Former Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Joe Hart recently spoke about the significant impact of Ange Postecoglou’s tactical philosophy on his career.
Hart, who retired last summer after three seasons with Celtic—two of which were under Postecoglou’s leadership—credited the Australian manager for reshaping his understanding of modern goalkeeping.
During an interview on BBC 5 Live, Hart praised Postecoglou’s approach, highlighting how the coach transformed his perception of playing out from the back.
According to Hart, Postecoglou’s insights surpassed those of some of his recent managers, including renowned figures like Jose Mourinho and David Moyes.
“Ange Postecoglou blew my mind,” Hart shared. “He really opened me up to new perspectives.”
Reflecting on the tactical nuances he learned under Postecoglou, Hart noted that the coach’s guidance allowed him to fully understand the role of a goalkeeper in building play from the back.
“I used to think that playing out from the back meant I had to do Cruyff turns or pinpoint passes,” he said. “But Ange showed me that it’s about positioning and creating options.
It’s about standing on the ball, making sure my center-halves are available, my number six is showing, and looking for spaces.”
Hart emphasized that Postecoglou’s approach wasn’t about playing out for the sake of possession but rather a method to create scoring opportunities.
“If there’s pressure and no clear options, I’ve been given clarity that I can play a quick ball to the striker,” Hart explained.
“All these things come together, and it’s a different game and a different way of thinking.”
Under Postecoglou, Hart enjoyed two successful seasons at Celtic, securing back-to-back trebles.
Postecoglou’s success in Scotland attracted the attention of Tottenham Hotspur, who appointed him as their manager in the summer of 2023.
In his debut season with Spurs, Postecoglou led the team to a fifth-place finish in the Premier League, sparking optimism among fans for a potential top-four finish and perhaps even challenging for a title—a feat Spurs last achieved in 2008.
Tottenham’s recent form has only added to this optimism.
The team delivered two impressive victories in one week, first defeating Manchester City in the Carabao Cup and then coming from behind to beat Aston Villa 4-1 in the Premier League.
The win lifted Spurs to seventh in the table, narrowing the gap to fourth-place Arsenal, who are just two points ahead.
Spurs now face a challenging week as they prepare to play Galatasaray in the Europa League on Thursday, followed by a Premier League clash with Ipswich Town on Sunday.
