'It's about guiding them to try to be the best they can be' - Ange on being a father figure
Fri 29 September 2023, 18:00|
Tottenham Hotspur
There is a strong spirit building in the squad under Ange Postecoglou.
Our Head Coach has made an instant impact since he joined the Club in the summer, guiding the team to an unbeaten start in the Premier League playing an exciting brand of football whilst creating a family-like atmosphere in the dressing room.
The team's ability to recover from losing positions to draw with Brentford and Arsenal and in victories over Burnley and Sheffield United has been a feature of our early season form, earning us eight points when trailing. This is partly due to Ange's insistence to remain patient in possession and keep playing the same attacking style but also because of the unity amongst the players to keep believing in each other when up against it.
There is a paternal aura about his managerial style and it has been a recurring theme amongst the squad that they look up to him as a father figure, even before the season started Yves Bissouma likened the 58-year-old to being a 'dad, uncle and friend' and Micky van de Ven saying he is 'bringing us together like a family, he is more like a dad or something' after Ange's influence in the north London derby.
Speaking in his press conference on Friday ahead of this weekend's clash with Liverpool (kick-off 5.30pm UK), the Australian was asked why the players sometimes refer to him as dad and he responded in his typical style: "I don't know what that means, it's probably a reference to the way I dress. But we, in our roles, provide support in any way we can for the players, they're the most important people, and some of that is guidance."
Watch - Ange's Liverpool press conference
Father to three sons of his own, Ange understands the responsibilities of parenthood and can lean on his experience in both life and football to help our players with the guidance and support they may need on and off the pitch.
His vast experience in the game has seen him coach in different countries and cultures and this isn't the first time our Head Coach has admitted that players he has worked with seem to naturally see him in this light. These characteristics point towards his own relationship with his late father, Jim, who he admits was difficult to please but he sees him as a huge influence in both football and life lessons.
"If he was alive, he would be saying 'great, you've done well, but you need to do even better, don't stand still.'," Ange said in pre-season when asked about his father. "I'm a different dad, but it's a different world too, to be fair.
"I'm totally different, I tell my kids I love them and cuddle them every day. We have our own upbringing, and I talk about it, my generation, our fathers were different people. You know that you need to spend more time with your kids than my father did."
There have been instances this season where our Head Coach has shown true leadership qualities. In the season opener at Brentford he substituted goalscorer Cristian Romero after our vice-captain appeared to have a head injury, he was outspoken in his support for Richarlison's recent mental health struggles, has advocated the adage if you are good enough, you are old enough with his faith in giving young players a chance and the moment he pointed out a young fan who had a question in the recent Fan Forum to name but a few.
"I'm older, I've had more life experience so whatever I can pass on about the mistakes I've made and what I've learnt in life apart from football, then you try to do that, and ultimately it's about guiding them to try to be the best they can be," he added.
"I don't know what point of reference they refer to but if it's me being sort of a guide to them in all aspects of life, I'll try to do that. I have the benefit of experience, the mistakes I've made, all the things I've learnt. It's for all generations to pass them on to the next one and hopefully they make everything a better place."
