Ange Postecoglou says farewell to Celtic after agreeing Tottenham Hotspur move

Ange Postecoglou has said that he was honoured to have managed “a phenomenal football club” at Celtic after his departure for Tottenham Hotspur was confirmed.

The Australian signed a four-year deal to become the new Spurs boss, leaving Celtic just days after he guided the team to Scottish Cup success, winning the Treble.

As the clubs confirmed the move, Postecoglou said he was grateful to have been given the opportunity to manage in Glasgow and had been asked to stay on, but was keen to test himself in the English Premier League.

“I would like to sincerely thank everyone at the club for everything they have given me,” the 57-year-old said. “In particular, Dermot (Desmond), Peter (Lawwell) and Michael (Nicholson) and the Celtic board have shown me tremendous support in every aspect of my time at Celtic and I will forever be grateful for this.

“They brought me to the club and I have worked so closely and so well with them for the past two years, I will always have a special relationship with them.

“They wanted me to extend my time at Celtic and while I am so respectful and understanding of their position, a new opportunity has been presented to me and it is one which I wanted to explore.

“It was an honour to be asked to be Celtic manager and during my two years I have given everything I have to deliver success to our supporters. Culminating in the Treble at the weekend, my players and backroom team have been brilliant for me on this journey.

“They have given us all some fantastic moments through their energy and effort, creating real quality, winning football.”

The departing manager became a fan favourite after winning five out of six major domestic trophies in his two years at the club, and Postecoglou said that he owed them special thanks for making him feel welcome after he arrived from Yokohama F Marinos.

“Our supporters have been magnificent to me and I thank them for the way they have embraced me during the past two years,” he said. “My ambition was always to give our fans a team they could be proud of, a team people talked about and I think we have achieved that.

“Celtic is a phenomenal football club, and so much more – and I will forever be a supporter of this great institution. I wish everyone connected with Celtic nothing but continued success.”

Celtic chairman Peter Lawwell said: “Against any measure, Ange has delivered a fantastic level of success to Celtic and we thank him for his brilliant contribution to the club during the past two years.

“We were delighted to bring Ange to Celtic. He is a special manager who has had success wherever he has been and someone who brought to the club attacking, stylish and winning football in the best traditions of Celtic.

“Of course, we are disappointed that Ange has decided to leave the club, and we did all we could to keep him with us well into the future, but he wanted to take this new opportunity and we wish Ange well in this and everything else he does.

“Now our focus is very much on ensuring we move forward positively and do all we can to ensure that we maintain our dominant position in Scottish football and also prepare for the exciting European challenges which lie ahead.”