Carlton coach Michael Voss has revealed he received a personal message from Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou following the club's Europa League final win over Manchester United.
Postecoglou, who became the first Australian to win a major European club competition, is a longtime Carlton supporter and previously sat on the selection panel that appointed Brendon Bolton as head coach in 2015.
Voss said he had sent a congratulatory message to Postecoglou after the final, not expecting a response. Instead, the Spurs boss replied with a brief but meaningful note: “Always watching.”
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Speaking on Thursday, Voss said the message reflected Postecoglou’s enduring connection to the AFL club.
“I wasn't expecting a reply, but such is the man, he replied,” Voss told reporters. “Short and succinct, and the last message was, ‘Always watching’, which was a nice little message at the end.”
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Voss spent time at Tottenham during the off-season as part of a professional development trip, observing Postecoglou’s methods up close. He described the Europa League victory as “special”, praising Postecoglou’s unwavering commitment to his philosophy.
“He’s very forthright in his views, and I think some people have called him stubborn at times,” Voss said. “But I just see a coach that really believes in what he thinks is the right way to do it, and he’s proven that over time.”
The Carlton coach said Postecoglou’s journey served as a reminder to stay focused amid external noise. “It really doesn't matter what other people say. It's more about what we think and what we believe,” he said.