Former Socceroos captain Craig Foster has urged Celtic to offer Ange Postecoglou more job security after the Australian coach won his first trophy with the Glasgow giants on Monday.
Postecoglou was emotional after Celtic came from behind to beat Hibernian 2-1 in the Scottish League Cup final and now sets his sights on tomorrow’s Scottish Premiership clash with St Mirren.
Second-placed Celtic are seven points behind Premiership leaders and arch-rivals Rangers but do have a game in hand.
Watch Messi, Ronaldo and football’s biggest superstars in the UEFA Champions League with every match streaming ad free, live and on demand only on Stan Sport. Start your seven day free trial here!
Former Socceroos coach Postecoglou was appointed Celtic boss in June on a rolling 12 month contract at a tumultuous time for the storied club.
On the latest edition of Stan Sport FC, former Manchester United goalkeeper Mark Bosnich asked Foster whether Celtic should start thinking about tying Postecoglou down.
“I think they should, I mean he’s turned them around hasn’t he, last season they were horrible (finishing 25 points behind champions Rangers).
READ MORE: Disgraced NRL star hammered in boxing debut
READ MORE: Hamilton’s dramatic F1 loss sparks death threats
READ MORE: Iconic cricket commentator hangs up the mic
https://twitter.com/StanSportFC/status/1473178923437641738?s=20
“And that’s why Ange gets an opportunity. Sometimes coaches walk into an environment that’s in some ways difficult.”
Postecoglou’s recruitment of Japanese striker Kyogo Furuhashi – who scored twice against Hibernian to take his season tally 20 – has proved a masterstroke.
“It was clear from the start that the transfer business wasn’t great, so he was able to bring in a couple of key players and he did very well there,” Foster said.
“Because if you get those wrong in the early stage then I think pressure can continue to build. So we talked about it after only a couple of months.
“I was looking at both the football and a lot of the work that was coming out of it, a lot of the data. And it really said that their football was miles ahead of what it was last season, that’s for sure.
“Let’s hope that Ange can go on and get the title this year but also it’s about getting into Europe and next year trying to make a real statement there, that would be fantastic.”
Furuhashi’s Hampden Park heroics sealed a 20th League Cup for Celtic and their sixth in the last eight seasons.
“I know the significance of it and it’s been a hell of a ride so far,” Postecoglou said.
“I’m just so proud of this group of players, they’ve been the most resilient group I’ve ever come across with what’s been thrown at us the last five or six months and I’m super pleased they get their reward. We’re still at the beginning and we want to enjoy this because this group of players has been through an awful lot and yet risen to this challenge – including today. We just want to keep going.”
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!