Ange Postecoglou has insisted he does not feel the need to convince anyone as he begins his tenure as Nottingham Forest manager. He was named as Nuno Espirito Santo’s successor on Tuesday, a day after the Portuguese coach was dismissed following nearly two years in charge.
The Australian coach returns to the dugout just three months after being removed by Tottenham, who endured a poor league campaign under him and ended up in 17th place.
Despite their league struggles, he delivered Spurs’ first major silverware since 2008 by guiding them to the Europa League title in May.
Philosophy stays the same
Postecoglou had initially been praised for bringing a bold attacking approach at Spurs but faced criticism as the defeats mounted, with his team losing 22 of 38 league matches last season.
Asked whether he is driven by the urge to silence critics, he said he does not view his job that way and has no desire to prove doubters wrong.
He stated that his focus is on building teams that attack, entertain, and excite the crowd, adding that he will not apologize for his style. With a smile, he said he will soon discover “who the true Ange believers” are as he switches from Spurs to Forest. His first match at the helm will come on Saturday when Forest travels to face Arsenal.
Aiming to bring success
Tottenham endured their worst-ever Premier League season under Postecoglou, but their Europa League final triumph over Manchester United confirmed his reputation for winning silverware in his second campaign at a club. He previously claimed second-season success with South Melbourne, Brisbane Roar, Yokohama F Marinos, and also collected trophies in both of his years at Celtic.
Speaking at his first press conference as Forest boss, he noted that he has also captured honors in his debut seasons, citing the double he achieved in his first year at Celtic. Jokingly, he remarked that he might need to secure a trophy immediately to ensure he remains beyond this season.
He said that although he did not anticipate leaving Spurs after delivering a trophy, he must have done something right, as he now gets warm receptions from Tottenham supporters. Postecoglou added that he takes pride in creating lasting impacts, saying he hopes every club he has worked at would welcome him back for leaving a meaningful legacy.
