Ange Postecoglou is back in football management – and his latest job will see him in charge of Cristiano Ronaldo.
More than eight months have passed since Postecoglou was ruthlessly sacked by Nottingham Forest having been in charge at the City Ground for just 39 days.
But Postecoglou, who has been working for ITV as a television pundit this summer at the World Cup, has landed a two-year deal to manage Ronaldo & Co in Saudi Arabia as the new manager of Al-Nassr.
Revealing their new manager on their X account, Al-Nassr labelled the move ‘A New Chapter’, adding: ‘A New Chapter… Mr. Ange Postecoglou is the head coach of Al Nassr’s first football team with a contract lasting two seasons.’
Postecoglou takes over from Jorge Jesus, who departed after guiding the club to the Saudi Pro League title.
Ange Postecoglou’s return to management has seen him sign a two-year deal with Al-Nassr
Jorge Jesus left the job after guiding Cristiano Ronaldo & Co to the Saudi Pro League title
This represents an opportunity to reset on the touchline after what Postecoglou described as a ‘brutal’ experience at Nottingham Forest, where he only lasted eight games and won none of them.
Speaking to Melbourne-based radio station SEN 1116 earlier this year, Postecoglou candidly reflected on his very brief spell in charge of the City Ground, where Oliver Glasner is preparing to be the latest incumbent of that job.
Postecoglou said of his sacking: ‘It was brutal. I was in the coaches’ room. I knew it could come any day, but they sacked me straight after the game. I hadn’t done the presser yet, but the press knew.
‘I was walking into the corridors. I wanted to leave; otherwise I was going to do something I regret. I wanted to get out of there. All the roads were blocked. After half an hour, the roads opened.
‘I got stuck at the traffic lights for 15 minutes. I had Chelsea fans giving it to me, Forest fans weren’t much kinder, and then I had little kids coming up and asking for a selfie.’
Despite his struggles at Nottingham Forest, Postecoglou’s rich history of winning trophies saw him edge out rivals for the job, including current Portugal manager Roberto Martinez.
He ended Tottenham Hotspur’s trophy drought by defeating Manchester United to win the Europa League in Bilbao last year, while previously having won five trophies, including the treble, up in Scotland with Celtic.
