Appointing a high profile manager will pay dividends both on and off the park

The English media and pundits are desperate for an Englishman to be a successful manager of one of the top clubs in their Premier League. Why? There is not one at present and for a nation that believes it gave football to the world (it’s coming home and all that), it is seen as a stepping stone to managing the national team.

There is only one thing better than an English team winning and that’s an English team managed by an Englishman winning. The fans don’t care and, for example, a favourite chant of Liverpool fans is that Klopp is the Kaiser of the Kop.

Photo: AndyRain

At the moment, only one of their top clubs, Chelsea, is managed by an Englishman, Frank Lampard. Unfortunately the jury is out on Frank, given the amount of money they have spent on players and the relatively poor return in terms of performances and results. A 3:1 loss at home to City yesterday just added to the concerns.

The other English managers in the Premier League are Chris Wilder, Sam Allerdyce, Scott Parker, Graeme Potter, Sean Dyche, Steve Bruce, Roy Hodgson and Dean Smith. It is difficult to see any of those stepping up to the plate although two of them have previously managed the English national team! The big teams don’t tend to appoint managers from the lower leagues and I can’t think of any successful English managers who are presently managing overseas. I stress the words successful and overseas.

The English media are now essentially pinning their hopes on one rookie manager. No, I don’t think many are holding their breath on Wayne Rooney returning to manage Man United. Their great hope is none other than Steven Gerrard.

Photo: Andrew Milligan

The media and pundits are desperate for him to be a success over the way. Some see it as a stepping stone direct to managing Liverpool. Others think that could be a disaster given the last man to make that journey was Graeme Souness and that turned into a bit of a car crash. Regardless, the mantra is…….. Gerrard is a success, Gerrard is a success, repeat after me. Be prepared for the hype if he actually wins something.

It is important to appreciate that the English media are not anti-Celtic, it is just that at the moment they are pro-Steven Gerrard. Pictures of the Celtic manager and captain drinking pints beside a pool in Dubai hours after a defeat to “Steven Gerrard’s Rangers” fit the narrative. You could say it was our second own goal in consecutive days. In the name of the wee man, who is running our club at the moment? Get a grip.

You can make up your own minds if the Scottish media are biased. Suffice to say that they are pleased to have a high profile player turned manager up here because it gives them even more opportunities to write about him and his team. Normal service is resumed.

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We lost the game on Saturday to a rookie manager and we lost and will continue to lose the off field battles in the media to a high profile ex-player. We tended to win both when Brendan Rodgers was in charge. Unfortunately, Neil Lennon’s stint at Bolton did nothing to enhance his reputation down south and he doesn’t really feature on their radar. When his tenure at Celtic comes to an end, appointing a high profile manager will pay dividends both on and off the park. Celtic Board take note; maybe some of the £35million spent on players would have been better spent on restructuring.

Chris Wotherspoon

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About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

1 Comment

  1. Easier said than done, what top class manager is going to want the celtic job. Any top manager wants to run team affairs and transfers without meddling interference from directors. That’s why they want and back yes man lennon who won’t make waves.