Former Socceroos[1] boss Ange Postecoglou[2] has been spotted in incredible interactions with Nottingham Forest[3] fans just hours after his shock sacking.
The club fired manager Ange Postecoglou after a 3-0 home defeat by Chelsea[4], just 39 days after the Australian took over.
Postecoglou didn’t win any of his eight matches in charge after replacing Nuno Espirito Santo[5] on September 9 and owner Evangelos Marinakis made a ruthless call after Forest’s fourth straight loss in all competitions.
Marinakis left his seat midway through Saturday’s match at the City Ground and an announcement on Postecoglou’s future was confirmed just 19 minutes after full-time.
While the shock decision could have impacted the Aussie coach in all sorts of negative ways, he instead showed plenty of grace.
Postecoglou stayed at City Ground long after the match was lost to farewell Forest supporters.
Australian coach Ange Postecoglou took the time to grab selfies with young fans hours after being sacked by Nottingham Forest
Postecoglou did not seem bitter or upset and was happy to take the time with the club’s youngest fans
He then drove his own car out of the stadium, and was spotted on at least two occasions pulling over to interact with young Forest fans.
‘Yeh, given what he must have been feeling, that’s a seriously decent thing to do. What a photo,’ one supporter posted.
‘To be fair that was class from Ange,’ another said.
‘Ange is a one off. In a football world where fear of failure and criticism kills ambition and individuality he does things his way with no regard for how it’s perceived,’ added another.
The sudden exit from Forest and previous sacking from Tottenham mean Postecoglou’s immediate future is in limbo.[6]
It comes after Nottingham Forest sacked previous manager Nuno Espirito Santo after just 21 months in charge, with former Socceroo and SBS analyst Craig Foster slamming the decision to cut the Aussie so soon.
‘Ridiculous decision making,’ he said.
‘A coach that excelled last season, Nuno, sacked after 3 games.
Postecoglou was sacked after just eight games in charge at his second Premier League club
Former Socceroo and media personality Craig Foster slammed the decision to sack Postecoglou
Former Socceroo Mark Bosnich hopes that Postecoglou will find another gig and success somewhere in Europe
‘A proven team builder with success in Europe appointed to change the football, then surprise when everything does not successfully change in just one month? Crazy stuff. Now it’s back to square one.’
Another former Socceroo and media personality Mark Bosnich said he was not shocked by the sacking.
‘If he lost heavily yes I did expect this,’ he said on SEN 1116.
‘The team Ange inherited is the antithesis of the style he plays and he didn’t have the luxury of time or a transfer window.
‘You have to look at who is boss is. A very successful businessman. Ange was his eighth manager in eight years at Forest. We know from that and the way he runs clubs, he doesn’t mess around.
‘Marinakis [owner Evangelos Marinakis] didn’t have too much pride to say ‘enough is enough’.
‘It’s not good news obviously and the thing now for Ange is where to next?’
Bosnich doesn’t think there will be another Premier League opportunity for Postecoglou, but has backed him to bounce back somewhere in Europe.
‘It’s not a good record,’ Bosnich continued.
‘Maybe it’s time to sit back and have a look at where things are going.
‘Right now, the EPL is not the place for him. I expected him to have a sabbatical after Spurs and maybe make a return in January.
‘I think he takes a break now and then looks for opportunities in January or the start of next season.
‘Other options will arise around Europe. The fact he won the Europa League will always count in his favour.’
References
- ^ Socceroos (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Ange Postecoglou (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Nottingham Forest (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Chelsea (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Nuno Espirito Santo (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ mean Postecoglou’s immediate future is in limbo. (www.dailymail.co.uk)