Darren O’Dea wants to transform the talents of Celtic’s Academy into Champions League players.
Just over a decade ago the Dubliner was in a similar situation but while others fell by the wayside he forced his way into Gordon Strachan’s side.
Stephen McManus and Gary Caldwell were the first pick central defenders but with Bobo Balde on the fringes and Steven Pressley arriving at the club O’Dea had to fight for every appearance that he made.
That attitude wasn’t formed overnight, O’Dea arrived at Celtic with three other young Irish players but emerged as the only one to reach the top team where he played in the Champions League and scored a memorable goal in the 2009 League Cup win at Hampden.
“I look at the young boys nowadays and they’ve got incredible talent,” he told the Daily Record in an exclusive interview. “I had nowhere near that talent but what separated me from others was my mentality and attitude.
“I was never the best player but I was the one that would push further than anyone — and that gave me a top career. I went on to play in half a dozen Champions League games which were the highlights of my career because it was drummed into us in the academy that we were training to be Champions League players.
“So to make that step was the proudest moment of my career along with representing my country. If I can help install that attitude and mentality in the younger players with far more ability, who knows where they can go with it?”
Last season O’Dea was still playing for Dundee in the top flight but made the decision to make an early move into coaching. After a short stint with Motherwell’s u-18 side he joined Celtic in a reshuffle that sees McManus promoted to work alongside Tommy McIntyre with the Celtic Reserve squad.