Recently reports from Sky Sports Italy had emerged that Celtic had made an offer to Jose Mourinho to become the next Celtic manager. However, recent reports from the Herald claims that Celtic have rubbished those claims and the story indicates that the Hoops have made no such offer for the Champions League winning manager.
Celtic have been linked with some big names in the past few months, but this is without any doubt the biggest of the lot. Bookies had recently slashed the odds of the Portuguese tactician taking over at Parkhead from 66/1 to 14/1. However, now it seems like the Bhoys are unlikely to go after the ‘Special One’.
The Hoops have done well under interim manager Neil Lennon since he took over in February. They wrapped up the Premiership title with comfort, and they are also in the finals of the Scottish Cup where they will square up against Hearts of Midlothian.
What can Mourinho bring to the table?
Someone like Jose Mourinho coming in will attract a lot of eyeballs, and it would be even good for Scottish football. Celtic have now won eight titles in a row, and their fans are now almost used to domestic supremacy. One thing they desperately need is an impressive run in Europe.
With Mourinho’s organisational and tactical abilities, the Bhoys can certainly punch above their weight and get into the deep end of the competition. Mourinho has worked best with sides who have played as underdogs, and his triumphs with the unfancied Porto and Inter Milan side suggests that he can take this Celtic team to the next level.
However, if the club wants a long term managerial option, then Mourinho is certainly not the answer. Affording him could also be a big headache, and with the crucial summer transfer window approaching, Celtic might instead want to invest into players than on a manager.
Mourinho taking over at Celtic Park was always going to be a long shot, and it is no surprise that Celtic denied the reports from Italy which stated that Mourinho had been offered a role in Scotland.
What does this mean for Lennon?
The consensus for Lennon taking over permanently seems divided at the moment. Some fans are happy with the job which he has done, and the fact that he is an out and out Celtic man makes him a good prospect. Others feel that he won’t be able to take the team to the next level and cite the fact that Celtic have looked average at best under him this season. However, as things stand, Lennon seems favourite to take over permanently.
