Carl Starfelt hails Ange Postecoglou as he nears Celtic exit
The Swede was one of Postecoglou's first signings in Glasgow
Carl Starfelt believes he has taken "very big steps" under the tutelage of Ange Postecoglou as the Celtic boss heads for talks with Tottenham Hotspur over their vacant managerial position.
The Parkhead club have granted the Australian permission to speak with the Premier League side, with his appointment to widely expected to happen in the coming days.
The backdrop to the Hoops' 3-1 Scottish Cup final win over Championship side Inverness at Hampden Park on Saturday was the link between the former Australia manager and Spurs.
Goals from Kyogo Furuhashi, Liel Abada and Jota rendered Dan MacKay's header a consolation as the Parkhead club completed their eighth domestic treble - a world record.
Fans hero Postecoglou arrived at Parkhead in June 2021 and brought in the Sweden centre-back from Rubin Kazan the following month and Starfelt - who insisted that he had no knowledge of what his boss intended to do - has enjoyed his development as a player in that period.
He said: "Obviously, he brought me here. I was one of the first signings he made and he has given me a lot of trust.
"He has been really good for me and my development, also the way he wants centre-backs to play is really developing.
"I feel that I have been taking very big steps and also he demands the very best from every player which makes us better.
"So, obviously he has been really good for me and a lot of the players."
Starfelt acknowledged the widespread influence of Postecoglou at Celtic, where he arrived after the league title had decanted to Rangers, wresting it back to the east end of Glasgow at the first attempt.
He said: "It is really important for the club - everyone can see that.
"He came in when it was a really tough period and has done this rebuild. He is just a really good manager and everyone knows he is really important for the club but we will have to wait and see what happens, I don't know.
"After the game he said that he was really proud of everyone.
"He knows how hard we have been working all season, not only in the games, coming into training every day with 100 per cent focus, which is what is needed to achieve this kind of thing as it is not easy. It took a lot to get us to this place.
"We have been working really hard all season. I am really happy, delighted, happy and proud of the boys and the staff.
"We worked so hard and the treble is not an easy thing to achieve so I'm really happy."
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Founded in 1888, Willie Maley was Celtic's first manager and one of the most successful managers in Scottish football history. He managed the club from 1897 to 1940, winning thirty major trophies (16 league championships and 14 Scottish Cups).
Jimmy McStay (circled) managed Celtic between 1940 and 1945. However, this clashed with the suspension of the League and Scottish Cup during wartime, meaning he never had the opportunity to manage the club in official competitions.
All-time leading goalscorer in top-flight British football Jimmy McGrory managed Celtic from 1945 to 1965. He won one First Division trophy, two Scottish League Cups, two Scottish Cups, four Glasgow Cups, one Coronation Cup, one Saint Mungo Cup and four Glasgow Charity Cups.
Jock Stein managed Celtic from 1965 to 1978 and guided Celtic to nine successive Scottish League championships between 1966 and 1974. He also won one European Cup, eight Scottish Cups, six Scottish League Cups, five Glasgow Cups and one Drybrough Cup.
Billy McNeil managed Celtic from 1978 to 1983. McNeil won three Scottish League titles, one Scottish Cup, one Scottish League Cup and one Glasgow Cup.
McNeil returned from 1987 to 1991 where he won one Scottish League title and two Scottish Cups.
David Hay managed Celtic from 1983 to 1987 and won one Scottish League title and one Scottish Cup.
Liam Brady managed Celtic from 1991 to 1993 but failed to win any trophies.
Lou Macari managed Celtic from 1993 to 1994 but he failed to win any trophies.
Tommy Burns managed Celtic from 1994 to 1997 and he won one Scottish Cup.
Wim Jansen managed Celtic from 1997 to 1998 and won One Scottish Premier Division Title and One Scottish League Cup.
Jozef Venglos managed Celtic from 1998 to 1999 but did not win any trophies
John Barnes managed Celtic from 1999 to 2000 but did not win any trophies.
Kenny Dalglish managed Celtic in 2000 and won one Scottish League Cup
Martin O'Neil managed Celtic from 2000 to 20005 and won three Scottish Premier Leagues, three Scottish Cups and one Scottish League Cup.
Gordon Strachan managed Celtic from 2005 to 2009 and won three consecutive Scottish Premier League Titles, one Scottish Cup and two Scottish League Cups.
Tony Mowbray managed Celtic from 2009 to 2010 but failed to win any trophies.
Neil Lennon managed Celtic from 2010 to 2014 and he won three Scottish Premier League titles and two Scottish Cups.
Lennon returned from 2019 to 2021, where he won two more League titles, two Scottish Cups and one Scottish League Cup.
Ronny Delia managed from 2014 to 2016 where he won two Scottish Premierships and one Scottish League Cup.
Brendan Rodgers managed Celtic from 2016 to 2019 where he won two Scottish Premierships, two Scottish Cups and three Scottish League Cups.
Ange Postecoglou took over as Celtic manager in 2021 and has won a Scottish League Cup.