Ange Postecoglou is poised to pull off the biggest coaching move seen in Australian sport when he seals his impending move to Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur.

The Celtic boss has reportedly agreed to a two-year deal at Spurs, with an option for a third.

He would become the first Australian to be a head coach in the top tier of English men’s football, the world’s most high-profile sporting league.

Postecoglou reportedly told Celtic’s principal shareholder Dermot Desmond on Saturday night of his decision to leave the Glasgow club, fresh off a 3-1 Scottish Cup final win over Inverness that clinched a domestic treble.

He has claimed five out of a possible six domestic trophies during his time in Scotland.

“I anticipate enjoying this moment for the next 24-48 hours, as long as I can, before someone drags me away and takes my attention away from enjoying something that’s been hard-earned,” the former Socceroos coach said when pressed on his future.

Postecoglou has consistently taken clubs from the doldrums to the top during his managerial career.

Unstable Spurs will hope the 57-year-old, who would be their fourth permanent manager since they sacked Mauricio Pochettino in 2019, can repeat his feats at the highest level.

Tottenham have been hunting for a permanent replacement for Antonio Conte since sacking the Italian in March, with Cristian Stellini and then Ryan Mason taking the reins temporarily.

Spurs, who pride themselves on playing attacking football, have resorted to some turgid, defensive play under Conte and Jose Mourinho in recent years.

That is unlikely to be a concern under Postecoglou, who prides himself on an expansive, attractive game.

Postecoglou’s tenures can come with teething issues as he beds down his fiercely aggressive and attacking style and identifies the players capable of – and invested in – buying in.

How much patience, and budget, notoriously fickle Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will afford the Melburnian has yet to be seen – though incoming chief football officer and former Melbourne City chief executive Scott Munn shapes as an ally.

A squad clear out is expected, while star striker Harry Kane has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid.

Postecoglou could also have to juggle his first Premier League season alongside either a Europa League or Conference League campaign.

He started his coaching career when he led South Melbourne to two National Soccer League championships as manager in his early 30s and then spent seven years leading Australia’s national youth teams.

After a stint in the football wilderness, Postecoglou took the helm at Brisbane Roar and turned a battling club into the ‘Roarcelona’ team that revolutionised Australian club football.

That included back-to-back grand final victories in 2011 and 2012 and a record 36-game unbeaten run, before agreeing to join Melbourne Victory in April 2012.

He left Victory to lead the Socceroos at the 2014 World Cup, before claiming the Asian Cup on home soil the following January.

Postecoglou steered Australia to 2018 World Cup qualification before dramatically quitting before the tournament.

He then took charge of Yokohama F. Marinos, guiding them to their first J1 League title in 15 years in 2019 before moving to Celtic in 2021.

Source: AAP