More than a week on from Brendan Rodgers resigning at Celtic, speculation is rife over who will be the next manager.
Increasingly things are taking a familiar shape. Irish- tick. Former Celtic boss- tick.
Martin O’Neill come on down. With an almost 100% buy in from supporters.
To find out who will be the next Celtic manager you mainly have to look at previous appointments.
Occasionally there is a real left field move, such as Ange Postecoglou or Ronny Deila but generally there is a pattern that revolves around the contact book of Dermot Desmond.
DESMOND DECIDES
When it comes to the big, big decisions, despite PLC status it is clear that one Non Executive Director is driving the bus.
It isn’t Tom Allison or Brian Wilson that managers refer to when they discuss how they were appointed.
Back in 2000 after Allan MacDonald’s John Barnes appointment had failed spectacularly Guus Hiddink was strongly linked with the Celtic job.
THE HIDDINK CHASE
So strongly that Willie Haughey was dispatched to Seville to help the deal trough. At that time Dick Advocaat was in charge of Rangers, Wim Jansen had delivered Celtic’s only title success in a decade. In 2000 Dutch coaches/managers were all the rage.
Desmond wasn’t so sure. He seemed to block the move for Hiddink. Through his Manchester United links Alex Ferguson nodded towards O’Neill.
It was an appointment that turned Celtic round. They have increasingly dominated Scottish football this century. That trend can be traced back to O’Neill’s appointment.
An additional pointer as to who is in the running for the job can be found in the source of stories. Stephen McGowan and increasingly David Friel have strong track records of getting things very very accurate. Friel is a colleague of Roger Hannah at the Scottish Sun.
KIERAN MCKENNA
Was the first name seriously linked, an EXCLUSIVE from McGowan. An upcoming Irish manager with some successon his CV and Celtic leanings. Certainly a contender but he find find the Celtic set up a little too much like the 1990s.
ANGE POSTECOGLOU
Sacked by Nottingham Forest a fortnight before Rodgers resigned there is a lot of emotion at Celtic, turning the clock back usually works out. Until the returning boss is reminded of the reasons why they left in the first place.
There seems to be some fans hostile to Ange returning. A comparison of Celtic in June 2021 and June 2023 shouldn’t be necessary. He is up there with O’Neill and Rodgers as turn around specialists.
KJETIL KNUTSEN
Achieving legendary status with Bodo Glimt. Back in 2021 some Celtic fan media outlets were pushing his name.
In 2022 Bodo dealt comfortably with Ange’s Celtic in the Europa Conference. Knutsen and Bodo continue in an upward trajectory. Like McKenna he’d be horrified by the recruitment strategy at Celtic.
THE EX CELTS
Robbie Keane, Craig Belamy and now Efrain Juarez. Keane is a complete No-No, he might attract a bigger crowd to his unveiling than Rodgers in 2016 but for different reasons. England is the next step in his career.
Bellamy is developing a profile but untested in club management. Wales seems a perfect fit for him for now. It is difficult to imagine such a fiery player in management but there are other examples.
Juarez isn’t happening. Good for his ego and profile to be linked, no harm in it but he’s now joining Celtic in mid-season to pick up from Rodgers.
GOOD FOR PROFILE AND CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS
Nicky Hayden of Club Brugge and currently out of work Mark van Bommel have both been linked. Both have profiles, Hayden is looking for a new improved deal from Brugge, van Bommel’s agent wants folk reminded of his availability.
Roberto Martinez also falls into that kind of category. Like Juarez he managed to find a Scottish wife during a short time in Scottish football.
O’NEILL AND MALONEY
O’Neill is currently the bookies favourite for the job at between 2/1 and 3/1. Maloney appears at between 16/1 and 20/1.
Unless something incredible happens the O’Neill and Maloney partnership or vise versa looks to be in control.
Last week neither was pushing that idea. Two matches on the mood is changing, they might look like the Odd Couple in the dug-out but certain dynamics create good partnerships.
Maloney could easily spend his entire day on footballing matters. O’Neill less so.
After the international break Celtic are away to St Mirren, Feyenoord and Hibs, a testing nine day programme.
If the current management team remain in charge for that run of fixtures then the other candidates can start looking elsewhere. Until the summer at least when the Maloney might be ready to go solo as O’Neill takes a back seat with new chapters for his next autobiography.
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