Likely lads in line for the Celtic hotseat
Rangers manager reflects on highs and lows after milestone mark in Ibrox job
Neil Lennon’s second stint as Celtic boss came to an end yesterday morning.
Here, we look at possible replacements for the Northern Irishman...
Steve Clarke
The Scotland boss has emerged as one of the favourites in recent days even though he has declared he will not leave his job before leading his country into their first major tournament in 23 years this summer. Celtic may be prepared to wait until after the delayed Euro 2020 if they believe the former West Brom and Reading boss can have the same impact in Glasgow as he did when twice leading Kilmarnock to club-record point totals
Roy Keane
One of the most candid characters in football, the former Republic of Ireland skipper is best known for his hugely successful time at Manchester United, but he had a short spell at Parkhead at the end of his career. Keane bossed Sunderland and Ipswich before becoming assistant at Republic of Ireland, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest. Now a pundit, Keane, 49, declared an approach by Celtic “failed to rock my boat” in 2014.
John Kennedy
It has long been thought that the former Celtic defender is a future Celtic manager. The 37-year-old has been at Parkhead for years in various roles. He was appointed first-team coach under Ronny Deila and carried on under Brendan Rodgers and was promoted to assistant manager when Lennon replaced his fellow Northern Irishman in February 2019. However, as part of the Lennon regime, he may have to depart and return another day.
Michael O’Neill
The former Northern Ireland international is currently boss of Championship side Stoke. After a playing career which included spells at Dundee United and Hibernian, he cut his managerial teeth at Brechin and Shamrock Rovers. As Northern Ireland boss, he qualified the country for their first ever European Championships, Euro 2016 in France. In 2018, the 51-yearold turned down the chance to become manager of Scotland but maybe the challenge at Celtic could tempt him.
Henrik Larsson
Many may think it is the destiny of the former Celtic and Sweden striker to end up back at Parkhead as manager. However, the 49-year-old, who became a Hoops hero when played for Celtic between 1997 and 2004, has had an indifferent time as either assistant or manager at several clubs such as Landskrona, Hogaborgs, Falkenbergs, Helsingborgs and Angelholms. Larsson is still much sought after however and in August he joined Ronald Koeman’s coaching staff at another former club, Barcelona.
Eddie Howe
The 43-year-old former Bournemouth manager has previously been a clear favourite of the bookmakers and remains so with many fans on social media. Howe spent most of his playing career with the Cherries and started out his managerial career with the south coast club in 2008. After a brief spell as manager at Burnley, Howe returned to Bournemouth and led them to the Premier League for the first time. Bournemouth were relegated to the Championship in 2020, and Howe left the club by mutual consent in August, but his reputation remains intact.
Jack Ross
The former Alloa and St Mirren boss has rebuilt his reputation at Hibernian after a brief spell at Sunderland ended following failure in the League One play-offs. Ross has Hibs in pole position to claim third spot in the Premiership. The 44-year-old won an influential admirer in Brendan Rodgers when facing Celtic with his first two clubs.
STEVEN GERRARD has ticked off the list of firsts and marked the milestones one by one at Ibrox. He now stands on the brink of the ultimate achievement as Rangers manager.
Gerrard would reach 1000 days in charge yesterday and tonight he will look to lead Rangers into the last 16 of the Europa League for the second consecutive season.
His finest moment is still to come, though, as Rangers attempt to collect the final seven points that are required to clinch the Premiership title and secure Gerrard’s place amongst Ibrox legends.
Opportunities such as these are the reason that Gerrard made the move from Liverpool to Glasgow. Steps back have been taken at times, but Rangers now stride forward with Gerrard at the helm.
“Just to remain balanced,” he said when asked if he had taken one thing in particular from his first 1000 days in management. “I’m not described as an experienced manager, I’m trying to become one.
“There were always going to be things from a personal point of view that I maybe got wrong throughout this.
“The one big learning thing for me is to try and remain balanced, whatever the result is. Just try and stay in the same place – not get too carried away or get too down.
“I know it’s a cliche, but they say time flies when you’re having fun and I’ve loved every moment of it.
“I’m really privileged and honoured to be in this position. I’ve had my tough days and
I’ve had my days when it’s been fantastic. I always knew that would be the case.
“But I feel like we are on the verge of something special here. We just have to be patient and keep doing what we’ve been doing since the first day of this season.
“That’s performing at a very consistent level. It was never going to change overnight in year one. Even with all the hard work and sacrifices we made in years one and two, we have been preparing for this moment.
“Now it’s about grabbing that and rewarding ourselves for what we’ve put into this – not just me, but my staff and everyone together.
“The big thing we have put in place here is we have made everyone aligned from top to bottom. We want to go and reward ourselves for all the hard work everyone has put in.”
The title that Rangers will win in the coming days will be the most celebrated and significant in the club’s history and Gerrard and his players will have their own unique place in Ibrox folklore.
The journey to 55 has been far from straightforward for the club. The same can be said for Gerrard and his tenure has been more evolution than revolution.
“I definitely feel there has been personal development,” Gerrard said. “I have certainly evolved and learned a lot in the short space of time.
“Sitting here right now I have still not become a success. There is still work to do to try and achieve that.
“But without a doubt I feel I am a better manager, a better coach, a better person for my experience here at Rangers.
“I knew what I was signing up to. I knew it wasn’t all
Time flies when you’re having fun and I’ve loved every moment of it
going to be an upwards and forward journey.
“I have loved it, loved every minute of it. I’m looking to the future but without a doubt the experience has made me better for it.”
The mantra throughout Gerrard’s reign has been one of not getting too high when he wins or too low when he loses. He may have deviated from that at times, but his mindset has stood him in good stead overall.
The Liverpool legend is now well-versed in the demands of the nuances of Old Firm life and he was given a reminder of how difficult a city Glasgow can be to work in when Neil
Lennon left his position as Celtic manager yesterday morning.
There can only be one winner here. After two failed campaigns, it is now Gerrard’s turn to celebrate success and take the acclaim from fans.
“This is a tough job, a tough gig,” Gerrard said. “Of course we will savour it when it comes. The important thing is we have to grab it and make it happen.
“We have to finish it off, get over those last obstacles in our way. Teams are not going to make it easy for us. We have to execute the final part.
“If we do, everyone at this club will have earned the
and it’s part of the job you sign up for. You understand that if things are going well, it’s fantastic and you get a lot of praise for that. You have an opportunity to be a success.
“But on the other side, when things are not going well, it can be a lonely place. Of course it can. I’ve experienced that in my short stint.
“So I totally appreciate the job that Neil has done for Celtic. As I said earlier, I take no personal satisfaction in seeing a rival manager lose his job, or any manager. Because I understand what you have to put into this job on a daily basis.”
Gerrard and Lennon may have been on opposite sides of the great Glasgow divide and the Premiership title race but there has never been an animosity between the pair. In the tribal Old Firm battle, there was a mutual respect.
And the 40-year-old will look to catch up with Lennon once again in the future as he considers his options and his next move in management following a campaign to forget in the
Premiership and Europa League.
Gerrard added: “I know Neil as a guy. I know his family from holidaying in the same areas. And he’s a good guy.
“He has been a big supporter of my charity over the years. Obviously we have to put that aside when you are big rivals and I have enjoyed the battles and going toe-to-toe with Neil on the sideline. He’s a good coach, a good manager.
“I’m sure once the dust settles in time, we can share a pint together again.”
M0
OTHERWELL stopped the bleeding after a spell of sticky form but deserved more than a point from a soaking night in Paisley.
Having conceded seven times in their two previous outings, Graham Alexander’s side successfully shut the back door but couldn’t find a goal to go with it, despite looking the more accomplished side throughout the second half.
“That was 100% better than Saturday’s performance,” said Alexander. “Our players’ commitment was absolutely magnificent and I thought we probably deserved to take all three points.”
This was St Mirren’s seventh game of the month and it showed. They extended their advantage over Dundee United to two points but have now drawn their last four matches and look like a team who will be grateful to have no more midweek commitments for a while.
“We’re obviously disappointed not to have won the game but I don’t think we did enough to do that,” admitted manager Jim Goodwin.
“But it’s another point on the board and we’re still in pole position for the top six in my opinion.”
Such is the length of the Motherwell injury list that the treatment room at Fir Park must now resemble a scene from MASH.
Even without regulars like Declan Gallagher and Bevis Mugabi, however, there was a robustness about the Steelmen
that St Mirren struggled to break down.
The home side had restored Jake Doyle-Hayes and Jamie McGrath to their starting lineup ahead of schedule but even those two midfield schemers – traditionally so inventive – were unable to penetrate a backline that refused to yield to pressure.
With Motherwell similarly getting little joy out of the St Mirren defence, it made for an attritional contest with little to commend it. So often did referee Kevin Clancy peep his whistle to interrupt play it was as if he were getting paid by the note.
A forgettable first-half produced barely a handful of chances. Jordan Roberts, on loan from Hearts, shot wide on his first Motherwell start, with a Barry Maguire drive also ending off target via a deflection.
The poverty of St Mirren’s build-up meant they created next to nothing from open play, although from one McGrath free kick Joe Shaughnessy should have done better than skid a header wide of the goal. The half-time rendition of That’s Entertainment could only have been ironic.
The second half offered instant promise when Ilkay Durmus crossed for Jon Obika to pivot and shoot on target within the opening 40 seconds. Kelly was alert enough to produce a smart stop however and intrigue had arrived belatedly.
The visitors started to assert their dominance, spurred on by acts of St Mirren carelessness. Devante Cole showed sufficient strength to battle past Conor McCarthy but saw Jak
Alnwick equal to his attempted shot into the far corner.
The striker came even closer with the best chance of the game. Roberts’ corner was helped on by Cole who could scarcely believe his misfortune to see the ball strike the post and land safely in Alnwick’s arms to ensure the spoils were shared in Paisley.