adminJust In; What Ange Postecoglou has said about being Leeds manager will delight fans
Ange Postecoglou is once again being linked with the soon-to-be vacant Leeds United managerial role.
Following Leeds’ 3–2 defeat to Manchester City on Saturday, the club has slipped into the Premier League relegation zone as December begins, putting current boss Daniel Farke on the brink of dismissal.
The Guardian reports that figures inside Elland Road have “privately conceded” that Farke’s future is uncertain, with tough fixtures against Chelsea and Liverpool approaching this week.
Multiple outlets claim that Postecoglou — who has previously managed Celtic, Tottenham and Nottingham Forest — is among the candidates to replace Farke. Notably, this isn’t the first time the Australian coach has been associated with Leeds.
Back in early 2023, Postecoglou was shortlisted as a potential successor to Jesse Marsch following Marsch’s sacking.
The rumours prompted Sir Kenny Dalglish to urge Postecoglou to reject Leeds and remain with Celtic — advice the manager initially followed before leaving several months later to join Tottenham.
Postecoglou enjoyed success in North London by capturing the Europa League title, but he was later dismissed by chairman Daniel Levy after overseeing Tottenham’s worst Premier League finish. He then endured a disastrous stint at Nottingham Forest, lasting only 39 days — the briefest tenure for a permanent manager in Premier League history.
What Postecoglou said about the Leeds links in 2023
When Andrea Radrizzani and 49ers Enterprises removed Marsch midway through the 2022–23 campaign, Postecoglou was a serious contender.
However, already on track for a domestic treble at Celtic, he had little desire to abandon that pursuit for a relegation scrap in Yorkshire.
In February 2023, he addressed the speculation:
“I don’t think I need to say anything to them,” he said when asked if he had a message for Celtic supporters. “What the fans want is for me to focus on preparing the team every week to win and to play football that excites them and makes them proud. That’s my responsibility.
“I understand the buzz around things like that. If I had a player in the same situation, I’d tell him to keep playing his football and ignore the noise.
I take my own advice. I’ve been in the game long enough to know how quickly things change.
“If people think I’ve spent the last week thinking about anything other than preparing the team for today, they clearly don’t know what I’m about.”
His stance back then certainly reassured Celtic fans. But now, at 60, the Greece-born coach appears to be on a difficult path.
He failed to make an impact at Nottingham Forest — despite being harshly removed so soon — and Tottenham’s league form under him last season was widely criticised.
Postecoglou has already turned Leeds down once. Perhaps the sensible outcome is that history repeats itself.
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