Even Ange Postecoglou concedes with a smile that you’re more likely to find him sunning himself on a Greek island than being a football manager when he’s 76.

But Spurs’ Australian boss has all the respect in the world for Roy Hodgson, the septuagenarian eminence grise he’ll be pitting his wits against again on Friday (Saturday AEDT) as Tottenham seek to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to five points.

Former England boss Roy Hodgson is the oldest manager in the domestic game and still going strong, having come out of retirement to save Crystal Palace from relegation at the end of last season.

It prompted the idle thought about whether Postecoglou, who’s only been in the Premier League for a couple of months, might end up still pacing the touchline when he’s the same vintage as Hodgson.

“Who knows. That’s not the plan,” Postecoglou told reporters at his eve-of-match news conference on Thursday.

“Seventy-six? Somewhere on a Greek island, lying back watching football from around the world, maybe doing some punditry and becoming an expert overnight....

“That’s the plan but you never know in life, mate.”

Postecoglou, 18 years younger than Hodgson at 58, recalled his first duel with Hodgson when they were both international bosses - a Socceroos-Three Lions international at Sunderland in 2016 which England won 2-1.

“He’s an outstanding manager and gentleman,” said Postecoglou.

“He has had the richest of careers here, abroad, with big clubs, smaller clubs, with honours and fought against relegation.

“For someone like me who has had a different journey, I look at someone like Roy and I have so much admiration for the career he has had.

“When he does decide to quit - which won’t be for a while with the way he is going - he can look back at such a rich career.

“I think it means more than having success, earning a lot of money or fame. He can go to multiple clubs and countries and be welcomed with open arms.”

But wily Hodgson, who first managed in the English top-flight with Blackburn back before the turn of the Millennium, will prove a formidable opponent at Selhurst Park for Postecoglou, who’s still unbeaten in the league since his arrival.

Spurs went back top on Monday with another London derby win, 2-0 at home to Fulham, and can extend their lead before Arsenal and Manchester City play this weekend.

But the down-to-earth Aussie wasn’t about to get too excited about the prospect of a five-point gap - an unthinkable prospect so quick after his arrival.

Reciting his now well-worn mantra that suggests Spurs fans shouldn’t yet get overly excited, he said: “We’re in a good space at the moment but we’ve still got plenty of work to do to make sure what we do now is sustainable.

“It’s not about making a short-term impact, it’s about building something which hopefully brings sustained opportunities of success for the club.

“There is a really good reason no manager will talk about winning a title in October or November - because we know there’s a long way to go.”