'Ready to go to next level' - Postecoglou's first Al Nassr interview!

The reigning Roshn Saudi League champions are embarking on a new era, with Al Nassr getting to know Ange Postecoglou following his appointment last week as manager.

The former Australia, Celtic and Tottenham Hotspur tactician touched down in Riyadh on Saturday and has already been putting the squad through their paces as preparations begin for the 2026-27 RSL campaign – and Al Nassr’s first title defence in seven years.

Having signed a two-year contract as Jorge Jesus’ successor, Postecoglou sat down with the Al Nassr media team at the club's HQ to talk why he took the job, his thoughts on the season ahead, and the increasingly competitive Saudi top flight.

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On joining Al Nassr

“I think the most important thing for me is during my whole career, I've enjoyed taking on new challenges, new competitions, working with different people and growing from that. So, it's another opportunity for me to test myself in a new environment and new country with a new team.

“Always the challenge is the same. Whether you take over a club… I've taken over many clubs that weren't successful, made them successful, other clubs that have been successful and continued that.

“For me, the most important thing is that I've already had a good connection with the people who I've met at the club and I'm excited by the possibilities of what we can achieve. 

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On challenges ahead

“I have a lot of ambition too, so I'm glad the club has - that's why I'm here. I've worked a lot through Asia and come from this part of the world. And even when I was in Europe, I always said to people that all the success I've had has been harder; just because it is in Asia doesn't mean it's easy. I know how difficult it is every competition, the challenges.

“You look at the Saudi league and how much it's grown in the last few years and now there's four, five, six clubs that all are very, very competitive and want to win. [AFC Asian] Champions League [Elite] is very, very challenging.

“But I've come to a club now where there's some stability, which is important over the last few years.”

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On building on success

“Mr. Jesus did an outstanding job last year to win the championship and now the club is ready to go to the next level, and that's why I'm here. Every year is new. 

“I've had a lot of success in my career, but every new year I start with the same thought in my head: I want this year to be the best ever. It doesn't matter what you've done in the past.

“It's important to win things and I think for any club, for any person, when you win something, you get the taste of it, you want this again, but you have to remember what it takes to get there, how hard you have to work, the sacrifices. And that's the important thing.

“But for me, every year I start, I want to make it the best year ever. For me, for the club I'm with, for the people I work with. And that's how we start this year.”

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On “always winning trophies in second season”

“That quote was when people didn't believe I could win anything because I was at a club, Tottenham, that hadn't won anything for 17 years, hadn't won a European trophy for 40 years. And I was in my second year.

“When I was at Celtic, I won a double in my first year. So, I think the reason I made that statement was I wanted to make sure that people understood that I knew we could win something at Tottenham, a club that wasn't recognised for winning things.

“So, for me, it doesn't matter, first year, second year, third year. Every year I coach, I want to win things. But it's not just about winning; it's about how you win, how you play your football. That is also very important to me.

“[I’m] super excited to be here. It's a privilege and an honour for me to coach such a big club, and we'll have some fun this year. We will make an impact. We'll try and be as successful as possible and we'll do it in a way that everyone enjoys.”