Within the last few days, it feels like every coach in the football realm has been linked with the vacant Celtic hot seat.
That, of course, is thanks to Neil Lennon. The Northern Irishman finally tore up his contract at Parkhead on Wednesday and left Glasgow behind. It has been a long time coming when you consider their diabolical campaign.
They are on the verge of surrendering their grasp of the SPFL, a title they’ve held for the last nine years. It will mark the end of an era, one which has brought more joy than failure.
Though, with so much success comes even harsher scrutiny when things go wrong; you only need ask Lennon what that’s like for an individual.
The Hoops’ hierarchy now have a massive job on their hands to find the right man. Could that be David Wagner? Quite possibly. It’s been revealed by Football Insider sources that the German is very keen on the idea of becoming Celtic’s new manager.
He has been out of a job since being sacked by Schalke in September last year and it looks as though the head coach’s role at Parkhead is attracting him. You can hardly blame him, either.
The culture surrounding Celtic would undeniably fit what Wagner looks for when considering a manager’s role. Speaking to the Bundesliga’s official website, the 49-year-old once said:
“Huddersfield is a very traditional club with regional roots – very close-knit, that’s where I found myself. I sense that emotion and openness that the people in Yorkshire have here. I think I fit more in a region or club that has that emotional bond and closeness.”
In many senses, Celtic epitomises that. They are a club rich in football history and you’ll struggle to find a set of supporters more demanding than the Green Brigade.
There is a strong togetherness at the Hoops and Wagner would fit right in based on that. Though, he could bring a more desirable style of play to Celtic than Lennon ever could.
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That’s because the German’s philosophy and methods are born out of the Ralf Rangnick school of hounding the opposition. He is another to be loosely linked with the hot seat in Glasgow and has led a football revolution, one that brought the idea of the Gegenpress into modern culture.
The Rangnick conveyer belt has harnessed the careers of such managers including Thomas Tuchel, Ralph Hasenhuttl and Jurgen Klopp – Wagner’s best friend.
The pair became incredibly close at Borussia Dortmund and since then, the Celtic linked coach has been keen to play in a similar way. Like Rangnick, he wants his team to press and win the ball back within a couple of seconds of losing it. He also plays attacking football, a style of play that will no doubt be eye-catching for the Celtic hierarchy.
Wagner detailed this when speaking to Bundesliga.com about his early days in coaching: “There are three main takeaways: the analytical approach of Ralf Rangnick, the human and emotional approach of Klopp and the style of football they both wanted to play – that’s what shaped me as a coach. It’s difficult with role models. Klopp’s success is exemplary, but very few achieve it.”
He used all of that to his advantage to do the unthinkable with Huddersfield Town. He got them promoted from the Championship to the Premier League and managed to guide them to a successive season in the English top-flight. It was a remarkable story, one Don Goodman noted was a “phenomenal thing” during Sky Sports’ match coverage of the Terriers a few years ago.
Wagner is still a relatively young coach but with plenty to prove, would be an exciting option for Celtic to consider.
AND in other news, 47 y/o eyed as surprise Neil Lennon successor, he could make £3m Celtic maestro a star …