For the Celtic family, José Mourinho will always be associated with what might have been at Seville in 2003.
In fairness, the victorious Portuguese team had genuine quality, but their gamesmanship was nauseating.
That same cynical approach to o jogo bonito could be seen in any team that Mourinho managed.
Therefore, the story today that Celtic had offered him a deal came as something of a shock.
I certainly haven’t heard anything to give the report any credibility.
Moreover, it was quickly rubbished today by the Parkhead club.
I’m uncomfortable speculating on the next permanent manager at Celtic when there is a fine fella doing a good job there at the moment.
However, it is difficult to blank out the speculation on who the next gaffer will be.
I think I can make a good case for Lenny.
He ticks many boxes for the emotionally charged 9IAR season.
However, on the other side of the argument, there is a danger that the old days of the untitled director of football will return if Lenny gets the job.
Therefore, the next permanent appointment, whoever it might be, is absolutely crucial.
At this point in Celtic’s unbroken history, next season will be a special challenge.
Perhaps the recent interest in Michel Preud’homme, currently at Standard Liège, will come to something.
I’m also hearing that David Wagner, formerly of Huddersfield Town, could also be on the radar.
One thing is certain is that the people making decisions at Celtic do not have much time.
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There seems to be two area’s where there is at least a broad consensus among the support. No Mourinho and no Moyes! I hope the board are LISTENING!!!
It has to be said that, based on reality, Jose will not be the least bit interested in a job at Celtic as he won’t receive the wages here that he could command just about anywhere else. It’s all clickbait and gossip. HH
Let’s be factual in our assessment of Jose, he took a team of misfits, older players, young talented hungry players and turned them into European elite.
Since then he changed a mediocre bunch at Chelsea and turned them into European champs too.
Yes, his flame has waned but Celtic are exactly the right fit for his undoubted management skills and for us to ignore it is bias borne (myself included) of sour grapes at his tactical approach in 2003.
I’d like to see him at Paradise as would a few of my staunch hoop friends who still bend slightly with stomach pains when JM is mentioned
For the umpteenth time this season McGregor has kicked out an opposing player and this time, because it was so clear cut, the ref had no option but to flash the red card.
He’s got away with murder this season and watching some of his antics leaves you in no doubt that he has serious anger issues that require professional help.
When I first heard of the incident my immediate reaction was that it be would be appealed to free him up to play against The Champions but then having viewed it an appeal would be laughable.
Laughable won’t stop them putting an appeal in if it means they can stall his ban ’til after the weekend.
I think they have plenty time Phil.
I would give Lenny and Kennedy the job until January and see how they are progressing.
Lenny built a successful side after the failed Mowbray experiment and did so with a side built from freebies and cheap imports.
We are not constrained by the parameters he was last time and should have a sizeable budget to attract the quality needed not only to replace those going out but to improve on them.
I don’t think we need more than 4 QUALITY signings in order to progress further in Europe than Rodgers managed (both at Celtic and Liverpool with a much bigger spend at both Clubs) as Lennys approach to the big nights is far more Pragmatic and tactically sound.
He has the second best win ratio of any Celtic Manager who has Managed for a full Season or more.
Second only to Martin O’Neill.
He is in position and has the knowledge of the Club,Scottish Football,the Current Squad and more importantly the Experience of taking on Europe’s best from a financially hamstrung position at Celtic.
For me bringing in a total unknown with all these perimeters is way more risky at this juncture.
The pressures at Celtic are unique and as Lenny points out you need the hide of a Rhino in order to operate within it.
He’s committed 100%
He’s proven at Celtic
He’s delivered without Defeat a Title that was not a given
He’s settled the squad again
No brainer.
Jose does not play a brand of Football that Celtic fans want to see and for that reason alone he should be nowhere near the Celtic job.
The fact he would cost too much to both Pay and upkeep (his sides depend on major heavy investment regularly) is also a factor as to why he would never be offered it.
JM’s salary would be the equivalent of signing at least, THREE multimillion pound players per season. My preference would be Lenny but I don’t think he would work with one hand tied behind his back now. He was a rookie manager desperate to prove himself first time round. He is now a mature, seasoned, experienced manager, with a proven successful track record at Celtic and Hibs. If he gets the job they MUST back him at least as well as they did BR. He has a FAR better track record in Europe AND a far better track record when it comes to signing players.
Mourinho’s petulance, ego and sneering demeanour have always repelled me. He has caused disruption every where he’s gone. Rather have Lenny, a Celtic man to the core.
Me too. But the fans are very split.
No way Jose!
well said
I may be wrong, but I think that the Celtic Board have ambitions way beyond the SPFL. And way beyond the talents and media appeal of our beloved Lennon.
A 2 year deal for the ‘special one’ would raise Celtic’s profile far higher than Rodgers ever could.
Imagine the media profile, the backroom staff, the contacts and player knowledge this man could bring.
To mix a metaphor, Lennon is ‘Yesterday’.
And I believe that we have a major shareholder who is a billionaire with ‘wealth off the radar’.
If we go into the qualifying games without somebody named permanently we’re asking for trouble. Get a grip Celtic.
Moyes can bolt.
We can speculate but your last comment is correct – time. Even if it is NL he still needs time to bring in players. An external appointment will need even more, and will be assessing his current squad from videos. Moyes? Please God no. We need new central strikers, probably an out and out midfield playmaker, and at least 2 across the back four. Bain has been the find of the season, McGregor is the best in Scotland. But we need to make fundamental decisions on player investment now.
I’m thinking,hoping and praying that you meant Callum,and not the madman from the Stade de Bigot.HH
It’s seems that those on the Celtic Blog are more than happy to be linked with a cynical cheat.
Mourinho should never be Celtic manager.
His team were great but the cynical diving and foul tactics will stay with me forever. We can’t decry Dead Cheats FC, The SFA et al and then flirt with that scoundrel.
Besides, his relationship with his players never seems to be the best these days.
It’s about principles and standing by them.
Just no.
Hope David Moyes stays away he’s a rangers supporter only SAYING hopefully am wrong so is that Davie proven hes trying to slag Scott Brown the knob if Neil Lennon wins at Hampden the jobs his let’s get right behind him he’s like all the Celtic supporters we as supporters need to play our part no matter what he’s the manager 100% let’s start treating him like a Celtic manager HH