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

• Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou opened up on his life and culture to Mail Sport
• He said he ‘carries’ his dad and wishes he could see his progress as a manager 
• Inside Ange’s Spurs: Listen to It’s All Kicking Off on how he transformed the club 

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has made 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 look into his life and culture he is trying to bring to Spurs in an exclusive interview with Chris Sutton and Ian Ladyman for Mail Sport – as he discussed his refusal to back down from an attacking philosophy and his football upbringing.

He also spoke about his early family life, how his father inspired him and how he would have loved to have seen him going from strength to strength on the touchline.

The 58-year-old has enjoyed a rapid rise to the top of management in the last two years. His early career saw him enjoy huge success with clubs in his native Australia and Japan before moving to Celtic and making a statement with his attractive brand of football and 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 loved to share that moment with his father Jim – who died in 2018. 

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou made an emotional tribute to his late father Jim while speaking to Mail Sport

The Australian said he wishes Jim – who died 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 – and despite many doubting his credentials when he arrived in north London he is flourishing and getting results from the team.

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

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

‘All those sacrifices he made, just to have one night to see his son on the touchline. Al that stuff we used to watch together in the middle of the night. Father and son. So just to see me out there. 

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

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

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Postecoglou says he carries the teachings his father gave him with him through his life as he spoke of the huge influence he had on him – which included tough love and ensuring he always had something to strive for.

‘Yeah, he would be proud but he would have been giving me clips round the ear, mate, for doing things wrong because that was his way of complimenting me,’ he added. ‘You have done well but you could have made a couple of substitutions or you could have played this way. That was just the relationship we had. Its not lost. 

‘One of my best mates lost his dad a couple of weeks ago. We are at that age now. The only words of comfort I can give those guys 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 have no doubt about that. He’s on the journey but it would have been nice to give him a bit of a glimpse of what his boy became.’

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 – told of how growing up watching football games in the 1970s and 80s brought his family together – beginning the story of how he and his dad bonded over the sport.

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

As a kid it was easier for me to understand cricket but my dad lived in Australia for 50 years and still didn’t understand it for the life of him.

‘But because we were struggling with so many things, the football was great. We understood it. Dad understood it. Everything we experienced with my family or friends in terms of football made a massive impact on us.’ 

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football, launching with a preview show today and every week this season.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube , Apple Music and Spotify

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