Ange Postecoglou has ruled out coaching the Socceroos again.
After quitting his post as Australia’s national team coach in November 2017, Postecoglou has achieved success in both Japan and Scotland, winning a J-League title with Yokohama F Marinos before landing the managerial position at Celtic.
Postecoglou guided the Hoops to League Cup glory late last year and has the club sitting atop of the Scottish Premiership after 31 games.
The former Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory boss says he doesn’t feel respected in Australia from a footballing perspective and that he’s satisfied with his prior stint as Socceroos coach.
“No, I don’t think so,” Postecoglou told Optus Sport when asked if there’s a chance of him coaching the Socceroos again.
“I’ve done my stint and I look back on it with great pride and great satisfaction of what we were able to achieve in those four years, I know other people will have different views, but I like to leave it at that.
“I think for me, it’s funny how we think as Australians sometimes about our very own, we don’t want to elevate too high, we want to keep everyone on an even keel. I think me going back there is not going to change that.
“Even now, I feel more respected in Japan than I do in Australia. I understand they (Australians) are following my journey and everyone takes great pride, I get that, but in terms of respect footballing wise, I always look back to when Frank Farina got sacked from the Socceroos and they brought in Guus Hiddink and he did an unbelievable job, but I just saw how people treated him (Farina) – same position – and what was given to him to succeed, that was never given to an Australian.
“I’ll give you an example, If Marcelo Bielsa offered himself to Australia, I think we’d open our doors and give him everything he wants. If I went back there, I would still have to start at spot one to convince people to do things a certain way.
“Because of that, I think I’m better off having done my stint. I’m proud of what I’ve achieved in Australia, I’m Australian so I’ll always support it, and leave it at that.”
The Socceroos, under current coach Graham Arnold, are in danger of missing the 2022 World Cup after missing out on direct qualification to Qatar.
Australia must win two sudden-death playoffs against Asian and South American opposition to make a fifth straight World Cup.