IT’S almost exactly a year since former Rangers boss Michael Beale branded then Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou a ‘lucky man,’ sparking a long running to-and-fro over the term.
12 months on, it’s happened AGAIN.
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It was in January 2023 when Beale claimed Postecoglou was “lucky” he was able to spend big money on new signings.
The comment appeared to irk the Hoops boss as it cropped up a few more times between then and the end of the season.
In the wake of Celtic’s 1-0 Scottish Cup win over Rangers in April, Postecoglou insisted his success had nothing to do with luck.
He said: “It didn’t annoy me, it doesn’t motivate me.
“But I think people use that kind of language deliberately, and I would never use it about somebody in my position.
“I’m not sure which bit is ‘lucky’. Michael at the time was referring to the fact I had money to spend.”
“But you know what, I didn’t get to this position out of luck. I’ve worked 25 years of coaching to be entrusted at a club like this.
“This isn’t my first job. If it was my first job maybe I’d be lucky, but it’s not — it’s 25 years of hard work.”
And Postecoglou took ANOTHER cheeky swipe at Beale on the day the Hoops lifted the Scottish Premiership trophy a few weeks later, telling the crowd “champions again, because I am a lucky man.”
The Old Firm landscape has changed significantly since then.
Postecoglou moved on to Tottenham in June while Beale was dismissed as Gers boss in October, recently returning to management at Sunderland.
But it’s happened AGAIN.
Postecoglou has been branded “lucky” during a news conference and it’s fair to say the Spurs boss was less than impressed.
Spurs are in FA Cup action tonight in the third around against Burnley and conversation turned to winning silverware.
Postecoglou, 57, won five major trophies with Celtic, as well as winning the title in Australia and leading the Australian national team to the Asian Cup in 2015.
But that didn’t stop one reporter asking him if he could “picture himself winning trophies.”
Unimpressed Postecoglou replied: “I’ve got real pictures, mate. There’s quite a few of them, mate.”
When the reporter began to ask “do you picture” a second time, Postecoglou interrupted: “No, I just look at the ones I’ve got, mate.”
That wasn’t the end of the matter, as the reporter – probably unaware of the significance of the ‘lucky’ reference – followed up by saying to Postecoglou: “You’re lucky to do that.”
The ex-Celtic boss quickly fired back again, replying: “No, I’ve earned them. I’m not lucky.”
Tottenham begin their FA Cup campaign as they look to end a 16-year wait for silverware.
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They last won this competition back in 1991.
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