The gaffer’s ability to spot footballing talent is incredible.#
Ange Postecolgou really has taken Celtic global when if comes to scouring for players and having dipped his toe in the Russian, English, Korean and French markets since his arrival at the club, it is pretty clear the 57-year-old will stop at nothing to improve this Celtic team.
But it is his transfer dealings in Japan that have caught the eye.
Granted, having spent three years in the Far East will give you that advantage, but to make almost every signing from a country that has a completely different culture to ours work is a thing of beauty.
Ange has plucked two gems from the J League in Dezen Maeda and Japan’s MVP Tomoki Iwata.
Both players were bought from Yokohama F Marinos where current boss Kevin Muscat was asked if he felt frustration at the Celtic boss for taking his top players to Scotland.
Speaking to via Ultra Soccer via Yahoo Japan, Muscat said, “Frustration is not the right word.
“I understand, I understand the model of the club, I understood it when I came here 18 months ago.
“The club and the parent company prides ourselves on giving our players a chance first and foremost and letting them play their football, and if we succeed, whatever it is defined, we will have the opportunity to take the next step.
“It’s going to continue, it’s a model for the club and we have to accept it and work towards it. If you want success after success, all of that is positive.
“But I look at it and think anything is possible.”
Interestingly, when a journalist asked if he would start ignoring calls from Ange in the future in case he comes calling again for players, Muscat replied, “Not every time!” “It’s not that he’s bothering me, it’s that I’m bothering him, so I won’t.”
That shows that there is a deep mutual friendship between the two and it’s a friendship, that if needing called up again, could benefit Celtic further in the future.
It’s all about respect. Something our club, manager and coaches have, unlike some others.