Downing Honduras in Sydney to book a place at the World Cup brought on a cocktail of mixed emotions for Postecoglou.

One of relief, sadness and reflection.

Opening up in an extract from his article for sports storytelling platform playersvoice.com.au, the former Australian mentor says he was flooded with memories of his “immigrant father" and mother and the sacrifices they had made to provide him with the platform to build a better life.    

“When the whistle went against Honduras, I took a moment for myself,” he said.

“I thought of my Dad. I am the son of immigrants. We came here with nothing and my parents had the hardest of lives, working with very little joy but giving their children the opportunity for something better.

“His son had now paid back this adopted land by taking them to a World Cup.

“I have often spoken of his tough love, how he said after that Asian Cup that a better substitution by me would have meant we didn’t go into extra-time. Even when I called him after the game, he said the first half wasn’t great but we did better in the second! 

"I know he would have been proud though, as I was. I made a point of going to every staff member and player and telling them exactly that. This was my crusade in many ways but, in the end, they were the protagonists.”

Postecoglou copped much criticism for his playing style throughout the latter stages of his time as coach.

He said his philosophy throughout his tenure for him and his players was to never take a backward step.  

“With the ball or without it, we would make sure that, regardless of the opposition or situation, our approach would be to attack,” he said.  

“Our formation, tactics and selections reflected this in every way. With the ball, we wanted to become a team that dominated possession and played forward. Without it, we would always try and stop them as high up the field as possible. 

“It was not always smooth and sometimes impossible to do, particularly when the weather or the pitch screamed for a different approach.

“I wouldn’t let the players off the hook, however. We needed to try to do it in the hardest conditions because I knew the most difficult challenge still lay ahead. 

“At no stage was there resistance. The players relished the challenge and would bear the consequences.”

Postecoglou has detailed the sacrifices his family made for him during his four years as head coach, no more so than his wife, Georgia.

The saying that behind every good man is a great woman rings particularly true as Postecoglou reflects on the undeniable impact his wife had on his success.  

“After every home game, I made sure to look for my wife in the stands. She would always be there, in her Socceroo top amongst our dear friends, surrounded by other supporters,” he said.

“She would not go to the corporate box. She was as much a fan as anyone.

“After the final game it was different, however. We both knew this could be the last time, so I wanted to share the moment with her and my eldest boy James who was at the game.

“This journey was very much a family one. My two youngest were both born during this time, so every trip away had added significance.

“It was not the way I expected it to finish. I didn’t speak to the players and staff after the game. It was the only time in my four years I had failed to do so.

“To be honest, it would have been impossible for me to do so. These were people who believed in an idea and, by extension, me. I felt like I would be letting them down. 

“The days after were a little bit of a blur. We tried to enjoy the moment, however there was a cloud of uncertainty that was constantly present. 

“I haven’t celebrated properly yet. It’s something I am not good at. I will spend time with family and friends who have been there through thick and thin. 

"Since the announcement I have been touched by the messages I have received from the player. I tend to keep my distance from them because it makes it easier for me to work and I sometimes wonder if they know how much I care about them. It was nice to know they understood.

“Those who don’t know me want a reason why I’m leaving. People can draw their own conclusions from what I’ve said already. I am hoping over time that there will be a clearer understanding of both my decision and what led to it.

“But the future is bright. If nothing else, I wanted to show that the Aussie spirit we love should not be defined as just being scrappy and up for a fight.

“We can be as sophisticated in our approach as anyone else. We have some of the brightest minds in every field and footballers whose courage knows no bounds. In time, I hope this era will be seen as the end of the beginning.”