Yokohama FC Marinos fans will long be singing the praises of their Aussie coach Ange Postecoglou after his team wrapped up and delivered the J –League title in style with a 3-0 win over title challenger FC Tokyo before a record J-League crowd of 63,854 at the Nissan stadium last Saturday.
The title win means Postecoglou is the first Australian coach to win a major league title overseas in what is regarded by many as the best domestic league in Asia. It adds to his reputation as a bold, adventurous coach determined to build teams which win titles in style.
On a personal note, Postecoglou expressed what this latest achievement meant for him when speaking publicly the day after the title win. He paid a moving tribute to the influence of his father (who passed away last year),on his career and the support and sacrifices made by his family which had made it all possible.
Speaking on the ABC’s Offsiders program, Postecoglou said, “When people ask me, ‘Where do you get your inspiration and where do you get all these ideas and values?’- I’ve just got my dad’s voice in my head. It was tough last year losing him. It was the toughest thing I ever had to face in my life. And you know, the club wasn’t going well. As you do, you just get on with it and you coach. But I probably didn’t even mourn his loss too well and it’s still something I deal with. Because, to be honest, my whole football career was entwined with my father. That’s the only reason I fell in love with this game, because I wanted to get close to my dad. And sort of, when he passed, you go, why am I doing this now, because his was the approval I always wanted. In the end I figured out that I now build teams and make teams play the way that he would’ve enjoy to watch if he’s in the grandstand. And if I’m doing that, then the sacrifices he made and path he sent me on is all worth it.”
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The coach said that winning the title was also a reward for his family’s support and sacrifices in going on this journey with him. In particular, he paid tribute to his wife Georgia’s support especially during times when people may have doubted him. “People say I have a real strong self-belief and belief in what I do. That comes from my family, especially my wife. Through those moments when everyone’s doubting you and If I go home and I’m a little bit besieged, she’s the one that’ll tell me ‘ you’ve done all this before. This is what you do.’ My wife’s right behind me. She understands what my passion is, what drives me and yesterday is the reward for their sacrifices.”
Since winning the title, and adding considerably to his coaching stocks, there has been increased speculation surrounding his immediate coaching future despite agreeing some weeks back to a contract extension at Yokohama for another season.
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When questioned about his future coaching ambitions, Postecoglou replied, ” What I want to do next, I just don’t know. Because, I started coaching 20 years ago and if you had told me I would’ve had the sort of career I’ve had so far, it’s far exceeded any dream or aspiration I had when I first started. I wanted to win a championship with South Melbourne. I did that in my second year. It’s taken me all over the world, and what’s next? Obviously I’m here at Yokohama for another year and there’s still things I want to do here. I just know that whatever I do from now on, as I’ve done in the past, I’ll do in the same way and I’ll try and do something that goes beyond success. There’s a champion every year, but I want the year that we’re champions to be a memorable one because of the way we’ve done it. And that’s what I’ll continue to do.”