Ange Postecoglou Tottenham Tactic
Ange Postecoglou has joined a select group of managers who improved Tottenham’s standing in world football and were still shown the door by the owner.
His name resonates deeply within the football community, a prove to his extraordinary journey through the sport as a player, and later, as a great manager.
Born in 1965, in Athens, Greece, Angelos "Ange" Postecoglou moved to Melbourne, Australia, with his family at the age of five. For young Ange, football quickly became both a pastime and an anchor in a foreign land, helping him adapt to the challenges of a new culture.
Growing up, Postecoglou played football in Melbourne's suburban leagues, showing promise and a unique understanding of the game. He joined South Melbourne FC as a teenager, a club that would become instrumental in shaping his early playing career.
Postecoglou’s playing career officially began when he made his debut for South Melbourne FC in 1984 as a defender. His time with the club coincided with one of its most successful periods in Australian football. Renowned for his leadership qualities, Ange quickly established himself as a pivotal figure on the pitch, earning the respect of teammates and fans alike.
During his tenure at South Melbourne, Postecoglou won two National Soccer League (NSL) championships in 1984 and 1990. These victories solidified his place as one of the top players in the league and gave him valuable experience in high-stakes matches.
During his time at the Australian club, Postecoglou was managed by the legendary Ferenc Puskas. Later in an interview, he mentioned that most of his tactical principles were inspire by the Galloping Major.
Postecoglou's transition from player to manager was natural, as his deep understanding of the game and leadership skills made him a compelling candidate for coaching. Shortly after retiring, Ange took on his first managerial role at South Melbourne FC, becoming head coach in 1996.
Under Postecoglou’s guidance, South Melbourne flourished, winning back-to-back NSL championships in 1997-98 and 1998-99. His success with the club culminated in a victory at the 1999 Oceania Club Championship, which earned South Melbourne a spot in the inaugural FIFA Club World Championship in Brazil. This international exposure was a significant milestone, as it showcased Postecoglou’s tactical acumen on a global stage.
Despite these early triumphs, his managerial career faced setbacks. In 2000, he left South Melbourne and took on the role of head coach for Australia’s U-17 and U-20 national teams. While he was praised for developing young talent, the teams’ performances in international competitions were inconsistent, leading to criticism and scrutiny.
In 2007, Postecoglou parted ways with the national setup after Australia failed to qualify for the U-20 World Cup. This period was challenging for Ange, but it also served as a turning point.
Postecoglou’s return to club football began with Brisbane Roar in 2009, a move that would redefine Australian football. His introduction of a possession-based, high-intensity style of play revolutionised the A-League.
Brisbane Roar became a force to be reckoned with, breaking records for unbeaten runs and captivating fans with their fluid football.
Under Postecoglou, Brisbane Roar secured back-to-back A-League championships in 2010-11 and 2011-12. His innovative approach earned him widespread acclaim and solidified his reputation as one of Australia’s top managers.
His achievements at Brisbane Roar caught the attention of Football Federation Australia, leading to his appointment as head coach of the Socceroos in 2013. Taking charge of the national team was a dream come true, and Ange approached the role with his characteristic determination and vision.
Postecoglou’s tenure with the Socceroos was marked by significant milestones, including Australia’s victory at the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. The win was a historic moment, as it marked the nation’s first major international trophy. Ange’s tactical flexibility and ability to foster unity within the squad were key factors in the team’s success.
He also led Australia to qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and the 2018 edition in Russia. He resigned in 2017, leaving a legacy of progress and innovation.
After leaving the Socceroos, Postecoglou ventured overseas, taking charge of Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan’s J1 League in 2018. His arrival marked the beginning of a new chapter in his career, as he brought his dynamic football philosophy to an international stage.
Under Postecoglou’s leadership, Yokohama F. Marinos won the J1 League title in 2019, the club’s first championship in 15 years. Ange’s ability to adapt to new environments and implement his ideas with precision earned him admiration from players, fans, and pundits alike. His success in Japan demonstrated his readiness to compete at the highest levels of football.
In 2021, Ange Postecoglou made headlines by becoming the manager of Celtic FC in Scotland—a monumental achievement as the first Australian to manage a major European club. His tenure at Celtic was marked by instant impact, as he guided the team to the Scottish Premiership title in his debut season.
Postecoglou’s Celtic side embodied his signature style: attacking football, high pressing, and relentless energy. His ability to instil belief in his players and connect with the club’s passionate fanbase made him a beloved figure in Glasgow. Success continued with additional domestic silverware, reinforcing his reputation as a top-tier manager.
In 2023, Ange took another leap forward, accepting the role of head coach at Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League. The move to one of the world’s most competitive leagues signified his arrival on the global stage.
Ange Postecoglou’s arrival at Tottenham Hotspur has brought a refreshing tactical philosophy, one that departs significantly from the pragmatic approaches of some of his predecessors. The Australian manager has established a progressive, possession-based style grounded in attacking football, high pressing, and positional awareness.
His tactics emphasize a balance between defensive solidity and creative freedom, producing a setup that resonates with Tottenham’s historical preference for flair and entertainment.
Central to his philosophy was his commitment to controlling games through possession. His Tottenham team aimed to dominate the ball, with an average possession rate of around 60% in early matches under his tenure.
This marked a shift from the counter-attacking systems employed by managers like José Mourinho and Antonio Conte. The focus is on patient buildup from the back, utilizing short, quick passes to progress the ball through the thirds.
Tottenham’s midfield was pivotal in this approach. Players like Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma have been tasked with dictating the tempo, recycling possession efficiently, and breaking opposition lines with incisive passes. Statistical analysis shows Tottenham averaging over 500 passes per game under Postecoglou, with a pass accuracy hovering above 85%.
He instilled a proactive defensive mindset characterized by an aggressive high press. Tottenham’s forwards and attacking midfielders were instructed to press opponents high up the pitch, aiming to win back possession in dangerous areas. This approach saw Tottenham recover the ball in the attacking third more frequently, averaging around eight recoveries per game.
The defensive line operated higher than in previous seasons, compressing space in the midfield and facilitating quick transitions. Tottenham’s defenders, such as Cristian Romero, have adapted to this system by becoming more involved in playmaking and distributing the ball with precision. However, a high defensive line does leave vulnerabilities against pacey counter-attacks, a challenge Postecoglou’s system continued to face.
His attacking framework encouraged creativity and fluidity. The wingers were crucial, often tasked with stretching the opposition’s defensive line and creating overloads in wide areas. Son Heung-min, in particular, thrived in this setup, registering impressive shot-creation metrics and contributing significantly to goal-scoring chances.
Tottenham’s full backs also played an integral role, frequently inverting into central midfield positions to support possession and maintain numerical superiority in the middle. This positional flexibility has enhanced Tottenham’s ability to sustain attacks and prevent counter-pressing situations.
As he seemed to favour a 4-3-3 setup whilst managing Tottenham, focusing on possession-based football and progressive attacking play, that is the setup I went for in the game.
Starting with a sweeper keeper on support duty. The goalkeeper was instrumental in starting attacks with accurate distribution and was tasked with sweeping up loose balls behind the defensive line. Especially Guglielmo Vicario.
The back four is made of a wing back on attack duty, two ball playing defenders on defend and one inverted wing back on support.
The wing back on attack, Pedro Porro, provided width in attack often, overlapping the wingers, and delivering crosses into the box.
The inverted wing back, often Destiny Udogie, tucked into midfield often during possession phases, contributing to overloads and maintaining balance.
There were times when he hugged his line, balancing both going inside the pitch and playing out wide.
And the ball playing defenders were responsible for building play from the back while retaining defensive solidity. They were under a lot of pressure, defensively, especially when Tottenham faced the injury crisis.
Ange’s unwavering dedication to his playing style, especially at the back, may have caused some of the losses the team had during the past season. In turn, it also helped the players develop at a rapid pace, and not all the games were lost or drawn.
As a defensive midfielder I chose the deep lying playmaker role, on defend duty. A defensive midfielder role on defend would also work here. However, given that Rodrigo Bentancur, often played here, acted as a pivot, dictating the tempo and shielding the backline, I used the DLP role, balancing the defensive part through the duty assigned to him.
For the central midfielders I chose a box-to-box role and a mezzala role. I see Pape Matar Sarr’s role as a shuttler between the two goals, thus this role was chosen. He covered ground both defensively and offensively, linking play across the pitch.
James Maddison was the heartbeat of the team in Ange Postecoglou’s setup, in my opinion, whenever he played. I think multiple roles fit his style of play, but in this setup, a mezzala truly represents his gameplay.
As duty, I chose attack as he operated in the half-spaces up the pitch, creating chances and offering a goal-scoring threat, too.
And the remaining three positions were assigned an inside forward role on attack, a winger on support and an advanced forward role.
Brennan Johnson or Dejan Kulusevski often cut inside the pitch, providing a direct threat on goal.
The same as James Maddison, Son Heung-Min can be assigned multiple roles in this setup. I went with a winger one as he often hugged the line, picking up the ball and cutting inside with it, before shooting on goal or assisting his teammates.
As I wanted him to be as dangerous as possible in attack and as close as possible to how he played the past season, I used these role and duty.
And Dominic Solanke was assigned an advanced forward role, although a poacher also fits his style of play in this setup. He led the line, focusing on movement to exploit defensive gaps and finishing chances.
I chose positive as mentality, to encourage fluid and attacking play while maintaining responsible defensive positioning.
In possession, fairly wide attacking width, pass into space when possible and play out of defence. Shorter passing directness, to try and emulate the intricate passing game Ange Postecoglou implemented at Tottenham. And a higher tempo, to preserve the dynamism of the setup.
In transition, counter-press, counter and distribute the ball to the defence through short kicks.
And out of possession it comes the hard part. Tottenham’s brave and sometimes the source of conceding goals was the high line employed during the past season. If you wish to emulate that playing style, a high press with a higher defensive line is for you.
But beware that to implement this style of play properly and avoid being overrun by the opposition, you need fast centre backs and high work rate players.
If you want a more conservative approach, maybe a high press with a standard defensive line or a mid block with a standard defensive line helps.
I chose trigger press more often and prevent the goalkeeper short distribution for the high line setup.
Mark tighter for the central midfielders and the attackers and close down more wherever possible would also help with the pressing game. If employed, the trigger press should be only balanced.
Either way, your players might get caught out of position if the pressing fails. So be careful and tweak accordingly.
I haven’t simulated any season using this tactic as I did not want to do it in a rush. This is how I interpret Ange Postecoglou’s tactical setup used at Tottenham the past season.
History was made is a cliché sometimes. But the past season, history was really made by the Tottenham players and Ange Postecoglou.
He announced it last year, a trophy in his second season and that trophy came. I think his dismissal is truly undeserved, however, his legacy has now been cemented in the club’s history books and, in our minds, and hearts.
