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Postecoglou reveals how he turned it around in Japan

Ahead of the final match of the J.League season - which will likely see his side crowned champions - former Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou spoke to The World Game about how he overcame the cultural and language barriers, how he enjoys the hard times and what will happen next season.

Postecoglou

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On August 19 last year, Postecoglou’s Yokohama F. Marinos side had slumped to their sixth loss in seven matches.  

After 23 matches into his first season in Japan, his side had conceded the most goals (42), sat only one point above the relegation zone and just two points off last. 

He was in a country where had never lived before, never mind coached or played in. 

Postecoglou didn’t speak the local language and he was attempting to revolutionise the style of football they were playing. 

Surely he was starting to doubt himself.
Kawasaki Frontale v Yokohama F.Marinos - J.League J1
“No mate, never any doubts,” Postecoglou told The World Game.

“They’re the bits I enjoy. People do doubt you, but they can’t actually see what you’re building. 

“There were good signs that we were making progress.”

It’s true that at the stage there were some very obvious, if not strange signs.

Yokohama had conceded the most goals - but they had also scored the equal most (37). 

“There just wasn’t anywhere near the consistency we needed to be successful,” he said. 

In July, Yokohama followed up an incredible 8-2 victory over Vegalta Sendai, with a 5-2 loss to FC Tokyo just four days later. 

In the last eight matches of the season, they won four and lost four. Yokohama finished the season having scored 56 goals and conceded 56. 

It was only goal difference that saved them from slipping into the relegation play-off spot. 

Yet, they also made the J.League Cup final - losing 1-0 to Shonan Bellmare.

Postecoglou, as he as always done, stayed true to his beliefs, knowing success would follow. 

“We had to make some personnel changes, I knew we would be a good team this year and I knew that we would be exciting to watch," he said.

Maybe we all should have known it would come good, as it always seems to for Postecoglou in his second season.

Postecoglou's first coaching role saw him take over South Melbourne in 1996 and his side were champions at the end of 1997-98 season.
Sth Melb v Sydney Utd
With Brisbane Roar he took over ahead of the 2009-10 season and claimed the championship at the end of the 2010-11 season. 

He didn’t get a full second season at Melbourne Victory because he was appointed head coach of the national team. 

And it was in his second full year with the Socceroos that he won the AFC Asian Cup. 

Despite having the chance to go to a second FIFA World Cup with Australia, Postecoglou walked away after qualification for Russia 2018 was secure.

The 54-year-old had  his resignation was due to Football Federation Australia and him not being on the same page when it came to changing Australian football. 

“When I finished it was good for me to have a break from Australian football - and probably for Australian football (to have a break) from me,” Postecoglou said.

When you speak to players who played under Postecoglou with the Socceroos, some will tell you about his incredible team talks and how he instilled an incredible amount of self-belief.


"Ange was probably the best coach I ever worked under. He made you go out on to that pitch and feel like no one could touch you,” Socceroos defender Ryan McGowan said on The World Game LIVE.
But how would Postecoglou go about inspiring his new players when he didn’t speak the same language as them?

“With the national team, I understood the players psyche. I knew what motivated the Australian players. I knew their journey. It was a story that I could easily tell. This was different,” Postecoglou said.

“The challenge was getting the players to understand my views and thoughts (on football) - we had the challenge with the language barrier but we found ways of overcoming it.

“The message has to be more concise. Motivation comes in very different forms. Sometimes it’s telling them a story, sometimes it’s showing them the way. Here it’s been more about our behaviour and the way I act.” 

The message has clearly been well received by the Japanese players, the Brazilians as well as players from Thailand, South Korea, Serbia and Russia.
Kawasaki Frontale v Yokohama F.Marinos - J.League J1
Yokohama sit top, three points clear with one game to go. 

They have won more games than anyone (21 of 33), scored more goals (66) and have the best goal difference (+27) in the league. 

It would take an incredible four-goal loss or worse in their final match against FC Tokyo on Saturday afternoon (AEDT) for them not to be crowned champions. 

But will he decide to ‘park the bus’ - just this once? 

“We approach the game the same way, we play our football,” he said. 

Whatever happens, his success has meant he has already been linked with moves to Europe, but he’s staying put for now.

“I’m here for another year at least, I’m really enjoying it, there are things I want to do here in Japan with Yokohama - beyond that then we’ll see," Postecoglou said.

“When I first started coaching my only burning ambition was to win a championship with South Melbourne. I did that in my second year. 

“Since then I have just been doing things that I believe in and are passionate about. 

“I’ve had a pretty lucky and extraordinary career so far, wherever it takes me from now on I’m happy to accept what may be.”  


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5 min read
Published 6 December 2019 3:29pm
By Nick Stoll


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