Ange Postecoglou has hailed Celtic fans for having his back from the moment he set foot in Glasgow.
The 56-year-old arrived from Yokohama F. Marinos as an unknown quantity in European football and his appointment was met with some initial scepticism.
The narrative wasn't helped by the very public pursuit of Eddie Howe collapsing at the last second after a protracted pursuit.
Postecoglou has set about proving his doubters wrong and his Premiership leaders remain on course for a domestic Treble.
But he hasn't forgotten the supporters who embraced him as "one of us" even when early results were ropey.
The Celtic boss told Optus Sport: "The fans have been unbelievable and, to be fair, they've been unbelievable from, pretty much, day one.
"They obviously didn't know who I was, for the most part but it's funny... at the same they're fiercely loyal about their own people.
"Once I was announced, they just figured: 'He's one of ours now, we're going to back him, lay off him.'
"Even at the start when things were a bit rocky, particularly with results... from the moment I arrived they've been right behind me.
"They want me to succeed and then it's up to me to deliver.
"It was important for the team as well, because I thought putting a new team together, new players who are also experiencing Celtic for the first time, what I didn't want was them having the pressure of trying to appease a crowd, or not having the crowd behind them.
"Inadvertently, by backing me they were supporting the players and that helped us enormously."
