“It is a huge honour to be appointed to this position with Celtic, such a giant of a Club and a real iconic footballing institution – this really is an opportunity I could simply not turn down,” Gavin Strachan
Gavin Strachan ahead of Celtic’s 3-0 win at Livingston at the end of October 2022. . Photo for The Celtic Star by Vagelis Georgariou
Gavin Strachan joined Celtic as a coach in 2020 after what had been an underwhelmimg career, both at the playing and management level.
The son of the successful former Celtic manager Gordon Strachan, many were wondering what exactly was Gavin Strachan bringing beyond a name? For the most cynical, his appointment was seen as cronyism at its worst, a charge that was being raised repeatedly against the club in many appointments during the 2010s.
Anyhow, putting all those charges aside, he’d arrived during the covid era, so not an easy time to get the right new people on board. Neil Lennon was the manager and the past season was a success on paper but the faultlines were clear to all.
Celtic v St Mirren – Photo: Andrew Milligan
Often seen on the bench with his iPad, the wits in the support often humoured about it, but in a more stats obsessed environment he was playing a new important part in the gameplan.
However, not long into his first season at Celtic as a coach, he was one to get it heavily in the neck as Celtic fell off the cliff as theRangers went on to lift their first league title, with Celtic’s challenge snuffed out before it really began. It was already clear in the final treble winning season that the management team was living on its laurels.
He had the honour to step in as a temporary manager for two matches following the enforced covid self-isolation of Lennon, Kennedy & 13 players following a Dubai trip! Both matches under his charge were draws, and as Celtic faltered during this time, it little helped his case.
19th December 2021; Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland; Scottish League Cup final, Hibernian versus Celtic: Gavin Strachan of Celtic coaching staff hugs Joe Hart of Celtic after his saves help to win the cup
There is no denying the vitriol against the club at this time by sections of the support, and Strachan was given little leeway too. Unlike his colleagues, he had the misfortune to not have the background to buffer him in these unsettled moments. He stuck by his team and kept his head up which was something to respect.
Once Ange Postecoglou was brought in to Celtic he retained both Kennedy and Strachan (much to the surprise of everyone). As Postecoglou turned things round with Celtic winning the league title, the pressure and focus was off Strachan and Kennedy.
Even the introduction of Harry Kewell did not lead to any demotion. Possibly a benefit of Strachan was it allowed any possible flak to end up being diverted onto him and away from the other coaches!
You had to respect Strachan for sticking it through despite any cynicism, and after all the travails in his first season, it was quite a relief to be part of a league winning management team under Postecoglou. A wonderful new experience for him, and clearly he was learning and deserving of some respect, something that clearly had been lacking previously in his time at Celtic.
Assistant coach Gavin Strachan gives instructions to David Turnbull (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
When you have to follow in your father’s footsteps, it’s a hard act, and there was admittedly a gulf between him and his father when it came to achievements in football. However, as part of the Celtic coaching staff he could still help achieve so much that everyone would take pride in.
If you wish to measure his commitment then for example in 2021, Gavin Strachan turned down the opportunity to take over as Hartlepool manager in order to remain at Celtic. He also has been linked with other roles such as with vacant roles at Dundee, but has remained.
Overall, it’s hard to give a definitive answer on Gavin Strachan. The inevitable comparisons to his father are pointless, and so far he has had quite a turbulent emotional time at Celtic, but maybe that’s the joy of the role. Those highs and lows. He’s deservedly survived, and with the improvement in set piece play this season, looks like his contributions have paid dividends. Admittedly still much room for improvement and development, but if in Ange we trust then in Gavin Strachan too we must trust.
Maybe just maybe, if we do wish to see him emulate what his father achieved in results then the Champions League is what he should be aiming for. A big ask, but really it’s for opportunities like that is why he has chosen the roller coaster journey with Celtic rather than the easy journey elsewhere.
I look forward to reviewing his time in Celtic in the future, but in truth I don’t know what predictions to make. Only to say benchmarks must include, team and player development, reinforcing the domestic hegemony as well as progress in Europe. Easier said than done but we wish him the best.
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