Ange Postecoglou was almost appointed head coach of Huddersfield Town four years ago, according to the club’s former head of football operations David Webb.
Postecoglou has blazed a trail throughout his career and he is now taking the Premier League by storm with Tottenham after his Celtic success.
Following his treble-winning campaign in Glasgow last season, the Australian legend has enjoyed a history-making start to life in England’s top flight by clinching three consecutive Premier League Manager of the Month awards.
Postecoglou also set a new record for the most points earned by a manager in their first 10 Premier League matches (26) before defeats to Chelsea and Wolves.
But it could have been different had he landed the job at Huddersfield back in 2019. It was the Terriers’ first season back in the EFL Championship following their Premier League relegation and they had just sacked Jan Siewart, while former Socceroos star Aaron Mooy was away on loan at Brighton and Hove Albion.
Postecoglou was still in charge of Japan’s Yokohama F.Marinos, who went on to win a drought-ending J1 League title that campaign.
“We had a couple of long-distance phone calls. I spoke to him and really liked him as a person,” Webb told The Sun as Huddersfield eventually turned to Danny and Nicky Cowley.
“He was someone who I felt would have fit Huddersfield really well because of his values and I liked the way he played.
“I like authenticity and he was just himself. This is me, this is how I am, this is how I play, this is what I do. He’d done his homework on the Huddersfield squad.
“But where he was situated, we couldn’t move quick enough to get him over the line where we needed it to be.”
Tottenham are fourth in the Premier League standings, two points behind league-leading defending champions Manchester City through 12 rounds.
Spurs will host Aston Villa following the international break on November 27 (AEDT).
