Ange Postecoglou’s Man Utd option and response to ‘job offer’ ahead of Premier League return

Ange Postecoglou had been tipped for the Manchester United job but is reportedly set to be confirmed as Nottingham Forest’s head coach imminently, following Nuno Espirito Santo’s exit

It hasn’t taken long for Ange Postecoglou to return to the Premier League, with Nottingham Forest set to appoint the former Tottenham head coach after sacking Nuno Espirito Santo. Postecoglou’s arrival at the City Ground is will be confirmed imminently.

That will see him take to the dugout for Forest’s visit to Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday, with Postecoglou to be joined by several of his former Spurs coaching staff. The 60-year-old has been without a job since his bombshell sacking in June.

His dismissal came exactly two years after his Spurs appointment, despite him winning the Europa League. But the Australian was not short of options as he mulled over his next managerial role over the summer.

READ MORE: Nottingham Forest sack Nuno Espírito Santo after fallout with owner Evangelos MarinakisREAD MORE: Daniel Levy’s huge net worth, marriage to former personal assistant, Tottenham statement

According to reports, he rejected a job offer from Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli and Turkish giants Fenerbahce. The Super Lig side recently sacked Jose Mourinho after just over a year in charge due to club bosses wanting “better football.”

The Istanbul club were understood to have held talks with Postecoglou, as well as former Italian national team boss Luciano Spalletti, who also declined the offer. That is because Postecoglou wanted another crack at the Premier League.

Fox Sports News’ Robbie Slater had said: “He wants to go back to England, I know that. Graham Arnold met up with him recently, and had a great conversation with him, and he wants to go back to the Premier League. We know Tottenham didn’t have a great season in respect to their Premier League position, 17th. But they did win the Europa League, that’s a big thing.”

The former Spurs head coach was lined up as a candidate for Forest following Nuno’s departure after his rift with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis and new global head of football Edu.

The Portuguese risked the Greek businessman’s wrath when he went public about their souring relationship. And a 3-0 loss to West Ham proved the final nail in the coffin, despite Nuno’s success in Nottingham, having already had a high-profile argument on the sidelines with Marinakis after a game late last season.

Being appointed as Forest boss will give Postecoglou the chance to compete in the Europa League again. And Forest’s highly-divisive owner has made no secret of his admiration for the Greek-born tactician. While presenting Postecoglou with an award earlier this year in Greece, he said: “What I want to say about Ange is that he has spoken about Greece many times, he is proud to be Greek and in the great success he had with Tottenham by winning the Europa League, he spoke about Greece.

“A man who not only does not hide his origin but is also proud of it. What he achieved, he did with a team that has not won any titles, it has had a very difficult time in recent years. In this huge success that the whole world saw, he promoted Greece. We must thank him especially for this and we wish him well, although we are sure that he will do well as he has the ability. Wherever he goes, the successes will come.”

Despite Forest having been his likeliest destination all along, Manchester United had also been described as an option for him. That first required Ruben Amorim to depart the club after a hugely difficult start to the season, despite spending heavily on new signings in an effort to change their fortunes.

“When you look at it, I wouldn’t rule out Manchester United the way things are going with Amorim,” Slater had told Fox Sports. “I think those three clubs, United, West Ham, Forest look dodgy in respect to their managers.”

However, despite Postecoglou coming out on top when he faced Amorim in the Europa League final, the Australian’s poor domestic season was what led to his Spurs sacking, and was unlikely to have filled the Red Devils hierarchy with confidence given his Spurs side finished even lower than their worst ever Premier League campaign.

Postecoglou was also linked with the West Ham job, though Graham Potter appears to have saved his skin with a win over Forest to lift the Hammers off the bottom of the table.

There is a chance that a return to poor results after the international break may prove to be the tipping point and potentially lead to the Englishman’s sacking, though Postecoglou will no longer be waiting in the wings.

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