Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou cemented himself as a bona fide club legend on Saturday evening.

By defeating Inverness Caledonian Thistle 3-1, he and his team secured a world-record eighth domestic treble in the sun at Hampden Park, in what was a glorious day both on and off of the pitch.

In doing so, he joined a select group of managers to achieve this feat whilst at the club, the latest name in an esteemed list including Jock Stein, Martin O’Neill, Brendan Rodgers and Neil Lennon. Not bad company for the Australian manager to keep, especially given his relatively short spell with the club so far.

No one can take that away from him, regardless of what transpires very shortly with his position at the club. The speculation regarding Postecoglou to Tottenham Hotspur is certainly not going away, with many quarters believing his refusal to outright refute or dismiss the links indicates that a departure from the club may be afoot.

Unlike another specific individual on the treble-winning list, the incumbent manager would be leaving his position in the most classy and dignified fashion. Indeed, not midway through the season at the first sign of interest from down south, but at the conclusion of a stellar campaign with his stock at its highest.

READ MORE: The three Celtic words that painfully didn't come from Postecoglou

If this is the end for Postecoglou and his time at Celtic, then what a way it is for him to sign off. Looking back, it must be highlighted just how much of a mess Celtic was in when he took the reins vacated by Lennon the previous season. They had fallen at the final hurdle in the quest for ’10 in a Row’, with Rangers winning the league by 25 points in what was a dismal season.

His appointment caused a wealth of emotions from all sectors when it was announced in June 2021, following the board’s failure to recruit Eddie Howe. Some notable pundits could not even say Postecoglou’s name correctly, never mind spell it. A relative unknown to the European game, he had a job on his hands to switch the narrative surrounding him, which could only be done by winning football matches on the pitch.

Postecoglou inherited a talented but jaded squad of players, many of whom were pondering their futures at the club. Established stars such as Odsonne Edouard and Kristoffer Ajer did leave, but their departure in turn paved the way for new heroes to take their place, both already at the club and those brought in by the manager in the transfer window.

Fast forward to 2023, and it just had to be the three players whom Postecoglou relied on so heavily in his first season that came up with the goods when it mattered. Kyogo Furuhashi, Liel Abada and Jota, three of Celtic’s main goal threats in the 21/22 season, all scored at Hampden, in what was surely a full-circle moment for both them and their manager who brought them in.

Celtic’s third goal-scorer on the day would have appreciated this moment more than most, given Jota’s love for football and the culture surrounding the beautiful game. Following his goal to regain the two-goal advantage on the day, the winger jumped over the advertising boards to stand on the gates in front of the supporters, who were only too happy to join in with his celebrations. This was a scene reminiscent of his celebrations at Celtic Park in the 1-0 win against Dundee United last season, where he did the exact same thing following his assist to Abada, who incidentally returned the favour this time around.

These moments demonstrate the strong character installed into the team, for which Postecoglou is greatly responsible. The way in which he has shifted the mentality of this Celtic squad in such a short space of time is a testament to his ability as both a manager and a leader, showing all the credentials to be able to manage at an even higher level.

Indeed, it does feel like there is a strong feeling of inevitability that Postecoglou will leave the club if an expected approach by Spurs is made. At 57 years old, this may be the right time for him to take the plunge and try his hand down south in the elite environment that is the English Premier League.

READ MORE: Ange Postecoglou outlines 48 Hour Celtic timeline amid Spurs link

If he does go, he will face some of the same problems he has encountered at Celtic following his arrival. Off the pitch, he will experience a disengaged fanbase at odds with the hierarchy of the club and the way they are running it. Meanwhile, on the pitch, he will have to deal with a wantaway striker, along with a squad of talented players who have underachieved in the previous season.

These parallels paint a grim picture of what he may be signing up for, but Postecoglou is not one for shirking away at a challenge, having faced these exact scenarios before - and succeeded spectacularly. His age, along with the potential accolade of being the first person from Australia to manage in the Premier League, may point towards now as being the right time to depart Celtic.

Despite all of the speculation surrounding his name, Postecoglou’s Celtic legacy and legend status are secured. His name will be uttered in the same sentences as historic custodians of the club such as Stein and O’Neill, and his impact will be as widespread and lasting as that of Rodgers and Lennon in the years to come.