Ange Postecoglou has been sacked for the second time this year.
The Celtic hero, who spent two years in charge at Parkhead, lost his job at Tottenham despite a historic Europa League win in Bilbao.
Months later, he was given a two-year contract at Nottingham Forest, in an instant return to the Premier League.
He lasted just 39 days at the City Ground, before being sacked after a defeat to Chelsea on Saturday. He is already being touted for a return to Celtic.
Postecoglou will have received a healthy pay-off package after a job that lasted just over a month – but for one former Premier League manager, that doesn’t tell the whole story.
Alan Pardew on former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou
The exact sum that Postecoglou will be paid for his termination is not public. But with two years remaining on his contract, it will likely have been at least several million pounds, given the financial climate of the Premier League.
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Ange Postecoglou Head Coach of Nottingham Forest looks dejected during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Chelsea at City Ground
Photo by Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
However, this doesn’t tell the full story in terms of Postecoglou’s options – Alan Pardew has discussed that the termination agreements with managers typically prevent them from talking publicly about their sacking.
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For Pardew, this was potentially a reason why Postecoglou defended his Celtic spell in an incredible speech before the Chelsea defeat,
“It is a weird feeling. Firstly, you’re smarting, because I don’t think any manager feels that they deserve to [be sacked.]
“When I got sacked at Crystal Palace I thought it was incorrect, and when I got sacked at West Ham I thought it was incorrect as well. They were both paydays for me, in terms that my contract was terminated and I got my pay.
“But my reputation was damaged. So you’re split. Half of you says ‘that’s a nice cushion’, and the other half says ‘where does that leave me?’
“And this will be the problem for Ange. Because for the next two days, Notts Forest PR machine will kick in. We’ve seen a little bit of it today in the press, kicking him to death.
“And as a manager, you’ve got nowhere to go, because you’ve had to sign the contract to get your money, you can’t answer any of those questions. You can’t defend yourself.
“That’s why Ange got his defence in early, because he knew it was coming. And it bothers me about the LMA (League Managers’ Association), who are my union. They don’t defend managers well enough who get sacked.
“At least offer me to say more than just ‘thanks for my time there, thanks to the fans’… to say something a bit more defensive.”
What next for Ange Postecoglou?
Postecoglou has already been linked with a return to Celtic, but he will no doubt be a man in demand, despite his rapid sacking from Forest.
He was linked with Bayer Leverkusen and Fenerbahce prior to his move to Nottingham – clubs will be watching him closely over the coming months.
Brendan Rodgers has said that he is open to staying at Celtic under the right conditions, insisting that he has not closed the door on his time with the Hoops.
Whether either man will be in charge next season remains to be seen – until then, Celtic have plenty on their plate in the short term.