News that Harry Kewell will join up with Ange Postecoglou at Celtic Park – after the Greek-Aussie sets about calibrating his backroom team and playing staff for a full-on assault at European football’s premier club competition next year – has been met with unanimous delight in various quarters of the game.
One-time Hoops target Mat Ryan and former Dundee United striker Derek Lilley have talked-up the potential Celtic dream team for next season. Ryan, who came close to joining Ange at the club last summer insists it is good to see the Aussie flag being flown in European football by coaches as well as players now.
He said, as reported by Daily Record: “Another well-respected, and deservedly so, name in football linking up there with Ange from what I can see is only going to be a positive. I wish them all the best if that is the case and they’re working together.
“Hopefully, they can just keep growing a strong Australian name and respect in European football or in world football. The more respect they get, hopefully, it’s more and more opportunities for the Australian stars of tomorrow to get opportunities over in Europe, in the bigger and better leagues.”
Meanwhile, Lilley, who was a stalwart of the Scottish game for years at the Arabs and Morton, conceived that Kewell could be the extra bit of spice that makes the Bhoys a force on the continent once again. Speaking via Scottish Sun, he said: He has got a winner’s medal from Liverpool after being part of the team that beat AC Milan in Istanbul. He also got to the semi-final at Leeds and played so many other games at the highest level in Europe for both clubs.
“I’m sure that would have been part of Ange’s thinking when he approached him. Throughout his career Harry was consistently coming up against the best teams and the best players in Europe. That kind of insight can be worth its weight in gold. Probably the only thing Celtic would have been disappointed with last season was their performance in Europe. Knowing Harry as I do, he will feel he can contribute to making a difference.”
A former teammate of Kewell’s, the Scotsman reckons linking up with big Ange can make this current crop of Hoops’ players a tour de force. He continued: I had a chat with him at St Johnstone and he did seem very keen on coming to Scotland. There was a real eagerness and desire. That tells you what kind of person he is. He’ll see this as a massive opportunity and I think Celtic will be a good fit for him.
“As a player Harry was a winger or striker with a wand of a left foot. He was constantly on the front foot no matter the opposition and that’s the way Ange loves to play. Celtic’s brand of football was first class for most of last season. They’ll be singing from the same hymn sheet. He is a very straightforward guy and a very straight-talking guy. Like Ange, what you see is what you get.
He added: “He’s still the same as when he came to Leeds as a teenager. As well as being one of the best players I played with, he has that mental toughness you need to be a top player and top coach.”
It seems Ange’s new coach has a ringing endorsement from across the board.
Paul Gillespie
It’s Father’s Day this Sunday so why not order a copy of David Potter’s new book, Willie Fernie – Putting on the Style and we’ll get it posted straight away. You can order from Celtic Star Books – using the link below – or alternatively you can pick up a copy from any of the official Celtic Stores…
Alec McNair – Celtic’s Icicle by David Potter and both Invincible and Harry Hood Twice as Good by Matt Corr are also available from Celtic Star Books. Both of Matt’s book currently come with a free t-shirt featuring Tom Rogic or Harry Hood as part of our Father’s Day promotion.
