00:01The list of the most significant figures in Australian football would include star players like Craig Johnston, Mark Viduka, Harry
00:11Kuehl and Tim Cahill.
00:14But that list is now arguably topped by a manager, Ange Postacoglu.
00:22After coming through the ranks at his boyhood team's South Melbourne Hellas, the Greece-born Postacoglu made almost 200 league
00:30appearances before a serious knee injury curtailed his playing career aged just 27.
00:38But Postacoglu was a student of the game and learned from the club's head coach, Hungarian legend Fenec Puskas.
00:47By 1996, Postacoglu was in charge of South Melbourne, leading them to consecutive National Soccer League titles in 1998 and
00:561999, as well as winning the 1999 Oceania Club Championship,
01:01which in turn led to South's participation in the 2000 FIFA Club World Championship against Manchester United.
01:16Ready for the next step, Postacoglu became coach of Australia's national youth teams in 2000.
01:22But his time at the national set-up did not go smoothly.
01:25And in 2007, was involved in a famous argument on television with former soccerer Craig Foster.
01:36Postacoglu was soon relieved of his duties by Australia's governing body.
01:39And he remained out of the game for two years.
01:44All that early promise was destined to go to waste.
01:53But he returned in 2009 to take over Brisbane Raw.
01:57He immediately jettisoned the club's experienced household names in favour of promising young players.
02:04And by the end of the following season, had won the league and championship double, embarking on a 36-game
02:10unbeaten run.
02:12During which, his club earned the nickname Raw Salona for their intricate pass-and-move style.
02:20Another title the following season, made Postacoglu the most successful coach in Australian football history.
02:32Reborn, it now seemed inevitable Postacoglu would be offered the national team job at the next opportunity.
02:39And that duly arrived in 2013, with the Socceroos in need of replenishing ahead of the 2014 World Cup.
02:50Postacoglu grasped that medal.
02:52But in a group of death, his side lost all three matches to the Netherlands, Chile and Spain.
03:01Nonetheless, it had sowed the seeds for the following year's Asian Cup on home soil,
03:06where a mostly young squad secured the biggest trophy in Australia's history.
03:13It was the culmination of the Postacoglu project, one built around believing in young players,
03:19trusting a proactive, possession-based style of football,
03:22and instilling belief that Australia could compete against anyone in the world.
03:30When Postacoglu resigned two years later, after qualifying for the 2018 World Cup,
03:35he commented that he did not think Australia was a football nation
03:39that believed it could compete at the highest level.
03:44It was natural Postacoglu's ambition would take him overseas.
03:53First to Japan, where he guided Yokohama F Marinos to their first J League crown in 15 years,
04:01in just his second season.
04:05Then to Celtic, becoming the first Australian manager to coach a major club in Europe,
04:10and quickly winning over the home fans, after his appointment was greeted by reporters asking,
04:16Ange who?
04:20Two seasons, and two Scottish Premierships later, achieved playing eye-catching football,
04:26Postacoglu was the name on everyone's lips.
04:31The time was right for an even bigger move.
04:34The only question was who would take the punt on the avuncular Australian.
04:39The answer would be Tottenham Hotspur.
04:46Now affectionately known as Big Ange, Postacoglu's no-nonsense demeanour secured him the backing of the Spurs' fan base.
04:54But success has so far proved elusive.
04:59But with a proven track record, the next high point on Postacoglu's journey is surely not far away.
05:09Enhancing his status as the primary export from a confounding football nation.
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