Treble-winning Celtic boss puts the record straight on manager Rangers nearly appointed as doubters slammed
Rangers almost appointed the boss in 2023 after Michael Beale’s sacking.
Ange Postecoglou has told Rangers hero Kevin Muscat his time will come after he missed out on the Ibrox gig last year.
After Michael Beale’s sacking last season, it came down to the former Treble winner and Philippe Clement for the manager’s chair. Clement won the race and Muscat moved on from Yokohama F. Marinos and has now led Shanghai Port to a domestic crown in his first season in China.
Tottenham boss and former Celtic man Postecoglou can see the former Rangers man succeeding in Europe when his time comes. He told ESPN of his fellow Australian: "I've got no doubt [Muscat would be a success in Europe]. With a lot of things, it's about what experience teaches you.
“Musky probably understands that better now: that it's not just about taking that opportunity. You've got to make sure it's the right one for [you].
"I think he's got enough runs on the board now where he can be fairly selective about what he does next and I think that's the most important thing. I've got no doubt if and when he gets over across the Europe, he'll be successful.
"People are very dismissive of success that doesn't occur in their own backyard, particularly here in Europe. They're very Eurocentric. But winning a title in Asia is just as difficult as winning a title in Holland, in Belgium, or anywhere else. And he's got a track record of success now in three countries. No doubt that can transfer here.
"I think every experience, whether it's positive or negative, you learn, and certainly Musky, he's very much like that. From the moment I started working with him --I've known him for a long time, I coached him when he was 17 [at South Melbourne] -- but it was when we started working together at Victory, you just saw that he's got a real passion for learning and improving.
"I had no doubt that when I left Victory that he was going to be an outstanding coach for Victory but I also knew that he was going to have an outstanding career because he was never going to rest on what he knew. He's constantly pushing himself. And I think every experience he's had, whether it's positive or negative, he's improved.
"We stay in pretty regular contact. He's been brilliant, he's done an outstanding job. He's really challenged himself. It would have been very easy for him to stay in Japan. I know he probably would have some fantastic opportunities to stay there, but the nature of the person he is, he wanted to challenge himself again.
“And he's gone to China. [China's] not easy, it's not an easy League, it's a very competitive league. And for him to win another trophy [is outstanding] and he's still got the Cup final as well."