KEVIN MUSCAT CELTIC MANAGER: IF PLAYING FOR RANGERS IS A CRIME, THEN WHEN IS THE TIME SERVED?
- BY LIAM CARRIGAN
- 7 minutes ago
- 3 min read
I think it would be fair to say we got quite a bit of backlash on the ACSOM Bulletin the other day when myself and my co-hosting comrade Iain Conroy both once again floated the idea of Kevin Muscat as the next Celtic boss.
We’re coming up on almost 25 years since Muscat made the last of his mere 22 appearances for the old Rangers (Requiescat in Pace), yet it seems a number of commenters on Tuesday’s Bulletin still don’t want him anywhere near the Celtic job.
I get it, anyone who plays for them, or even expresses support for either incarnation of Rangers will, naturally, Never, be considered good enough in the eyes of some Celtic fans.
Is Kevin Muscat Celtic Manager Material? I Don’t See Why Not
It’s a viewpoint I can respect, but I have to say, not one that I agree with.
Putting it bluntly. I tend to categorize people who either represent or support Rangers into one of two categories: “Rangers Men or Women” and “H*ns”.
Take for example John Greig and the late Tam Forsyth. Two legends in the eyes of most Rangers fans. They also happen to be two of the friendliest and most approachable football stars I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.
Rangers Men? Absolutely. H*ns? Not in my book.
Compare these two to a couple of more recent Ibrox initiates: Mo “Judas” Johnston and Nacho Novo.
Johnston infamously did the dirty on Celtic in 1989, allowing Rangers to hijack a deal which was supposed to take him back to Celtic at the last minute. Not only this, but he clearly reveled in winding up the Celtic support at every opportunity during what was, admittedly a very dark, trophyless time for all of us. Rangers Man? Maybe. H*n? Absolutely!
Then there is the curious case of Nacho Novo. Whether it’s an acute case of Stockholm Syndrome, or a massive sense of personal insecurity that drives his need to be more spiteful, more vile and more outspoken in his hatred of Celtic than even the gimpiest of the gimp-mask wearing Union Bears, I don’t know. But he certainly fits the category of “H*n” in the eyes of every Celtic fan I know.
Kevin Muscat does not. Now, he was known for being an exceptionally aggressive player during his career. But let’s face it, both sides of Glasgow have had our fair share of “dirty b**tards” over the years. That alone shouldn’t make Muscat as unpalatable to Celtic fans as someone like that horrible wee rat Novo, for example.
Muscat has, for the most par,t done well in his managerial career thus far. He took on the seemingly impossible task of following after his mentor Ange Postecoglou at both Melbourne Victory and then Yokohama F-Marinos. He won the league on both occassions.
He has since taken the largely unfancied Chinese Super League side Shanghai Port and guided them to a League and Cup double. All this in a league where his city rivals, Shanghai Shenhua enjoy massive advantages both financially, but also, allegedly, in terms of the treatment they get from referees and officials in the Chinese FA.
Sound like anyone we know?
The fact remains that Muscat’s one venture into European football thus far, back in 2020 with Saint Truiden in Belgium ended after 6 months and was considered by most to be a failure.
He’s since won championships in two of the biggest leagues in Asia, but questions remain as to whether he can cut it as a manager in Europe. Similar questions were asked of Ange Postecoglou in the summer of 2021.
Muscat isn’t on the same level as Ange, not yet anyway. But he has the potential, he has the character, and most importantly of all for Celtic, he sets his teams up to play open, dynamic and entertaining football.
Kevin Muscat: Celtic Manager may be a phrase some of us will never be able to bring ourselves to say. But all I would ask is, judge the man on his managerial ability, not the morally and financially bankrupt club where he played for about 10 minutes back in 2002.