It would be an act of “folly” for Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou to accept the Everton manager’s job if the relegation-threatened English Premier League club offered him the position.
That’s the opinion of Socceroos great Robbie Slater, who said Postecoglou did not need to take the risk of going to the Toffees, such was their current instability on and off the field.
Former Socceroos coach Postecoglou has reportedly been “sounded out” by Everton, who sacked manager Frank Lampard after their 2-0 weekend loss to West Ham.
It was Everton’s 11th defeat in 20 Premier League matches this season, with only goal difference keeping them ahead of last-placed Southampton.
In contrast, Postecoglou has Celtic on target for back-to-back Scottish Premiership titles under his guidance as well as another crack at the UEFA Champions League.
It’s not the first time Postecoglou has been linked to the Everton job, with the former Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory coach’s name having been tossed around as a successor to Lampard when Celtic and Everton were in Australia in November for the Sydney Super Cup.
Postecoglou, 57, this week spoke of not only players but coaches wanting to “maximise” their “opportunities”.
“That’s what all of us have in our careers, a limited time and we want to take opportunities,” he said.
However, Slater – who won an English Premier League title with Blackburn Rovers in 1995 – believes Postecoglou would be far better off staying at Celtic rather than taking the Everton job if it was offered to him.
“Ange won’t go to Everton,” Slater said.
“They’re a club in crisis. It would be folly of him to go there.
“They are in serious danger of being relegated, it would be a huge risk, and one he doesn’t need to take considering the job he has at the moment.
“He’s taken Celtic nine points clear at the top of the table, they’re going to win the title again, the fans love him, the players love him, the club loves him … he doesn’t need to go to a club like Everton, which keeps changing its manager and has off-field problems as well.
“Ange is a very good manager and will eventually manage in the (English) Premier League, so he doesn’t need to go to a club in turmoil.”
Others reportedly in the running for the Everton job include former Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa, ex-Southampton manager Ralph Hassenhuttl and former Burnley boss Sean Dyche.