The life of Ange Postecoglou was told by the ABC’s Australian Story program this week, which followed a narrative from his time as a migrant child to that of successful Socceroos coach.
Postecoglou, famous for his hardline coaching tactics, arrived to Melbourne as a very young boy, born in Athens, with his parents who didn’t have much, and found solace in a vibrant Greek community spurred on by the South Melbourne Football Club.
“On a Sunday there were two places of worship for anyone of Greek origin. In the morning you’d go to church and in the afternoon you’d go to the football,” Postecoglou said.
His family arrived in Australia in 1970 after his father lost his business following the Greek Military Junta that led to seven years of dictatorship in the country.
And it was his affiliation with South Melbourne that would create the path for him to becoming a successful national coach.
Under Postecoglou South Melbourne played against the likes of Manchester United and 2000 FIFA Club World Championship runner-up Vasco da Gama – at that tournament – facing the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson.
But it wasn’t a challenge he or his side would disgrace themselves at.

A five-year-old Ange Postecoglou on his arrival to Australia holding his immigration number

“I stared down the beast. After that I had nothing to fear,” Postecoglou said.
His stint at South Melbourne led to his appointment as national youth team coach, but an unsuccessful spell saw him get sacked, which led him back to Greece where he would coach Patras club Panachaiki FC, with the support of wife Georgia, before returning to Australia to take up a role with A-League club Brisbane Roar, leading it to two championships.

“The Brisbane Roar under Ange is the best Australian club team I’ve ever seen,” said legendary football icon and former SBS commentator Les Murray.
Postecoglou’s emphasis on attacking, possession-based play was the catalyst to his success as a coach, which came to fruition with this year’s Asian Cup triumph.
And now Ange Postecoglou has set the bar even higher.
“I’d like to win the World Cup. I think most people will see that as a crazy statement right now but I’ve got three years to go for it, you never know,” he told the program.