Wednesday, 23 October 2013 5:43 PM
South Melbourne FC is excited at the news that one of its favourite sons in Ange Postecoglou has been confirmed as the next Socceroo Head Coach.
Postecoglou had a distinguished and outstanding career with South Melbourne FC. In his playing days Postecoglou was at the Club for 10 seasons, playing 193 National Soccer League matches and scoring 19 League goals. He was a key member in the Club’s first NSL Championship in 1984 and captained the Clubs’ second NSL Championship side in the famous Grand Final win against the Melbourne Knights in 1991. One of the most recognised images of the Club’s 54 year history is that of Postecoglou and world football icon Ferenc Puskás (then the South coach) holding the Cup aloft in front of 23,318 fans after that dramatic penalty shootout win at Olympic Park on Sunday 5 May 1991.
At the completion of his playing career, Postecoglou continued at the Club as Assistant Coach, working under the former Socceroo coach (then South Melbourne Head Coach) Frank Arok. When Arok departed the Club in April 1996, Postecoglou was promoted to Head Coach and oversaw one of the most successful eras in South Melbourne’s history. His teams won back-to-back NSL Championships in 1998 and 1999, with the 1999 Championship qualifying the Club for the Oceania Confederation Club Championship later that year. In Fiji, South Melbourne swept all before them and was crowned Oceania Confederation Club Champion. In January 2000, South Melbourne represented the Oceania Confederation in the FIFA World Club Championship in Brazil, taking on the might of Manchester United, Necaxa and Vasco Da Gama and performing admirably in all three matches.
Overall, Postecoglou was heavily involved in all four of South’s Australian Championships and also coached South on the world stage in Brazil in 2000. He coached South in 127 National League matches, winning 68, drawing 27 and losing 32 for a winning percentage of 54per cent.
South Melbourne FC wishes Ange Postecoglou the best of luck as he leads the Socceroos into the World Cup in Brazil next year.