Main attraction or support act?

Article by e-Celtic Correspondent Tom Shanahan

Click here to listen to our World Cup preview podcast!

Click here to follow e-Celtic on Twitter!

News broke at the weekend that Ronny Deila’s name was originally put forward for the vacant assistant manager’s role instead of being considered for the top job. Initially targeted as a potential replacement for Johan Mjallby and then as the man to assist Roy Keane, who was odds on favourite to replace Neil Lennon. Instead, Ronny Deila now finds himself in the hot seat and so how did the Norwegian convince the Celtic board he was the perfect candidate?

Early last week it looked as if Roy Keane would be named as successor to Neil Lennon. Keane had been a world class midfielder for Manchester United during his peak, being the driving force behind United’s most successful era. His unwavering will to win made him a force of nature and feared by opponents all over Europe. However, after a bright start to his managerial career at Sunderland his reputation has declined significantly. This culminated in Keane being sacked by Ipswich in January 2011. Although he has now returned to coaching, involved with the Republic of Ireland team as assistant to Martin O’Neill, the Celtic support was not convinced that Keane was the right man for the job.

When the news broke that Keane had asked not to be considered for the manager’s role at Celtic most supporters breathed a sigh of relief. As speculation grew regarding the vacancy the successful applicant would take everyone by surprise.

Ronny Deila was paraded to the media as Celtic manager on 6 June 2014. It was during this press conference that Peter Lawwell had confirmed that Deila was going to be considered as Neil Lennon’s assistant before the Irishman decided to resign. Lawwell did however also confirm that Deila was the most outstanding candidate interviewed for the manager’s role.

Further news broke two days later that claimed Roy Keane had been Celtic’s first choice candidate as Lennon’s replacement, with Deila being sounded out as Keane’s assistant. It would suggest this was the dream team that the Celtic board wanted at the helm but it appears Celtic may well have appointed the right man after all.

No matter who the Celtic’s board top target was, one man has been involved in all scenarios put forward since last week and that is Ronny Deila.

Deila seems to have an almost addictive personality in the way he gets his players to believe in his attacking football philosophy. He performed miracles at Stromsgodset, winning the league and cup. This is all the more remarkable when you consider Stromsgodeset is a city with a population slightly more than the capacity of Celtic Park and that the football club has a budget a tenth of the size of Norway’s top club, Rosenborg.

Another string to Deila’s bow is the fact that he insists on improving players before spending money on transfer targets. He also believes in giving youth players a chance, something Neil Lennon had started to do last season.

This latter point may have appealed to the Celtic board more than any other. It is no secret that youth players making the step up to the first team is fundamental to how Celtic want to progress from now on. Long gone are the days of spending big on signings and with less competition in the Premiership now is the perfect time to give more young players their chance.

It is also important however to remember that in just over a month’s time Celtic will be involved in Champions League qualifiers at Murrayfield. If Celtic do fail to reach the Champions League group stages then it is important that Deila is not overly criticised. He is inheriting a team, that although strong domestically, clearly needs improving for Europe, therefore Deila will need time to implement the changes he believes are required. Celtic’s hierarchy clearly feel Deila has all the attributes to try and improve Celtic on the European front; however supporters must remain patient if things don’t go to plan straight away.

Neil Lennon believed he had reached a glass ceiling with Celtic, Ronny Deila believes he can smash right through it. With this attitude the man from Norway might just be the man to take Celtic further than we thought was currently possible.

© e-Football 2014 All rights reserved no part of this document or this website may be reproduced without consent of e-Football