Ange Postecoglou will return home for the first time in “almost three years” as Celtic announced they would partake in a four-team tournament in November in Australia.
The Hoops will make use of a five-week break in Scottish domestic football later in the year due to the Qatar World Cup being held in November, as Postecoglou looks to keep his side fit and firing before the second half of the Scottish Premiership begins in December.
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Celtic’s fanbase in Australia has only grown with each victory since Postecoglou has taken over at the club, and the former Socceroos boss is delighted about having the chance to take the team to his home.
“I haven’t been home for almost three years by the time this comes around so I’m super-excited,” Postecoglou told Celtic’s official website.
“The club’s obviously been down there a couple of times before and I know just how passionate Celtic fans are about the football club, so we’re looking forward to it.”
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Postecoglou remarked at the close links between the club and Australia, with a number of star Aussies donning the famous green and white hoops of the Glasgow outfit.
“It is a homecoming in many respects,” Postecoglou said.
“That’s where my roots are, that’s where I grew up and I know that since I’ve been in this position at Celtic, people have been following my journey, whether they know me or not, and I’ll have a great sense of pride going back to Australia as manager of Celtic.
“It will be special.
“The club’s always had a strong connection with Australia, and I know how passionate the supporters’ groups are down there and how they follow the club, whether that’s been with Tommy Rogic or Scotty McDonald, or Jackson Irvine – people who have passed through the club — and now I am manager of the club.
“And I think the Australian public in general will take great pride that one of theirs is in charge of such a famous club.”
The 56-year-old also believes it’s “enormously important” to give something back to Celtic fans living in Australia with their feverish support often occurring during the early hours of the morning, as he hopes they will provide a special atmosphere at the games.
“It’s enormously important because I don’t take for granted the distance between here and back home, and you need to understand that, for people to be passionate about a football club that’s halfway around the world — most of them are watching our games in the middle of the night,” Postecoglou said.
“So for them to be able to share it with other people that they follow this club with and watch the team live will be a special moment for them.
“And it will create, I think, a unique atmosphere which only a Celtic crowd can provide.
“So for Australian sporting followers, they’ll realise it’s something special.”
While the other three teams competing in the mini-tournament are yet to be announced, it has become apparent that one team competing will be Celtic’s arch rivals, Rangers.
Former football journalist Ray Gatt confirmed an unverified report claiming that Rangers would be playing Celtic, tweeting: “Can confirm this is happening. Huge! Ange back in Australia and one of the biggest rivalries in world sport!”
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the Old Firm clash between the two famous clubs will take place at Sydney’s Accor Stadium, more commonly known as Stadium Australia out at Homebush.
It would be the first time the two teams have played one another on foreign soil.
The same report also claims that the remaining two teams in the tournament will be made up of the A-League’s Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers, who are also heated rivals.