EXCLUSIVE: Ange Postecoglou wishes he gave his father ‘a glimpse of what his son became’ after his stunning start as Tottenham boss – and says he ‘carries’ his father every day in emotional tribute

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has paid an emotional tribute to his late father and wishes he could see the progress he has made as a manager.

The Australian gave an in-depth insight into his life and the culture he is trying to bring to Spurs in an exclusive interview with Chris Sutton and Ian Ladyman for Mail Sport, discussing his refusal to retreat from an attacking philosophy and his football education. .

He also talked about his early family life, how his father inspired him and how he would have liked to see him go from strength to strength on the sidelines.

The 58-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric rise to the top management ranks over the past two years. In his early career he enjoyed huge success with clubs in his native Australia and Japan, before moving to Celtic and making a statement with his attractive style of football, winning the treble in his second season.

He told his wife Georgia that he had finally ‘made it’ in football after joining Celtic, but would have liked to share that moment with his father Jim, who passed away in 2018.

The Australian said he wished Jim – who passed away in 2018 – could see his progress as a manager

Postecoglou has now exceeded his own expectations by making the big move to the Premier League. Despite many doubting his credentials when he arrived in North London, he is flourishing and delivering results for the team.

Spurs are fourth in the table after eight wins so far this season – something Jim would have liked to see.

“He was a man of his generation, but he mellowed as he got older and it took so long for me to get here, but I would have liked him to have just seen this, to get a glimpse of it,” said he told Mail Sport.

“All those sacrifices he made just to see his son on the sidelines one night. All those things we watched together in the middle of the night. Father and son. So just to see me there.

Postecoglou is enjoying a positive start at Tottenham after his breakthrough at Celtic

He said football had a huge impact on bringing his family together after they migrated from Greece to Australia

Postecoglou says he has carried the teachings his father gave him with him throughout his life, as he spoke of the enormous influence he had on him, including tough love and the guarantee that he always had something to strive for.

“Yes, he would be proud, but he would have given me clips on the ear, mate, for doing things wrong, because that was his way of complimenting me,” he added. ‘You did well, but you could have made a few substitutions or you could have played like that. That was just the relationship we had. It is not lost.

‘One of my best friends lost his father a few weeks ago. We are at that age now. The only comforting word I can give those boys is that I see him in me. I look in the mirror and see him.

“That’s his expression or I say something and I know it’s him talking. We carry them with us. I do not doubt that. He’s on a journey, but it would have been nice to give him an idea of ​​what his son turned out to be.”

Postecoglou said he carries his father with him and sees him when he looks in the mirror

Elsewhere in the interview, Postecoglou – who was born in Greece before fleeing to Australia as a child – talked about how growing up watching football matches in the 1970s and 1980s brought his family together. sport.

“It was something that took us away from our existence,” he said. “We were an immigrant family trying to adapt to life in a country where they loved sports that we didn’t understand. ‘

As a child it was easier for me to understand cricket, but my father lived in Australia for 50 years and still didn’t understand it.

“But because we were struggling with so many things, the football was great. We understood. Dad understood. Everything we have experienced with my family or friends in the field of football has had a huge impact on us.’