The former Socceroos boss is on the verge of a historic J1 League title win, after Yokohama F Marinos’ 4-1 mauling of Kawasaki Frontale, while second-place FC Tokyo slipped up against Urawa Red Diamonds.
Marinos must merely avoid a 4-0 or heavier home loss to FC Tokyo next week to claim their first domestic title since 2004, and just 12 months after narrowly avoiding relegation.
This will surely equate to the greatest achievement in Postecoglou’s illustrious coaching career, which includes successive domestic titles with South Melbourne and Brisbane Roar.
Just like he transformed the A-League installing a swashbuckling style at Brisbane, his risky, uber attacking ways has sent conservative Japan into a tizz.
While Postecoglou is rated highly by the Japan Football Association (JFA), who’ve sent dozens of coaches to observe Marinos training sessions in the past 18 months, he has bigger fish to fry.
He is ready to become Australia’s European coaching trailblazer. Postecoglou has been on the radar of Championship clubs, but his stocks are such that he is ready to coach in the Premier League or one of Europe’s Big 5 leagues – England, Italy, Germany, Spain and France.
Postecoglou would not look out of place Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium dugout, following in the footsteps of Arsene Wenger, famously dubbed “Arsene Who?” when the Gunners signed him from Nagoya Grampus in 1996.
Stereotypes surrounding non-European – particularly Aussie – coaches mean a smaller Premier League club is more realistic, such as Everton and Watford, who could soon be searching for new managers.
