Last week had it all in the Isuzu UTE A-League. A blockbuster Sydney Derby in front of more than 34,000 fans, a rocking Coopers Stadium for the Original Rivalry and late, late drama between Wellington Phoenix and Western United, and Central Coast Mariners and Macarthur FC.
The A-League Men was seen in all its glory before going on hiatus for the FIFA Men’s World Cup in Qatar.
Milos Ninkovic’s return to Moore Park with Western Sydney Wanderers was the standout moment of Round 6 – the former Sydney FC star’s Sky Blues reunion haunting his ex-employer on an incredible night at Allianz Stadium.
Ange Postecoglou is on the other side of the world these days, busy trying to orchestrate back-to-back Scottish Premiership titles with Celtic but the A-Leagues legend tuned in to the Sydney Derby and has been impressed by the start to the ALM season.
“It’s good,” Postecoglou told KEEPUP, with the former Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory boss in town for the Sydney Super Cup. “I think it’s been a strong start.
I watched the derby last week. A cracking atmosphere and a big game. A real high intensity and a bit of an edge to it, which is how the derbies always were. The crowd made it sound fantastic. Great to see.
“I watched the Adelaide-Victory game as well. It’s been a promising start. Some good young players coming through which is always great for Australian football.
“It’s been promising and hopefully it continues.”
A Hall of Famer
Postecoglou is back home in Australia for the Sydney Super Cup, starting against Sydney FC on Thursday night before Sunday afternoon’s clash with Premier League visitors Everton at Accor Stadium.
The A-League Men Championship-winning manager’s homecoming has coincided with his induction into Football Australia’s Hall of Fame as the class of 2022.
Postecoglou won titles with his boyhood club South Melbourne before success with the Roar, Socceroos via the 2015 AFC Asian Cup and the league and couple double in his maiden campaign at Celtic.
“It’s nice,” Postecoglou said. “It feels a bit premature because hopefully the best is to come.
“But obviously great pride for me, my family, my parents, my dad, my wife, my kids, all my friends and people I grew up with because they are all part of the journey.
“It’s nice and recognition of all the work I’ve done but hopefully there’s more to come.”
Postecoglou’s impact not only in Australia, but in Glasgow can be seen far and wide.
His trademark sweater has become a hit among fans, including young Aussie supporter Ben – who dressed up as Postecoglou for ‘Book Week’ recently.
“It’s great,” Postecoglou said of his impact. “Being at such a massive football club and having success raised my profile but I never lose sight of the fact that there is a responsibility there to make sure you’re always giving back.
“I try to make myself as accessible to people because years ago that was me as a young kid following clubs from overseas, particularly Australians.”
Muscat’s success in Yokohama
Kevin Muscat followed in the footsteps of his friend and mentor – Postecoglou, becoming only the second Australian to be crowned the king of Japan after guiding Yokohama F.Marinos to glory.
Muscat – another A-Leagues great – joined an exclusive club as F.Marinos secured their second title in three seasons on the final day of the 2022 campaign.
An assistant to Postecoglou at Victory before taking the reins in 2013, Muscat also succeeded his mentor at F.Marinos last year.
After watching it all unfold, Postecoglou believes there is plenty more to come from Muscat.
“Obviously I’ve known Musky for a long time and he is a fantastic coach. I know he is going to continue to have a fantastic career, a great career,” Postecoglou said.
“I was proud on two levels. One for him because I know how hard he has worked to get the success and also he coached the club I was involved with – Yokohama, where I still have a lot of friends. A great club for me.
“So happy for him and everyone at the club. He has already had a very, very significant career and I know there’s more to come.”
Marinos’ title-sealing win away to Vissel Kobe was a particularly emotional day for Muscat and his highly rated assistant Shaun Ontong.
Ex-Adelaide United and Newcastle Jets defender Ontong, who was initially brought to Yokohama by Postecoglou, lost his father in the weeks prior to the J1 League triumph on November 5.
Muscat and Ontong shared a special embrace as the final whistle blew in Kobe.
“Shaun is another one who is a great young coach. I brought him across and I know he has been a great support for Kevin,” Postecoglou added.
“He works really hard, he is really passionate about the game and always wanting to learn.
“Super pleased for him, particularly with what happened recently with his father. I knew his dad. It’s obviously a tough time for him but great that after such a difficult time he can sort of take pride in what he has achieved.”
Cklamovski’s ‘unbelievable work’
Just like Postecoglou, Cklamovski has an unrelenting belief in his philosophy – an emphasis on a high-octane style of attacking football and it almost resulted in promotion from the J2 League in Japan.
Cklamovski had followed Postecoglou to Greece, back to Australia and to Japan, where he was Ange’s right-hand man as F.Marinos conquered the J1 League in 2019, ending a 15-year drought, having teamed up with the Socceroos to deliver an unprecedented Asian Cup crown four years earlier.
Previously known as Postecoglou’s number two, Cklamovski – who first started working with the Celtic manager as part of the Joeys setup heading into the 2005 World Cup – has been making waves on his own coaching journey via second-tier outfit Montedio Yamagata.
Continuing to punch above their weight, Montedio fell agonisingly short of the final round of the promotion play-off.
Montedio surrendered a half-time lead on the road at Roasso Kumamoto, falling to a 2-2 draw but were eliminated due to being the lower ranked team on the standings.
Rules stipulate that if the scores are level after ninety minutes in a J2 promotion play-off, the higher ranked team is awarded the win – which Roasso were given as a result of finishing two places higher.
Postecoglou, who had Cklamovski on his staff at Victory, said: “Pete’s been brilliant. He’s done an unbelievable job.
“People probably aren’t aware but the club he’s at is nowhere one of the biggest in J2 League. The fact he got them to the play-offs and they were a bit unlucky.
“He is a fantastic coach. So much knowledge and passion. I have no doubt he’ll continue on and he’ll have a fantastic career ahead of him. It won’t be long before he has success.”
