Cal believes he’s a coach in the making

CELTIC midfielder Callum McGregor has revealed that he sees a long-term future in coaching once he hangs up his boots.

The versatile 25-year-old has not yet started his coaching badges but regards himself as a student of the game and will look to retain a foothold in football when his playing career ends.

“I would quite like to be a coach one day,” he said. “It’s too early to think about it now, but I do think I have that eye when I’m watching football to try and watch it tactically as opposed to wherever the ball is going. It’s definitely something I’d think about.

“I speak to John Kennedy and Chris [Davies, the Celtic assistant manager], but I’m not focused on it. I’m just trying to play and

to score. Different positions require different attributes and I’m always watching a game to see what else I can do, how else can I help?”

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has praised McGregor’s versatility and tactical understanding and the player himself attributes much of that to the fact that he has been deployed in so many different positions since he was a kid.

“I’ve played everywhere,” he said. “When I was younger, I had a season at centre-back, then one at leftback, then I was back in midfield. Off the front. I’ve played every position.”

McGregor tends to play with a smile on his face, something he explained comes from an appreciation of having realised his childhood ambition of making a career from football.

“I’ve always enjoyed playing football,” he said.