The bhoys of Seville move into management

If ever there was a Celtic team ready to move into management it would be Martin O’Neill’s 2003 UEFA Cup finalists.

The three year journey under O’Neill provided more hands on experience than any coaching course could hope to offer- taking a club by the scruff of the neck to push their ‘superior’ city rivals into the background with every player operating at their very best.

It was a team full of captains, Paul Lambert wore the armband but Bobo Balde, Alan Thompson and Chris Sutton didn’t need to be told to raise their game.

Football management is a strange business, in the 1980s Roy Aitken, Willie Miller and Paul Hegarty dominated at their clubs yet none of that trio was able to get close to that level of success in management.

Similarly O’Neill’s Celtic side looked capable of creating a dynasty of managers but only Paul Lambert and Neil Lennon have enjoyed any sort of success but both are now trying to rebuild their managerial reputations.

There may be some late contenders to emerge from the Seville squad, this article looks at how those that moved into management have fared.

PAUL LAMBERT

Captained the Seville side and the most experienced former player in management, he took his German coaching classes while still playing for Celtic.

Like his playing career Lambert took the unfashionable route into management via Livingston. Wycombe and Colchester before striking gold at Norwich City.

He had the midas touch as he steered the club to back to back promotions then safety in the Premier League.

Moving to Aston Villa proved less successful, he seemed to age on a weekly basis, but after a stint at Blackburn he looks back on track with his managerial career with Wolves.

JACKIE MCNAMARA

Less than two years ago McNamara looked capable of great things in management but these days he’s trying to solve the problems of York City in his role as chief executive of a club that looks like repeating last season’s relegation from the Football League.

After stepping from the dressing room into the manager’s office McNamara had an immediate impact on Partick Thistle- such an impact that with the Jags heading for promotion Dundee United stepped in to take him to Tannadice to replace Peter Houston.

A debut Scottish Cup win showed promise with United picking up form and developing a great batch of prospects into the rarest commodity in Scottish football- transfer fees.

As the millions poured in performances went downhill as it was leaked from within the club that the manager was getting a bonus cut on transfer fees- from that moment McNamara was doomed at Dundee United.

Rushing into the manager’s job at York City did him no favours, relegation followed before a stand off saw him sacked as manager and redeployed as chief executive!.

NEIL LENNON

Was flung in at the deep end taking charge of Celtic on a caretaker basis after Tony Mowbray was sent gardening.

After a number of heavyweight names were linked with the job Celtic gave Lennon the task of bringing back the thunder.

During four eventful seasons Celtic picked up three SPL titles, a Champions League win over Barcelona and banked millions from player sales.

After an unfortunate spell in charge of Bolton Lennon is rebuilding his reputation with Hibs and was linked with the Celtic job before Brendan Rodgers was appointed.

HENRIK LARSSON

The King of Kings has found life in the dug-out much tougher than his days in the penalty box, thrilling fans of Feyenoord, Celtic, Barcelona and Manchester United.

After a spell in charge of Falkenburgs he returned to his first club, Helsingborgs which could well be a warning to Celtic that it’s best not to return to somewhere special.

After a difficult season Helsingborg lost their top flight status in dramatic fashion to Halmstad but the action didn’t end at the final whistle.

Larsson and his son Jordan got involved in arguments with fans that got heated- two days later Henrik resigned with his son signing for NEC Nijmegen.

CHRIS SUTTON

It all came a bit too soon for Sutton, an eye injury ended his playing career with the opportunity to manage Lincoln City in League Two.

After a career at the very top with Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea, Celtic and Aston Villa the step down to Sincil Bank proved too much of a culture shock.

Following a year that provided just 14 wins from 51 matches Sutton and Lincoln parted company with a lively media career about to commence.

JOHAN MJALLBY

A faithful assistant to Neil Lennon at Celtic and Bolton the popular Swede is now his own man in charge of Swedish side Vasteras.

When Lennon was given the Celtic job on a caretaker basis Mjallby answered the call to assist without hesitating.

He announced that he was stepping down as assistant before Lennon resigned and popped up a few months later as his assistant at Bolton.

Again he quit as Bolton assistant, this time to return to Sweden taking charge of Vasteras in February 2016.