Former Celtic forward Chris Sutton has revealed that he would welcome a return for Ange Postecoglou should Brendan Rodgers depart the club at the end of the season…
Nottingham Forest coach Ange Postecoglou
Nottingham Forest coach Ange Postecoglou during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Chelsea at City Ground on October 18, 2025. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
The Sky Sports pundit feels that the Australian coach still holds immense admiration from fans, having revitalised the club during his tenure at Celtic.
Sutton’s remarks arrive as questions mount over Rodgers’ future, with his contract set to run out at the end of the season.
Brendan Rodgers
Brendan Rodgers. Dundee v Celtic. 19 October 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
Although the Irishman has indicated a willingness to remain at the club if he is offered a new contract by the board, ongoing poor form and friction between supporters and the hierarchy have heightened the uncertainty.
Brendan Rodgers has seen his squad asset-stripped by the Celtic Board
Crucially Rodgers talked of the club showing the necessary ambition as a factor in him staying beyond the end of the season and truth be told the entire opposite has happened as the board instead proceeded to asset strip his squad. Rodgers made it clear he had no intention of remaining as a maintenance manager and the board instead turned him into a crisis management boss looking to salvage a season that has started so badly.
Ange Postecolgou
Ange Postecolgou looks at the Scottish Cup in June 2023 ahead of competing the treble then his departure to join Tottenham. Photo Vagelis Georgariou
Given his achievements at Celtic and huge fan backing, Postecoglou’s name has naturally come back into conversation given he has been harshly sacked by Nottingham Forest after just 39 days in charge.
“He’s respected at Celtic, the job he did. Brilliant, Angeball, what a brand of football”
Speaking via BBC 5 Live, Sutton said:“It could happen [Ange back to Celtic], I mean, would I like to see him back? Yeah, eventually, why not? I really enjoyed Angeball. Well, I think Brendan will leave at the end of the season – if Postecoglou just slots in next season, I would love to see Big Ange back.”
Sutton added: “He’s respected at Celtic, the job he did. Brilliant, Angeball, what a brand of football.“
Ange Postecoglou
Ange Postecoglou, Manager of Celtic lifts the Scottish Cup trophy after the team’s victory during the Scottish Cup Final between Celtic and Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Hampden Park on June 03, 2023 (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
Sutton’s observations highlight the enduring admiration Celtic fans have for Postecoglou, who’s dynamic, attacking approach and leadership during a time of turbulence at the club following the disastrous COVID season, made a significant impact at Celtic Park.
Big Ange delivered five domestic trophies in two seasons, thrilling football, and a sense of cohesion that supporters have felt lacking certainly since Brendan Rodgers returned.
Ange Postecoglou embraces former Celtic manager Martin O Neill
Celtic Manager Ange Postecoglou embraces former Celtic manager Martin O Neill after Celtic were presented with the Cinch Scottish Premiership trophy on the final day of the season. Celtic v Motherwell, Cinch Scottish Premiership, 14 May 2022 . Photo by Stuart Walllace Shutterstock
The prospect of Postecoglou taking charge of the Hoops for a second time clearly would excite supporters
Although a return to Celtic for Ange is entirely speculative for now, the prospect of Postecoglou taking charge of the Hoops for a second time clearly would excite supporters, particularly amid scrutiny of not only Rodgers’ side’s results but the slow, pedestrian football that is going hand in hand with draws and defeats.
The one and only reason a team plays a particular system is because it works and the 4-3-3 possession for possession’s sake approach has run it’s course and if anyone was in any doubt about that Big Elvis settled the debate once and for all on Sunday afternoon at Dens Park.
Brendan Rodgers
Brendan Rodgers with the Premier Sports Cup after Celtic’s victory over theRangers on 15 December 2024 at Hampden Park. Photo Kenny Ramsay
Brendan Rodgers is paid £3m per season and he really has to start earning that now as he has to work with the players at his disposal – until at least the January window opens – and start willing games. A 4-4-2 at Tynecastle seems the sensible formation as Celtic at the very least must avoid defeat. And it’s a system that means you don’t need wingers.
Ange Postecoglou may of course not want to wait until the summer for his next job. Will he be short of alternatives? Probably not.
Ange Postecoglou lifts the Europa League Trophy
Ange Postecoglou, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur, lifts the UEFA Europa League Trophy after his sides victory in the UEFA Europa League Final 2025 between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Estadio de San Mames on May 21, 2025 in Bilbao, Spain. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
He’s won six major honours in his four years in European football, including a treble at Celtic and a European trophy at Tottenham. Another job in the Premier League might not happen but whether a return to Celtic appeals remains to be seen.
The only way Brendan Rodgers will leave Celtic ahead of the end of the season is if he’s sacked. While that’s not entirely out of the question, it’s highly unlikely, given the significant contribution to Celtic’s current woes that have been caused not by the manager but the asset stripping board of directors.
For that reason it seems unlikely that we’ll see Ange Postecoglou coming back to Celtic but clearly stranger things have happened to Ange recently. What he might now think is that Celtic was easily the best fit for his managerial style.
Conor Spence
Celtic in the Thirties in Two Volumes – Brilliantly researched and written by Matt Corr. An unmissable addition to any Celtic bookshelf. Click on the image below to order your copies…
Celtic in the Thirties, Vol 1 & 2
Celtic in the Thirties, Vol 1 & 2 by Matt Corr. Published by Celtic Star Books – Click on image to order
Celtic in the Thirties, available from Celtic Star Books. Click on image to order your copies...
Celtic in the Thirties by Celtic Historian Matt Corr is published in two volumes by Celtic Star Books. Click on image to order your copies…
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