"Thank you Mr. Lawell, i look forward to seeing you next week. I'm glad we could strike a deal."
The deal was sealed, I was to become the new manager of Celtic Football Club. My bhoyhood hero's. As we shook hand's in agreement I left the room with a massive grin on my face. I thought i had been imagining things. I had no experience in management, or professional football for that matter, but I owe Mr. Lawell a huge debt for giving me the opportunity. The Celtic job comes with a huge pressure from fans and media, something previous manager Neil Lennon could handle very well, but when your greatest rivals fans start an attack on you there is no way out. The nail bombs, death threats, brutal attacks. This was all to much for Neil, he has a family to protect. This was the part of the job i didn't want to face ..
I approached the car, with my contract details in hand. I sat in my little Ford Ka revising the sums i'd be living on for the next 2 years. It was a neat little payment for doing the job I love, New car, new flat, new way of life. I had been living off benefits for the last 8 years. I am from a small area called Easterhouse in Glasgow, one of the toughest. You can't go to the local shops without getting a knife in your chest. I feel i could cope with the off field pressures better than previous head coaches as i have had a tough upbringing and I'm very strong mentally. And i'll need to be to bring success to the team
******
It was the 21st of June, and the players had all returned from their holiday's off. I had spent most of the 3 weeks since i signed on studying last years matches and seeing how each team play against Old Firm opposition. Most teams try and counter attack and let Celtic knock the ball around them, and when they get a chance they break forward. I needed to come up with a few tactics to counter their counter attacking game. I love the way Jock Stein had Celtic playing back in the 60's when we won the European cup. The 4-2-4 attacking game is something I'd like to try out. "The best place to defend is in the opposition penalty box" as he used to say. I wanted to emulate his success in modern football. I searched "Jock Stein quotes" on Google. The things this man said really got me going, I was so determined to do everything for this club, for this cause. For this community.
I went downstairs to the entrance at Lennoxtown training facility where i was greeted with blinding flashes from a hungry set of journalists. I just wanted to go and see my new players. I didn't want any media attention. Press conferences, newspaper headlines. This wasn't football. I demanded they all leave. Now, it was time to say hello to my new players. A 30 strong squad stood before me, with them my new coaching staff. Ex hero's of mine Johan Mjalby and Alan Thompson. I shook both of their hands respectively and got to work. The first thing I did, was set up a 11 v 11 match. Before the game got underway, i pulled the lads in. These people surrounding you are not your friends. Their colleagues. On this training pitch, you battle like their is no tomorrow. Be aggressive. Prove to me you want to be in this squad. The lads played, while me Johan, Alan and Gary had a chat. I asked them all sorts of questions. Players they like. the characters of the team, the quiet ones. There are some really talented players in the squad, I would know, having being a season ticket holder for 22 years. Possession, Possession, Possession is what i kept screaming to the lads. Tire each other out, be composed. Make the right decisions. Some of the lads looked like complete duffers. I left the rest of the training session to the backroom staff.
I went into my new office, beautiful it was. Looking onto the hills, with a nice balcony to go. No paperwork on the desk, that was a relief! I went on to the laptop, and clicked on my e-mails. 120 messages. Christ almighty! A lot of the messages came from a familiar name. John Park, one of the best scouts in football. He has brought excellent talent like Kayal, Ki, Izaguirre from countries unknown for their footballing talents. The messages he had sent contained reports on players i should have a serious look at to try and build the squad to the best standards possible. Another message, from Ian Bankier (in the board of director)s was lying at the bottom of the pile.
The deal was sealed, I was to become the new manager of Celtic Football Club. My bhoyhood hero's. As we shook hand's in agreement I left the room with a massive grin on my face. I thought i had been imagining things. I had no experience in management, or professional football for that matter, but I owe Mr. Lawell a huge debt for giving me the opportunity. The Celtic job comes with a huge pressure from fans and media, something previous manager Neil Lennon could handle very well, but when your greatest rivals fans start an attack on you there is no way out. The nail bombs, death threats, brutal attacks. This was all to much for Neil, he has a family to protect. This was the part of the job i didn't want to face ..
I approached the car, with my contract details in hand. I sat in my little Ford Ka revising the sums i'd be living on for the next 2 years. It was a neat little payment for doing the job I love, New car, new flat, new way of life. I had been living off benefits for the last 8 years. I am from a small area called Easterhouse in Glasgow, one of the toughest. You can't go to the local shops without getting a knife in your chest. I feel i could cope with the off field pressures better than previous head coaches as i have had a tough upbringing and I'm very strong mentally. And i'll need to be to bring success to the team
******
It was the 21st of June, and the players had all returned from their holiday's off. I had spent most of the 3 weeks since i signed on studying last years matches and seeing how each team play against Old Firm opposition. Most teams try and counter attack and let Celtic knock the ball around them, and when they get a chance they break forward. I needed to come up with a few tactics to counter their counter attacking game. I love the way Jock Stein had Celtic playing back in the 60's when we won the European cup. The 4-2-4 attacking game is something I'd like to try out. "The best place to defend is in the opposition penalty box" as he used to say. I wanted to emulate his success in modern football. I searched "Jock Stein quotes" on Google. The things this man said really got me going, I was so determined to do everything for this club, for this cause. For this community.
I went downstairs to the entrance at Lennoxtown training facility where i was greeted with blinding flashes from a hungry set of journalists. I just wanted to go and see my new players. I didn't want any media attention. Press conferences, newspaper headlines. This wasn't football. I demanded they all leave. Now, it was time to say hello to my new players. A 30 strong squad stood before me, with them my new coaching staff. Ex hero's of mine Johan Mjalby and Alan Thompson. I shook both of their hands respectively and got to work. The first thing I did, was set up a 11 v 11 match. Before the game got underway, i pulled the lads in. These people surrounding you are not your friends. Their colleagues. On this training pitch, you battle like their is no tomorrow. Be aggressive. Prove to me you want to be in this squad. The lads played, while me Johan, Alan and Gary had a chat. I asked them all sorts of questions. Players they like. the characters of the team, the quiet ones. There are some really talented players in the squad, I would know, having being a season ticket holder for 22 years. Possession, Possession, Possession is what i kept screaming to the lads. Tire each other out, be composed. Make the right decisions. Some of the lads looked like complete duffers. I left the rest of the training session to the backroom staff.
I went into my new office, beautiful it was. Looking onto the hills, with a nice balcony to go. No paperwork on the desk, that was a relief! I went on to the laptop, and clicked on my e-mails. 120 messages. Christ almighty! A lot of the messages came from a familiar name. John Park, one of the best scouts in football. He has brought excellent talent like Kayal, Ki, Izaguirre from countries unknown for their footballing talents. The messages he had sent contained reports on players i should have a serious look at to try and build the squad to the best standards possible. Another message, from Ian Bankier (in the board of director)s was lying at the bottom of the pile.
Dear Mr Peter McManus
Congratulations on being appointed the new manager of Celtic Football Club. We would like to wish you all the best. This season we expect that you win the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, and to win both cup competitions. In the Europa League please do not embarrass the club and harm our excellent reputation. To ensure you fulfill these expectations a budget of 2.5 million pounds has been allocated to find new players, with a wage budget of 425 thousand pounds. When a player is sold from the squad, 100% of the transfer fee will go into the funds to bring in new talent. The best of luck in the new job!
Ian Bankier
Director
Congratulations on being appointed the new manager of Celtic Football Club. We would like to wish you all the best. This season we expect that you win the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, and to win both cup competitions. In the Europa League please do not embarrass the club and harm our excellent reputation. To ensure you fulfill these expectations a budget of 2.5 million pounds has been allocated to find new players, with a wage budget of 425 thousand pounds. When a player is sold from the squad, 100% of the transfer fee will go into the funds to bring in new talent. The best of luck in the new job!
Ian Bankier
Director
That seems like a fair deal, The expectations should be very easy to meet. The league is already in the bag as the other side start with -10 points after being put into administration. I'm relishing this challenge. But some bad news, Mr. Lawell has told me that it's mandatory that the new manager of any club must hold a press conference to introduce himself, which sucks *** ...
but good luck and keep up this story.