Revolution: Ange Postecoglou: The Man, the Methods and the Mastery

by John Greechan

Unknown in Scotland upon his arrival and unheralded in the English game, Ange Postecoglou revels in his status as an outside agitator. After transforming a Celtic team in turmoil into serial winners, sweeping up five trophies over the course of two spectacular seasons, his appointment by Tottenham Hotspur made him the first Australian manager to take charge of a Premier League club.

Revolution charts the dramatic story of Postecoglou’s instant impact on British football with Celtic and explores his life and times in the sport, through the eyes of those who know him best. Could a track record in Australian, Japanese and Scottish football transfer to the unique landscape of the English game? Would a man without a playing track record in Europe command the respect of a dressing room packed with international stars?

Examining the traits that set him apart from his playing peers and the coaching education that has prepared him for his biggest challenge, Revolution provides an insight into the making of a man and the unique football philosophy that has reinvigorated teams and transformed playing styles at a succession of clubs across the globe.

Genres: Sports, Football, Biography

224 pages, Paperback

Published December 5, 2023

Reviews

[Dave Gagnier · Rating 2 out of 5]

John Greechan's biography on Australia's most notable and successful football manager, rushed into publication in time to make a suitable Christmas gift for Spurs supporters, is the most relevant available book on Postecoglou - Ange's 2017 autobiography now out of print.

For anyone wanting a deep dive into the life and tactical approach of the man who this year became the first manager to win Premier League Manager of the Month for the first three months of his tenure, the results of the rushing are clear. At only 214 pages, Greenchan's first and only work listed on Amazon is limited in scope and depth - it's best moments being the result of quoting others in Postecoglou's working history or quoting the man himself.

Greechan in his own reportage has a flair for the hyperbolic as well as an overreliance on folksy dressing room platitudes. This paragraph gives you a good idea of the tone:

"Ange Postecoglou isn't taking some wild punt based on blind faith. He's meticulously planning a revolution. Identifying weak points in less resilient, more inflexible game models. And plotting a strategy for total victory. Armed with the sort of advanced intelligence that, if history is any judge, usually gives him a jump start on the crowd."

One imagines chat GPT being asked to introduce any football manager in 50 words or less with a secondary command to pepper the narrative with questionable syntax and one sporting cliche per independent clause.

The book's best moments are when Greechan concedes the narrative to former colleagues of Postecoglou's who offer some insight into specific tactical approaches that have evolved through Ange's time in the Australian youth and professional systems, to Japan, to the Scottish Premier League and now to North London.

But these moments are few. I was glad to have a clearer context on Postecoglou's journey (I hadn't heard about his brutal 2006 interview with Craig Foster on the manager's failure to lead his Australian side to the under 20s World Cup finals), but for anything consistently substantive, I'll hope for an updated memoir from Big Ange, himself.

[Julian Sin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good the best manager in football history Ange has gotten the Totem Hotspurs to a higher table ranking then before this book shows his history of the other clubs he has coached. Over all a good book

[Olubunmi Adewumi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an inspirational journey. Ange is a rare gem. Football is blessed to have this amazing man with a unique area of gifting.

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book will help anyone “get” Big Ange, and in that regard I wish I’d read it whilst he was still Tottenham manager and been more vocal in retaining him for a third season.

As a book in itself though? It’s an absolute mess. Lack any type of chronology and packed full of cliche and repetition - I find it very hard to believe that Greechan writes for a living. Many of my Yr7 students have more talent!

[Larkin Tackett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ange Postecoglou coaches our Tottenham Hotspur and this is an unofficial biography. From his earliest days a Greek immigrant in Melbourne, Australia to his success as Celtic manager in Scotland, the ups and downs of playing, and coaching semi-pro and youth teams in between, this book gives a good sense of his journey at each phase. Ange's vision is clear and this book helps the reader understand much more about the man and his managerial ways. The writing reads more like a long opinion piece rather than objective history. Here are a few of the most memorable anecdotes:

- He wasn't raised to shirk from a challenge just because it might cause a bit of discomfort.
- 'I still pretend my father is in the grandstand.' he admitted, to an online gathering of coaches and analysts.... 'Would he be enjoying watching this team?'
- 'And it simplifies everything. If there is real clarity around what we want to do, then if you're suggesting something to me, if that doesn't fit into the way we want o play our game, I won't use it. I look for people who are brave and willing to go into the unknown, be willing to challenge themselves. I want people who don't see it as a job. It's not a job. If you're passionate and generally inquisitive, the knowledge will be there. If I see someone who is a little bit conservative and is happy just to have a job in football, that not how I want to work. If you're not bold i your approach and you're not brave in these areas, you're not going to fit in with the programme I've set up.'
- Players also know that he is deeply invested in their success as individuals. They just don't expect him to show it all that often.
- 'Everything remarkable that has ever been achieved in this world has begun with people not believing it can be done.'

[Kevin Pereira · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Spurs fan, this was a great read to learn more about Ange, his background and his philosophy. I believe these are exciting times with Ange in charge and reading this book showed how driven, focused and risk taking he is. Rather than our previous managers, I love the fact Ange has so much belief in his one way of playing and I think this will give confidence to the squad as well. Here's to hoping Ange is the one who helps end our trophy drought, COYS.

[Tim · Rating 1 out of 5]

As an Australian who's read a lot of sport books, I just found the way this book is written incredibly dull and the author's understanding of Australian politics and identity extremely shallow. Full disclaimer: I didn't read the whole book, but I can learn more in a more efficient and enjoyable way by reading Ange's Wikipedia page. I'll be returning this one to the library tomorrow.

[Josh Doel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing insight into the life and work of Ange Postecoglu from someone who has spent a lot of time speaking to those closest to him.

I’ve listened to many podcasts now which John (the author) speaks about the subject and the book is such a great representation of his knowledge.

Fascinating insight and really enjoyable read

[Collin · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Forest fan, I wanted to know what we were getting ourselves into. The book ends with Ange's appointment to Tottenham Hotspurs, but it's clear how his cycles run. This is a real rags-to-riches immigrant story of a committed, passionate, single-minded underdog. Repetitive at times, simply written, but filled with quotes from friends and colleagues. I think I'm all aboard the Ange Train!

[Joel Betts · Rating 4 out of 5]

New Spurs coach means I have to read. Interesting story of how he made it to Tottenham. Writing got a little trite at times.

[Jimmy Quintana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top man!

What a top man!
Legend that offers insight into the road less traveled and true adversity. Overcame all doubters and stuck to his principles

[Cameron Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Ange Postecoglou!

[JKRT · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read when Ange took over at Tottenham and really enjoyed learning about his personal history, an inspiring story

[Jamie Carrigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In terms of the general overview of Ange's career, the author does a good job summarizing the main parts and some of the main games. However, in terms of actual insight into Ange and how he operates this book really lacked compared to his earlier autobiography changing the game. Besides even taking multiple quotes from it, I feel like this book was almost a follow up or assumed the readers would have read it or have a good insight into Ange already. I really enjoyed the chapter about his time managing in Japan for the Marinos and felt like his experience at Celtic could have been spoken more about. As a Spurs fan we are craving as much information about Ange Postecoglou as possible and I feel like this novel just tried to capitalize on that. Super short and easy read as well. I would have rated it a 2 if it wasn't about Big Ange.

[Karl Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Right. A sprint through John Greechan’s (second) biography of Ange Postecoglou Revolution: The Man, the Methods, the Mastery, prompted by my boy-ish love of Tottenham Hotspur and their enjoying of an uncharacteristically healthy start to the 23-24 campaign. The book revealed in a rather uncomplicated and occasionally disjointed fashion, this particular Greek-turned-Aussie’s impressive ability to get teams playing positive, resilient football on three separate continents. He clearly has ‘a way’ – which was mostly explored by Greecham; but I’m not sure I knew much more about ‘Ange’ by the end of the book – possibly a failing of the narrative. Anyhow, Spurs are great.