Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou can seemingly do no wrong at present having inspired a real transformation at Parkhead in his tenure thus far, with the 57-year-old earning plaudits – and admirers – from across the game for the stellar job he has done to date.

After an initial slow start to life in the dugout, the former Yokohama boss has since overseen a stunning run of form in Glasgow, guiding the club to the Scottish Premiership title in relentless fashion last term ahead of bitter rivals Rangers – just a year on from having finished 25 points behind their Old Firm rivals following a miserable season under his predecessor, Neil Lennon.

With a League Cup triumph also in the bag in that glorious debut campaign at the helm, the Hoops boss has since seen his side continue their imperious form after picking up six wins from their opening seven league games thus far, with a recent loss to St Mirren having ended a staggering 38-game unbeaten run in the top-flight.

That was a rare blip in what’s been an otherwise sparkling start to the new campaign, with the Bhoys having also received hefty praise for their display against European champions Real Madrid in the Champions League despite defeat, with Postecoglou’s “beautiful” football – as dubbed by pundit Owen Hargreaves – more than proving a match for the 14-time winners in what was an even first-half.

That performance had come just days after a 4-0 thrashing of the Gers at Celtic Park which further rubberstamped the home side’s domestic dominance at present, with astute recruitment and a progressive, attractive approach having worked wonders over the past year or so.

Not all had seemingly foreseen such a scenario following Postecoglou’s appointment back in June 2021, however, with there having been a host of fans and pundits alike questioning the wisdom in bringing in a relatively unknown quantity, particularly one who was not the first choice target.

The former Australia head coach had only been handed the job after a lengthy and protracted pursuit of Eddie Howe had fallen through, with the Hoops having subsequently been forced to act quickly with the new season looming.

One notable naysayer was that of talkSPORT host and pundit, Alan Brazil, with the former Scotland international vocalising his reservations at signing an unfamiliar name amid reports that the incoming manager did not hold a UEFA Pro Licence, stating at the time:

“Celtic have applied for exemption with UEFA for Yokohama Marinos boss, what is it, Postecooglou? (sic), to manage in Europe. He does not hold the required licence – oh, this has got to be a wind-up.”

Having then been asked how he expected the new boss to perform, Brazil replied sarcastically: “Oh, he’d be a great manager. Where do they come up with these guys from?”

The 63-year-old was not the only figure doubting Postecoglou before he had even been appointed, with pundit Noel Whelan also stating that the decision to make the move had been a “shock to everybody”, while also hinting that a swift exit could occur by Christmas if things did not go well.

Both men – and plenty of others – have been made to eat their words by the “excellent” job that the title-winning coach has done since then, in the words of treble winner Martin O’Neill, with such impressive work having even sparked interest from the Premier League, with Brighton and Hove Albion believed to have been interested of late.

Any doubters have well and truly been quashed, with Brazil having notably admitted earlier this year that he has been left “eating humble pie” after being proved horribly wrong, with that a marker of the brilliance of Postecoglou’s time at the helm so far.