Author(s): Vince Rugari

Biography | 2024 September New Releases

"In the ever-evolving landscape of Australian football, few figures loom as large as Ange Postecoglou. In this authorised biography, Australia's foremost football journalist Vince Rugari charts the rise of this maverick mastermind and examines his complicated relationship with the game Down Under. Emigrating from Greece aged five, Postecoglou cut his teeth as player then coach at his beloved South Melbourne Hellas in the rough and tumble National Soccer League. Fast-forward to 2012, having guiding Brisbane Roar to back-to-back titles in the A-League and a record 36-game undefeated streak, he emerged as the architect of a new era in Australian football. Appointed head coach of the Socceroos in 2013, Postecoglou soon became a household name, implementing a bold, possession-based style of play that captured the imagination of fans across the country. His four-year tenure challenged Australians to forgo the comfort of the underdog tag in football and rethink what it means to be brave in the sporting arena. After securing qualification for the 2018 World Cup, he sensationally walked away from the job. This wasn't the last of Postecoglou, however. He ventured internationally, first to Japan and then to the hallowed Premier League where he became the most exciting prospect in British football - first at Celtic and now Tottenham Hotspur. Throughout his career, journalist Vince Rugari has been consistently pitch-side. In Angeball he has recorded Postecoglou's extraordinary and enduring legacy as a visionary coach, leader and advocate for outside-the-box thinking in all facets of life."