That’s the glowing assessment of former Socceroos, AC Milan and Perugia gloveman Zeljko Kalac, as Postecoglou’s free-flowing side sit a point clear of FC Tokyo at the summit - with the pair on course for a possible championship decider on Saturday week at Yokohama’s Nissan Stadium.
Yokohama could conceivably have the crown in their grasp before them if they beat fourth-placed Kawasaki Frontale on the road this weekend and Tokyo fail to take maximum points at home to Urawa Red Diamonds.
But, either way, Kalac believes we may one day see “Ange-ball” played in the Premier League, La Liga the Bundesliga or Serie A, where the now 46-year-old once worked under Carlo Ancelotti.
“Every manager lives and dies by his decisions and after avoiding the relegation places on goal difference last year with players he inherited, he’s brought a few in, imposed his style and is now showing that he’s a hell of a coach,” Kalac said.
“The players believe in what he’s doing and no matter what happens in the next two matches he deserves all the accolades.
“Australian coaches aren’t respected enough at home, let alone abroad, but Ange is working to change that and I can see him calling the shots in one of the world’s top four leagues at some point.
“He’s certainly good enough to do that - he just needs a club bold and brave enough to believe in him and not to look at the passport but look at the coach instead.
“The problem we have is people see where you’re from and say ‘you lot play with kangaroos - what do you know?’
“What Ange is doing in Japan might open a few doors for him, and others.
“Ange is a driven man and I’m sure one day he’d love to coach in Europe.
“If there is a football director or chairman open minded and with the foresight out there who’ll put his faith in Ange then I don’t think he’d let them down.”
With 61 goals from 32 matches, 2015 AFC Asian Cup winner Postecoglou’s razzle-dazzle team are the division’s leading scorers as a first title since 2004 flashes up on the horizon.
The AFC Champions League beckons next season with Postecoglou inking a one-year extension until the end of 2020.
Beyond that shimmer a wealth of possibilities for the 54-year-old former Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory kingpin, whether he remains under the umbrella of the City Football Group or not.
“Ange has a brand of football which is easy on the eye and also very effective,” added Kalac, currently coach of NPL side Sydney United after varying A-League coaching roles at Sydney FC, Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne City.
“I don’t think he got the respect he deserved in Australia, so he took his methods overseas and look at the results.
“You can only admire what he’s doing and the reality is he’d outgrown Australia.
“He’s got his Australian assistants with him there (Peter Cklamovski and Arthur Papas) and it’s proving to be a winning combination.
“I think he’s changing the perception of Australian coaches and he’ll know when the time is right to try and make that next step to Europe.”
Kalac postulates that a side like Brighton and Hove Albion, with its brash attacking ideals would welcome irascible Ange’s approach.
“I’m not saying that Graham Potter is doing a bad job at Brighton but I’m aware of the philosophy of their technical director (Dan Ashworth) and Ange would be perfect for the way they want to play in the EPL,” he said.
“They are a team that strive to play football a certain way, whereas if he went to say a Burnley, would he be suited?
“I also think he’d love coaching in Italy because it’s a very tactical league and he loves that stuff. He loves outwitting people.
“Coaches are like players. If you’re driven in your profession, as Ange is, he’ll see where he is now as a stepping stone to an even higher level.
“But I think he’ll have a shot at the ACL next season - which is an important competition in Asia - and then if he’s successful there he might say to himself ‘I’ve taken this club to the highest point I can and what’s the next challenge for me’.
“People might love or hate Ange, but whatever your views are you’ve got to respect the man and what he’s achieved.”
