Australian coach Ange Postecoglou admits his move to Celtic was initially "mind-blowing” after finally earning another chance to work in Europe.
The former Socceroos manager was most recently in charge of Japanese club Yokohama F.Marinos where he won the J-League title in 2019.
Postecoglou concedes 2021 was always going to be his final year with the side as he harboured hopes of returning to Europe after a brief coaching job in Greece over a decade ago.
The 56-year-old never expected a club the size of Celtic would come calling so soon though and is thankful the stars aligned at the right time.
"It was a real weird time because it did happen pretty quickly. I made no secret of the fact that the ultimate destination was to get to Europe,” Postecoglou told SEN’s Whateley.
"After three-and-a-half years in Japan there were a few missed opportunities and a part of me thought, well, maybe it isn’t going to happen or happen in the time frame I was thinking.
"I was getting to the end of the year, this year was probably going to be my last in Japan, we made a decision as a family that it was time to move on and see what other opportunities may be out there for us.
"But literally one day to the next had a phone call, talked to a few people in the club (Celtic) and within sort of 24 hours they made the decision to offer the position. Then it seemed to drag because it took about two weeks to sort everything out and that was the most excruciating period because once the decision was made I just wanted to get on a plane and get over there.
"My whole career has seemed to go that way...timing and circumstances seem to present themselves where my career takes a turn like that.
"My thinking was the move across to Europe may have been a lower-level club or league and then work my way up but to get the opportunity to do it at such a famous club and get that first opportunity, it was mind-blowing in terms of the context of everything I thought about when I started the journey.”
💬"It’s great to be recognised in this way as the Glen’s Premiership Manager of the Month but I’d like to thank the players, coaches and backroom staff for all of their efforts because, whatever we achieve we do it together." - Ange Postecoglou🤝🍀#COYBIG | #cinchPrem pic.twitter.com/mMv0RJhbJy
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) November 10, 2021
After a turbulent start with the Hoops, Postecoglou has quickly left his mark on the team and picked up the Scottish Premiership’s manager of the month award for October.
That form and his history recently saw Postecoglou backed for a move to a Premier League club, but the man himself is focused on the present with a Scottish League Cup semi-final awaiting Celtic after the international break.
After previously struggling to secure opportunities because of his nationality, the Aussie is determined to make the most of the chance he has right now.
"I'm pretty good at not looking too far ahead and realise that if I don’t do this well, there’s no point thinking about the future,” Postecoglou said.
"This is where I’ve always wanted to be. I’ve always believed I can coach at the highest level. I back myself against anybody.
"The biggest obstacle I’ve had was my passport and the fact that I was in this game as an Australian was more of an impediment than an advantage.
"Being here now, I’m not going to let that slip. I’m determined to make the most of it.”