Former Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou has responded to recent reports suggesting he's on the cusp of becoming Scottish giants Celtic's next manager.
The Australian is currently in charge of Japanese side Yokohama F.Marinos, who he guided to a 2-1 win in the J-League on Sunday, with suggestions that could have been his final game in charge of the club.
Postecoglou has reportedly agreed to a deal with Celtic but Marinos are waiting to green-light his release until they secure a suitable replacement.
Despite all signs pointing to an imminent move to Scotland, the 55-year-old refused to confirm Celtic's interest and stressed he remains committed to his club in Japan.
"Everyone knows me, knows that my focus is always on what’s in front of me," Postecoglou said post-match on Sunday via The Japan Times.
"I’ve understood there’s some speculation around the future, but I’ve stopped thinking about the what-ifs in the world a long time ago.
"My focus the last couple of days has been on making sure we play well today.
"My focus is here.This is the job I’ve got, and I’ve always done that my whole career. I’m just focused on the job I have and making sure I do it well - or else other people will decide my future.”
After beating Shimizu S-Pulse 2-1 on Sunday to move up to third in the J-League, Marinos now don't return to action until June 6 and there's a strong chance they'll do so without Postecoglou at the helm.
Fans of the Japanese club paid tribute to their boss over the weekend with banners expressing their continued support of the manager.
Celtic's interest in the Australian came after a move for former Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe collapsed with Hoops fans voicing their doubts about the club's choice of replacement.
Former Socceroos were however quick to defend Postecoglou and backed him to succeed if given the chance to take charge at Celtic.
The Scottish side had a disastrous 2020-21 by their high standards, finishing second in the Scottish Premiership behind fierce rivals Rangers and failing to win a single piece of silverware.
Postecoglou's sole coaching experience in Europe to date came in 2008 when he took charge of Greek third-division club Panachaiki for several months.
The Aussie has however established himself as one of Asia's best coaches, winning three A-League titles, the J-League crown and the 2015 Asian Cup with the Socceroos.