Ange Postecoglou honored by three countries in Australia House in London, which is home to Australian High Commission.
Ange Postecoglou admitted to feeling “really emotional” after being honoured by three nations on a special night at London’s Australia House.
The Australian High Commission’s one-time celebration on Monday, “An Evening with Ange,” which celebrated the England-based coach who, in his own words, “is a product of Greece but made in Australia,” clearly touched the Tottenham manager.
Postecoglou said he was humbled by the praises from Britain’s most senior Australian and Greek officials, while surrounded by fellow Australian legends at Spurs, like as Matildas Clare Hunt, Charli Grant, and Hayley Raso.
The fact that both Australian High Commissioner to the UK Stephen Smith and UK Greek Ambassador Yannis Tsaousis wished to honour the 59-year-old with keynote addresses is evidence of how important a multi-cultural figure he has become.
“He’s a great football coach. A great Australian. A great human being,” Smith spoke to AAP. “He’s a great multicultural success, representing a great modern, diverse, tolerant country.”
After hearing the tributes, Postecoglou began to think back on the incredible journey that led a Greek immigrant youngster in Melbourne to one of the biggest football leagues in the world.
As he pondered on how his late father Jim had been his primary influence growing up and how drastically different he has turned out, Postecoglou had the audience, including his wife Georgia, chuckling.
“I do very much feel a product of Greece, but made in Australia, and feel really closely connected to both countries,” he told his audience. “I feel very strongly about the journey I’ve had as an immigrant, not so much for myself, but to keep honouring my parents. The sacrifices they made for me to be sitting here tonight means the world to me, so I really want to thank them.”
“It’s not that he passed on any words of wisdom there – because he barely spoke to me. He was a dad of his generation, I never saw him because he was always working for his family,” Postecoglou said.
“You don’t reflect on it at the time, but now I think he wasn’t doing it for himself, he was doing it for the family, so that rubs off on you.”
Asked whether he had always had leadership qualities since his playing days, Postecoglou said: “I was an ordinary player, so we can start with that. It was always kind of in leadership positions. I don’t think I sought that, but people saw me in that kind of light from a very young age.
“I love the fact that I was coming to a massive club with great history, great traditions and a great fan base, but very little recent success,” Postecoglou said. “Because you know that if you can turn it around and bring the club what it wants, I don’t see that as a difficulty, I see that as the beautiful part of the role.”