Virtually every week and a half on from Brendan Rodgers’ shock resignation from Celtic, the Scottish champions seem no nearer to naming a everlasting successor, with this supervisor saga prone to run and run if latest historical past is something to go by.
Whereas the abrupt nature of the Northern Irishman’s exit has little doubt put the membership hierarchy on the again foot, there may be little proof to recommend that these on the helm will safe a substitute swiftly.
You solely should look again to the chaos surrounding the Eddie Howe and Ange Postecoglou developments again in 2021.
The worry is that regardless of a optimistic week or so on the pitch, the Hoops might nicely take the straightforward route till the top of the season, with latest reviews suggesting that 73-year-old interim boss Martin O’Neill is in line to see out the marketing campaign.
The enigmatic and much-loved coach has already executed a creditable job with two wins from two, though the top ought to certainly rule over the center. A youthful, extra long-term appointment must be made.
Discovering such a determine might nicely show difficult mid-season, though a spread of targets are already being thought-about…
Newest on Celtic’s supervisor search
As already said, the considerably worrying whispers are that O’Neill might be given the reins till the summer season, even supposing the treble winner had been parachuted in after a six-year absence from the sport at managerial stage.
Turning to the veteran coach might be the one choice if Dermot Desmond and co are unable to accumulate their prime targets, nevertheless, with it but to be seen if the likes of Kieran McKenna will be prised from Ipswich City.
With a possible return for that man Postecoglou additionally deemed to be ‘not possible’, a transparent favorite for the emptiness has but to emerge, with the Scottish Solar suggesting that the Parkhead outfit have now put collectively an eight-man shortlist of doable candidates.
As per that report, among the many names who’s being thought-about is 37-year-old Efrain Juarez, with the Mexican coach touted as one thing of a shock appointment having come out of the blue as a brand new managerial goal.
Presently on the helm of Liga MX aspect Pumas UNAM, the promising coach beforehand had a short spell as a participant at Celtic between 2010 and 2012, albeit whereas making simply 21 appearances in whole throughout that forgettable stint.
Additionally beforehand an assistant coach to ex-Hoops boss Ronny Deila at New York Metropolis FC, Commonplace Liege and Membership Brugge, Juarez does have one thing of a Celtic connection, together with his identify thrown into the ring because the Premiership aspect put together interviews with potential targets.
A wildcard transfer it might actually be, though related gambles have paid off previously for the Glasgow giants…
Why Celtic might appoint their subsequent Postecoglou
As already said, Celtic are not any strangers to chaos in terms of in search of out a brand new supervisor, with the summer season of 2021 – within the wake of Neil Lennon’s second Parkhead exit – seeing a protracted pursuit of Howe show fruitless.
With time operating out forward of the brand new marketing campaign, a shock decide was chosen within the type of Postecoglou, with the Greek-Aussie later quipping that he was seen as a “joke” by many when he arrived in Scottish soccer.
Following preliminary struggles – together with a run of three away league defeats in a row – the attack-minded coach rapidly quashed the doubters after overseeing two seasons of gorgeous success, romping to 5 home trophies with a model of soccer that has hardly been seen earlier than or since.
Fluid, relentless, breathtaking – Celtic beneath Postecoglou’s watch had been a pleasure to behold, repeatedly placing the likes of Rangers to the sword with an virtually unstoppable stage of efficiency.
That outstanding stint in cost emphatically extinguished any considerations over his lack of Celtic connection or prior expertise in European soccer, with such a left-field appointment little doubt paying dividends for these at Parkhead.
Whereas Juarez does have temporary expertise of the membership, like Postecoglou he’s but to handle a European aspect in his embryonic teaching profession to date, having taken over at Pumas in March following a profitable stint at Colombian membership Atlético Nacional earlier than that.
Like Postecoglou, Juarez has needed to fend off the doubters and has executed so to notable impact. Certainly, query marks over his lack of expertise as a supervisor had been rapidly put to mattress in Colombia, as he claimed the league and cup double final 12 months.
Postecoglou’s Celtic Document | |
|---|---|
Stat | Document |
Days in cost | 750 |
Video games | 113 |
Wins | 83 |
Attracts | 12 |
Losses | 18 |
Gamers used | 53 |
Factors per recreation | 2.31 |
Trophies received | 5 |
Stats by way of Transfermarkt | |
From 27 video games in command of his former aspect, he received 15 video games and loved a factors per recreation ratio of 1.93. For context, whereas it’s a small pattern dimension, that document exceeds what Postecoglou has achieved in any of his profession stints, barring his time at Celtic, the place he achieved a 2.31 factors per recreation ratio from his 113 video games in cost, as per Transfermarkt.
A passionate coach with a method of play famous for its “fast transitions” – as per journalist Esteban Cristancho Medina – the 4-2-3-1 supervisor actually has shades of Postecoglou about him, making certain he might be a threat value taking.
Whereas, in contrast to ‘Ange’, Juarez doesn’t boast a wealth of expertise as a supervisor to this point, he has already confirmed his credentials amid his exploits in Colombia, cultivating a profitable system that might be translated into success in Scotland.
No stranger to being one thing of an underdog when appointed at his former employers, he would little doubt relish the prospect to silence any critics at Celtic – simply as Postecoglou did so earlier than him.
