Ange Postecoglou has achieved European success—and may have just opened the door to a brighter future for coaching in Australia.
On Thursday morning, Ange Postecoglou pulled off what many thought was impossible—he ended Tottenham Hotspur’s 17-year wait for a trophy.
A 42nd-minute goal from Brennan Johnson was all Spurs needed to secure a 1-0 win over Manchester United and lift their third UEFA Europa League title.
The long-awaited victory will no doubt thrill Spurs fans, who have endured years of near misses and heartbreak.
Now, his Europa League triumph isn’t just a cause for celebration among Tottenham fans—it’s also sparked pride across Australia’s football community.
And one example is Football Coaches Australia President and former Socceroo Gary Cole, who expressed excitement for Ange Postecoglou’s Europa League win, calling it a remarkable personal achievement and a proud moment for Australian coaches.
“I’m just so excited for Ange,” said Cole in an interview with Soccerscene.
“He’s had the ups and downs of being a coach brings and to see him have success at this level in Europe is just quite remarkable for him on a personal level and of course Australian coaches more generally.
“Not only do we have plenty of Australian Managers in Europe, but we are now winning major trophies which is absolutely sensational.”
It hasn’t been an easy season for Postecoglou, despite avoiding relegation, his team sits just one spot above the drop zone with one game left to play.
Still, the Australian manager has delivered on his bold claim that he tends to win trophies in his second year.
And with silverware now in hand, Cole expects Postecoglou is likely feeling a mix of relief, pride, and vindication after ending Spurs’ 17-year trophy drought and believes his position at Spurs is looking more stable, however, noting that in today’s game, coaches often don’t get the respect they deserve despite the pressures they face.
“My guess is that there will be a bit of a sigh of relief there as well, because he’s talking up a big positive which he is all the time, so I’m sure there’s a little sense of relief , there’d be a sense of you know, bugger you lot I told you so, but also immense pride,” he said.
“After 17 years of not winning anything, I just cant see it any other way, it’s just hard to see that from the outside looking in.
“But we do live in age where coaches aren’t necessarily respected for the work they do, they’re an easy target when things do need to change quickly.”
It’s been a long journey for Ange Postecoglou, who began his coaching career in 1996 at South Melbourne—the same club where he played nearly 200 games and was mentored by none other than Hungarian and Real Madrid legend Ferenc Puskás.
Now, his latest triumph could mark a turning point for coaching in Australia.
Gary Cole believes Postecoglou’s success has sparked new belief among Aussie coaches, proving that reaching the top is possible and giving the whole coaching community something real to aim for.
“If you’re an Australian coach today, no matter where you are, if you’ve got ambitions of coaching up a league or in the A-League or in a small European country or in America, you can now see it,” he said.
“What do I say? A rising tide lifts all boats.
“There’s a belief that comes from what Ange has done for all coaches, no matter where they are, and we all want something to believe in, I think we got that today.”
Postecoglou’s victory in Europe not only solidifies his place in Tottenham’s history but also serves as an inspiration for Australian coaches aspiring to make their mark on the global stage.
His success is a testament to the growing recognition of Australian talent in the world of football, opening doors for future generations of coaches to follow in his footsteps.
