Ange Postecoglou backs South Melbourne over Melbourne Victory in Australia Cup final

Ange Postecoglou isn’t sitting on the fence when it comes to picking a team to support in Saturday night’s Australia Cup final between Melbourne Victory and South Melbourne.

Having spent time at both clubs, Postecoglou might have been torn in choosing who to cheer for in the decider at AAMI Park.

However, the pull of the club the former Socceroos boss cheered and played for as a youngster, and later captained and coached to National Soccer League success, made the choice simple and perhaps obvious.

“I represented both clubs, but I’d love it if South (Melbourne) were the first non-A League club to win the cup,” Postecoglou told Football Australia and Ten/Paramount Plus in being open about his lifetime fondness of the club that was formed in 1959 and became a home away from home for Melbourne’s large Greek community.

Regardless of the result, Postecoglou – now coach of Saudi Pro League champions Al-Nassr – wants the final to celebrate the history of football in Australia and the sport’s ability to bring people from different walks of life together.

“More than anything, it should be seen as both a celebration but also a confirmation of what Australia was always about, and that is the ability to meld people from different parts of the world into a feeling of common goals and values around sport and how it brings you together, and how it does cross all barriers,” the 61-year-old former Tottenham and Celtic manager said.

“Football was and always should be an open church, and that’s hopefully what people will come to realise.

“There might be South supporters there even older than me who have watched many generations of their team and love their football, and there may be others who have only come into the game late and have a passion for Melbourne Victory.

“Both are equally as important to what football has meant to our country.

“Hopefully, people see it as a bit of a celebration and a confirmation that football has a great way of opening doors to joyous things.”

Postecoglou, who coached Victory in 2012 and 2013 before leaving to take charge of the Socceroos, was anything but surprised that the final would be played in front of a sold-out crowd.

“The beauty of cup competitions is that this kind of fixturing comes together organically without it being pre-determined.

“I can just imagine just how excited people are because Melbourne Victory are firmly established as one of the biggest, if not the biggest club in Australia, but for South, my feeling is that there’s a real appetite again to grow the club.

“There’s a real enthusiasm again about just showcasing what South was all about and is still about in terms of how it represents its community and, more importantly, how it represents football.