was also aware that he would have to deliver quickly to keep his job for the following season.
“I have won a couple in my first season. At Celtic I won a double in my first. I may have to win one to get a second year here.”
At Celtic, Postecoglou won five trophies in two seasons playing high-tempo, attacking football. At Spurs, he had fans dreaming of a first trophy in over a decade and a half as the team finished fifth in the Premier League in 2023-24. That dream was indeed fulfilled last season, when they beat Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League final.
“I've said it already, that's what I want to do. I want to win trophies. That's what I've done my whole career, and that's what I want to try and do here.”
It will be a baptism of fire for Big Ange as he faces his first test at Arsenal on Saturday. However, he was confident that the team will be ready to take on the Gunners:
“The responsibility for me and the players and everyone involved is to make sure come Saturday lunchtime that we are absolutely ready for a big game and that's been the conversation. I haven't tried to expand on that too much. It's what's going to be our best preparation to take on one of the Premier League's best."
Forest are currently 10th in the Premier League table, with a draw, loss, and win a piece. Postecoglou has always left a football club having proven the fans wrong, and it remains to be seen if he can do the same this time.
