CELTIC this afternoon announced the appointments of Damien Duff as Reserve Team Coach and former captain Stephen McManus as Under-18s’ Coach. Both appointments were expected as Brendan Rodgers re-structures the younger end of the football department.
Duff has been working as a first team coach at Shamrock Rovers and the former Ireland winger has impressed in that role. He will now work alongside Tommy McIntyre in managing Celtic’s Reserve team.
Big Mick returns to Celtic from Motherwell where he has been coaching since hanging up his boots at Fir Park in August 2017. McManus won 6 major honours in the Hoops – 3 league titles, 2 Scottish Cups and a League Cup.
“The passion and respect I have for Celtic is well-known and it really is a fantastic honour to join this great club again, McManus told the official site.
“I had the huge privilege of pulling on the Celtic jersey and enjoying some tremendous moments which will stay with me forever, playing on the highest stage and being part of a team that brought success and silverware to some of the best fans in the world.
“It was a real dream come true to reach the Celtic first team and now it will be an absolute privilege to work every day with our young players to see if they can live their own dreams, to wear such an iconic jersey and play their part in creating history for the club. I am really looking forward to this challenge and being part of Celtic once again.”
Damien Duff was just as delighted at his new appointment.
“I am absolutely delighted to join Celtic in this new role and be part of a club for which I have such huge respect. It is a massive honour to be given this opportunity and I am looking forward to playing my part in developing our young players of the future.
“We will be aiming to do all we can to create a good environment for our young players, to promote positive, attacking football, to play the Celtic Way and make them ready for the challenges of first-team football.
“I can’t wait get started in my new role and do all I can to make a positive difference to some exciting players we already have at the club.”
Brendan Rodgers, speaking for the club, described the new appointments as “real high-calibre individuals”, saying:
“We are delighted to welcome Damien and Stephen to Celtic. Both men are real high-calibre individuals who have a huge knowledge of the game.
“We are really pleased they have agreed to join the club and I know the ability they have as coaches and the experiences they have, being part of top-level football for so many years in their own careers, will be of huge benefit to our younger players.”
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