One thing from the first few days back at training that has slightly gone under the radar due to the ongoing transfer saga of Jota and the soon to be arrival of Alexandro Bernabei, was the first day of training Harry Kewell was involved in after joining Ange Postecoglou’s backroom team for the upcoming season.
Kewell was announced recently as another football brain to complement the already successful team of Ange, John Kennedy, Gavin Strachan and Stevie Woods – with Stephen McManus teaming up with former defensive partner Darren O’Dea to take the current Celtic development squad or B – team.
However, Ange has spoken of Harry’s qualities and his ability to contribute ideas and bring tactical nous at the highest level of the game. Having never worked with his fellow Aussie before, Ange is glad he finally has the chance to collaborate with a man he has the utmost respect for. Speaking to Celtic TV about Kewell, he said: “We’ve never worked together but he’s obviously one of Australia’s greatest ever footballers and a guy who’s worked really hard trying to get a coaching career going, and from afar, the reports I’ve had on him, he’ll bring some real good qualities in terms of his on-field coaching, his ability to mentor players.
“For me it was really important that when the players came back this year that they understood that nothing stands still. There’s constant evolution, we want to be better every year, and seeing a couple of new faces in the staff is going to help that.
He added: “He’ll bring an energy. I know he’s super-excited at being involved at this level and this football club. He’s got Champions League experience as a player – he’s won it, and he’s an attacking player as well which I think will help the group we’ve got, and the balance we’ve got in the coaching group. Along with Stephen McManus and Darren O’Dea, I’ve got a really good exciting, young, vibrant coaching group that I know are going to put a lot of energy into both the first team and the B team this year.”
Watch Ange talk about Harry and much more in his first interview of the season with Celtic TV:
Paul Gillespie
