Full circle for McManus as he renews link with Kennedy

STEPHEN McManus and John Kennedy were starry-eyed 15-year-olds when they signed for Celtic on the same day.

Both would eventually live the dream by breaking into the first team at Parkhead.

In 2004, however, a career-ending injury suffered by Kennedy while playing for Scotland against Romania dashed hopes that the homegrown pair would go on to form the club’s centre-half partnership for years to come.

At least the duo’s careers finally came full circle this week when former Hoops captain McManus was named Celtic’s new Under-18s coach.

He has joined existing first-team coach Kennedy on Brendan Rodgers’ staff, with former Republic of Ireland winger Damien Duff also arriving as reserve team coach.

‘John Kennedy and I both signed for Celtic on the same day,’ recalled McManus (right) yesterday.

‘My mum still has the photo on her mantelpiece and I’ve still got the shirt I was wearing that day. And now we’re both on the coaching staff!

‘Of all the young players that I played with, John Kennedy was the one who was robbed. There’s no doubt in my eyes that he would have been one of the best defenders this country has produced.

‘I played with him at a young age and his mentality separated him from everyone else.

‘I’m very grateful for the career I’ve had in football and it’s all down to the upbringing I had here at Celtic.

‘And John will be the exact same. It’s now gone full circle and I’m delighted to be back. But this is not about John or I. We have had our careers. ‘That’s come and gone and now the next step is to help produce young players to be a big part in the manager’s first team and to win as many trophies as they possibly can.’ McManus, who leaves a coaching post at Motherwell to return to Celtic, hopes to eventually save the Scottish champions millions by helping rear the next generation of homegrown talent. He’s not short of shining examples to prove the pathway is there if youngsters combine hard work with natural ability. ‘You need to have inspirational figures there,’ said the 36-year-old. ‘And I don’t think there could be three better figures than Kieran Tierney, James Forrest and Callum McGregor. ‘I will be using them as the example to the young players of what they can achieve. ‘Thankfully enough, I have been one of those three players in the past. And I recognise how hard you have to work to get there. You can’t cheat in your career. You need to work just as hard — or harder — when there is nobody watching. ‘Every day I will be working as hard as I can to try to give the young players here the best possible opportunity to play in the first team. ‘If you can produce young players who are going to save the club millions of pounds, then great, and that’s what I’m going to focus on.’