“It’s Ange’s methodology you’re studying,” Celtic cult hero Albert Kidd on Australian coaching | OneFootball

Albert Kidd visited Lennoxtown this week, met up with his old pal Ange Postecoglou and spent some tome with Harry Kewell, who he regards as probably Australia’s best ever player. Kidd himself will always be a Celtic cult-hero after his heroics playing for Dundee against title favourites Hearts on 3 May, 1986.

Hearts just needed a draw at Dens Park and even if they didn’t manage that Celtic had to score five at Love Street against St Mirren. Davie Hay’s side did their part but there was a stalemate at Dens Park until substitute Albert Kidd came on and the rest as they say is history.

The Celtic support at Love Street were listening on their transistor radios – there was no internet or live television coverage – and this is what they heard. It’s a brilliant listen…

After finishing his playing career in Australia, where Celtic supporters were always around to slap him on the back or buy him a pint, Kidd studied for his coaching badges down there and that’s where he met Ange Postecoglou.

Speaking to Roger Hannah at Scottish Sun, Albert Kidd was full of praise for the Celtic manager as he revealed how Postecoglou is inspiring a new generation of football coaches in his homeland. “I always thought Ange had a different style of management from a lot of people. He knows what he wants,” Kidd said.

“Looking at the year he’s had at Celtic, it’s been so good. He likes quick passing from his players. He doesn’t want people holding on to the ball for too long. It’s two-touch and get rid of the ball and get into the final third. He likes ball players, good football players and he has done well.

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou celebrates at full time during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice Park on May 11, 2022 in Dundee, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“It’s been like that at every club he’s been at. Look at Japan, where he won the title. The teams in Australia that he coached, Brisbane Roar, for example, were really good sides too. He has the knack of getting his players playing for him.”

On Ange’s work with the new wave of Aussie coaches Kidd said: “It’s good we can promote the game in Australia with an Australian coach doing so well overseas. Not only that but Ange actually geared up Kevin Muscat to go to Japan after he left there. A good mate of mine, Ross Aloisi, is over there assisting Kevin.

“And it looks like they have a right good chance of winning the championship again with Yokohama. That would be another Australian coach with a bit of pedigree.

“Ange is also still involved with the Institute of Sport. Every time I went there, it was Ange who had written the programmes and they took them on. When you’re in Australia, potential coaches need an A League badge and, when you’re doing that, it’s Ange’s methodology you’re studying.”

Harry Kewell

On meeting up with the new Celtic coach Harry Kewell, Kidd said: “I met Harry on Monday. What a great appointment that is, he’s just an Australian legend. It will be great for the players to be coached by Harry.

“Ange inherited the coaches there and didn’t bring in his own guys. It’s unusual because you do want your own people working for you. Now he’s got Harry with John Kennedy and Gavin Strachan.

“Harry will have an impact on what Celtic do. He’s a household name and one of the best, if not the best player, Australia has produced.”

Kidd also watched Dundee play Partick Thistle this week and met up with his old boss Archie Knox, with the events of 3 May 1986 never too far away. “The Dundee players always tell me I got great mileage out of those two goals. That’s the good thing about Scotland — nobody ever forgets.

Albert Kidd celebrating scoring goal for Dundee May 1986

“I’ll go into a pub and somebody will come across and say, ‘Here’s a pint for you, wee man, God bless you’. You know where that’s coming from. He’s either a Celtic punter or a Hibs punter. He won’t be a Hearts punter, let me tell you.”

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