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Daily Record
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Stephen McManus identifies sizzling Celtic prospect destined for the top as B team boss makes a candid admission
Big Mick is convinced the next generation of stars are ready to break through at Parkhead Every Celtic youngster dreams of following in the footsteps of poster Bhoys James Forrest, Callum McGregor and Kieran Tierney. But Stephen McManus knows better than most that only a handful will ever make it all the way. Now B team boss, the former Hoops captain is hellbent on streamlining the route from the youth set-up to the first-team. As an academy graduate himself, Big Mick is a shining example for the current crop learning their trade at Lennoxtown. The ex-defender rose through the ranks, captained Celts to title glory and led them into the last 16 of the Champions League. These days, it's his job to nurture the next generation of stars. And while the road to Brendan Rodgers' top team is anything but straightforward, McManus insists there will always be a pathway. He said: "Yeah, listen, that's what pre-season is for as well. This is my fourth year with the B team and we've been really lucky that over the last three years, we've got boys that have played, after under-18s, they've played 150 games. "They've played 50-odd games a season, which after under-18s, you don't always get. We're lucky that we've got that. "Like I say, our job is to try and prepare the boys for first-team football. Hopefully, it's here. Absolutely. "We've been lucky this year, I think. Francis Turley made his debut this year. Jude Bonner made his debut this year. Sean McArdle came on and made his debut towards the end of the season. "And then you've got the boys that have been out on loan as well. You've got Ben Summers, Matthew Andersons as well. "So it's been a really productive season again for us. But ultimately, we want to make sure we try and do our best to help the manager and the first-team staff to be able to say, 'Right, these are what we've got. Are they ready to fit into the first-team squad?' "That's what pre-season is for. As a young player, you get an opportunity. You'll get an opportunity, whether it's in pre-season or every day that you come to work, every day that you're then performing for your club, whether you're at the football club or you're at somebody else on loan. "So it's difficult. It's difficult, of course it is. That's why the people that come through are so limited. "But when you look at the success that we've had with boys that are playing football at other clubs, it's great." With Greg Taylor vacating the No.3 jersey, there could soon be an opportunity for a homegrown talent to step up. Returning hero Tierney will reclaim his place at left-back - but his injury record means Rodgers will need to manage his minutes carefully. Rising star Matthew Anderson is among the most highly-rated emerging talents at Lennoxtown. Dubbed 'the next KT' by coach Greig Robertson, the defender spent last season on loan in Austria with feeder club Admira Wacker. Now 21, this summer could prove to be make-or-break. McManus said: "He's got a massive future in the game, absolutely massive. He's a terrific boy with a brilliant family, and again, you can only stay with us, with the B team, for a couple of seasons. "Matthew outgrew the B team two years ago. That's why he's not played for the B team. That's why the next stage of his development was to go out and loan. "Some people make their debut at 16 and then go and play for the rest of their careers. Some people are 21, 20, they need to go a different route. That's fine, that's fine. "But what you need to do is, when you get an opportunity, you need to try and become a football player, and that's what Matthew's done. "He's a terrific boy, terrific worker for a terrific family, and he'll be a top player. He'll be a top player." For aspiring players, there are few better role models than Forrest, McGregor and Tierney. Forrest recently overtook Lisbon Lion Bobby Lennox to become Celtic's most decorated player, with 26 trophies to his name. Skipper McGregor - whose own breakthrough came via a loan to Notts County - is only two major honours behind. And Tierney famously banked the club a record £25million fee in 2019, only to return on a free six years later. Speaking to promote next month's friendly clash with Newcastle United at Parkhead, McManus added: "You need that here, where it's so important that people can relate. The boys that have been here, that have done it. "I've spoken about this before, but when I look back over 20-odd years, boys that have come through the football club, you want them making an impact. "Making an impact is not just playing now and again. You want to contribute. You want to play five games. You want to play 50 games. You want to play 100 games. You want to play in the first team. "You need people that have done it, basically, just to prove, listen, if they can do it, there's no reason why the other boys can't do it. "That's where Kieran falls into it, Callum falls into it, and James falls into it. It's great, but it's a hard slog. "Of course it is, but you need the right types of people that are leading the football club, and that's what we've got here at the moment."
Irish Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Darren O'Dea reveals Brendan Rodgers' influence in Celtic exit but makes point
Darren O'Dea is buzzing to join Swansea City as the right-hand man to Alan Sheehan, and he's opening up about waving goodbye to his cherished Celtic. The former Bhoys youth and coach, aged 38, is ready to tackle the new challenge in the English Championship as Sheehan's No2, leaving behind his roots at Parkhead where he climbed the ladder both on the pitch and alongside the squad under gaffers like Brendan Rodgers and Ange Postecoglou. Leaving Celtic wasn't a snap decision for O'Dea; he confesses that a nod of approval from Rodgers towards Swansea played a significant role in his bold move. Chatting with Swansea's official site, he couldn't hide his enthusiasm: "I am delighted, I knew of the interest and I spoke with Alan a number of weeks ago. "Obviously I have been with a club I have grown up in, so it was difficult to come to terms with the decision in terms of leaving, but once I spoke to him and had an insight into what the club is wanting to do, I wanted to join.", reports the Daily Record. "I had a good understanding of the club anyway, but it's a really exciting project, one I wanted to be a part of and I am delighted it is done now. "I would not have left Celtic unless it was for something I felt very strongly about. "Of course, the club and its prestige and the intensity of it is something I am used to, and I wanted to work with and for Alan. "You combine those two things, and the conversations I have had with other people at the club who will be working with us, and it just fits. It's something I am really happy to be part of. "I think Alan and I are similar in terms of how we work and how we see things. "He will be the one making the decisions, but I was clear I did not want to work in a way where I would sacrifice principles that I have got, and the conversations I had mean I know we are not going to be doing that. "When the question came, it was a 'yes'." He went on to say: "This club is similar to Celtic in that it has a real identity, it is not just enough to come in here and just win, there needs to be more. There needs to be a product on the pitch that the fans relate to. "Speaking to Brendan, who has been brilliant in all this, he talked about the fanbase having a big understanding of their football. "He could not have spoken more highly of the club and the city, and the DNA of the club. "That is a real big driver in me wanting to come here, it's really important to me."
Irish Daily Mirror
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Hallgrimsson on one big change Adam Idah has to make when he plays for Ireland
Heimir Hallgrímsson has acknowledged that striker Adam Idah is forced to change one big aspect of his game when playing for Ireland, compared to the role he plays at Celtic. Idah won his 31st senior cap in Friday's 1-1 draw with Senegal, after completing another league title winning season with the Bhoys, who dominated the Scottish Premiership once again. Idah scored a career-best 20 goals in all competitions for Celtic this season, but he drew a blank on Friday and looked frustrated at times. And according to Hallgrímsson, Idah has much more work to do with the Boys in Green than with his Scottish side. 'I saw he took the job seriously today,' said the Ireland boss of Idah's display against Senegal. 'It's not been an issue but I think in his club it's just so different a role it's difficult to switch. 'Because we need a lot of defending from our strikers and he's just not used to it at Celtic, when they have their possession at say 60, 70 or 80 percent in games. 'So the space he needs to work on in games is small. It's a switch and hopefully players are learning more and more and he is growing. 'He knows what we expect so that's a positive sign.' Idah was spotted remonstrating with teammate and goalscorer Kasey McAteer at one point during Friday's game, after the Leicester winger failed to pick him out with a cross. It was one of a few flashpoints on the pitch during the game between Ireland players. In the lead-up to McAteer's opener, Matt Doherty and Dara O'Shea were seen arguing over the pair of them challenging for a corner. Such debate is healthy, according to Hallgrímsson. He said: 'We want to be in sync when we take decisions, there always needs to be a reaction. It was just a misunderstanding. And that is a healthy thing. 'Everybody likes to play the game and do well, if they have a chance to do so and the ball doesn't come because somebody makes a mistake then they are unhappy with it, they should be unhappy with it. 'I cannot disagree with players saying this is how it should be done. It is okay.'
Daily Record
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Russell Martin is another Rangers loser as Hotline hands Celtic the Treble already with panic button untouched
As predicted, Rangers ' new manager brings all the Bhoys to the Hotline yard. Russell Martin is the man tasked with getting Gers closer to their dominant rivals after five years of watching their rivals lift trophy after very recently. Battling Brendan Rodgers at the top of the table will be the bare minimum expected from Martin, although judging by the initial reaction, hopes are not high amongst the Ibrox faithful. emailed: "What a joke us making Russell Martin as manager. We might as well just give Celtic the Treble just now. Who at rangers thought it was a good idea to bring him to Rangers after he just got Southampton relegated and they just sacked him 5 or 6 months ago? So some idiot at Rangers said lets make him our next manager so we will. What a joke new owners are allowing this to happen." Lewis Fotheringham, Mount Ellen, said: "While I will give Russell Martin a chance as our sorry Head Coach, it is not exactly the type of appointment I had in mind. I felt we needed a high-profile manager to counter what Celtic has with Brendan Rodgers. Instead, we have got an inexperienced coach that has had mixed success in England. It seems like the club has gone for the cheap option again." Peter Cooperwhite added: "Now that it's confirmed Russell Martin is new Rangers manager, definitely not a first choice for me to be honest. I hope Thelwell has done a lot of thinking on this one. "Lets all get behind him give him a chance. His recruitment will be judged closely as we need at least six good players who will hit the ground right away as Europe qualifiers are getting closer. I hope his style of play is what Rangers need to achieve trophies." George McLeish wanted the "Rangers men" kept on. He emailed: Why are Rangers looking at another failure to be the next manager? Another non Scot who has won nothing in England and was sacked as a failure? "We had a team of Rangers die hards who should have been given at least a year's contract to try and get players who have Rangers blood in them. The board have hired another loser again. I have supported Rangers for over 60 years and have never seen such a board of directors over the the last 10 years as this lot, all they care about is the money , and wearing the Rangers tie. We need Rangers people in, not losers." And it seems Celtic fans are as giddy at Martin's arrival as their blue counterparts are scunnered. Mark McManus, Purley, emailed: "So Rangers have got their man. Serial winner Russell Martin joins the 49ers billion dollar club. I thought someone like Mourinho was to be next up. "No disrespect but are the owners saving their money to buy up top quality players like Modric, Vardy etc al. Regular Rangers fans on here, Flett, Lowe et al must be rubbing their hands in glee at how their club will be transformed next season ready for the quadruple cups." Stephen Mulhern, Dumbarton, predicts the same ofd banners will be out at Ibrox before long. He said: "Rangers bringing in a manager who achieved one solitary win out of seventeen in the premier league won't have Brendan Rodgers hitting the panic button. "My guess they never got their Hollywood candidate was that the predicted war chest of transfer funds wasn't sufficient. Lose the first Glasgow derby and the time for change banners will be quickly reintroduced." Kenny Wilson, Moffat, added: "With Rangers now getting their new manager, who let's be honest has an abysmal record, do they still think Celtic are petrified of them ? I like many fellow fans won't be having many sleepless nights over the summer. All the hype about a big name coming and that's who they get. The comedy roadshow continues." Andy Logan Livingston, wonders who else was interviewed if Martin was the outstanding choice. He emailed: "So Rangers didn't get Jurgen Klopp as was mentioned in here, a real upgrade though in a manager with a win rate of less than 40% in lower leagues in England. The outstanding candidate? Who else was interviewed other passengers in that taxi??"
North Wales Chronicle
04-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- North Wales Chronicle
Adam Idah confident he can handle the pressure at Celtic
The 24-year-old, who completed a £9.5million switch from Norwich to Celtic Park last summer after a successful loan spell, finished the campaign with 20 goals despite making almost half his 53 appearances in all competitions from the bench. However, he also suffered testing periods, not least after a video of him apparently vomiting from a taxi circulated on social media, prompting a stern defence from manager Brendan Rodgers. Asked about the pressure, Idah said: 'The pressure is a lot and you are expected to deliver. I think with my experience now, you have to put that behind you. You know what you are good at. 'If you don't score for a couple of games, it is not helpful to listen to an ex-player. I am not really concerned with what he thinks – I am there to do my bit. 'I had a good run in the last few games, but I know it can turn quick. That is football. There have been plenty of games when I have gone without scoring, you have to stay focused and help the team. 'There is a lot of pressure at the club to be successful. It is good, I think. Every player wants to play at a big club, but what comes with a big club is the pressure.' Rodgers' backing – the Bhoys boss described him as 'a great young professional' – was welcome, but Idah has vowed to continue to live his life despite having to do so in the spotlight at times. He said: 'At the end of the day I am a human being. I go out. I don't have to stay inside all the time. It's hard when people are videoing you, it can be quite upsetting, especially when the story is made out to be what it is not. 'It can be tough, but like I said, I am human and I'm going to carry on with my life.' In the meantime, Idah faces the task of re-establishing himself in the Ireland team under new boss Heimir Hallgrimsson, with Evan Ferguson and Troy Parrott having edged ahead of him in the pecking order. Caption this 😄… — Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) March 23, 2025 It was he who scored the winner after coming off the bench in the 2-1 Nations League victory over Bulgaria in March, and he will hope for a further taste of action in Friday night's friendly against Senegal at the Aviva Stadium as Hallgrimsson attempts to build up a run of three wins in four games ahead of the World Cup qualifying campaign. He said: 'We want to qualify for the World Cup and you want to be part of that, whether it is starting or off the bench. Even if you don't come on you can always help the team. 'It is up to the manager. Of course I want the minutes, but qualifying is the most important.'
