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Postecoglou faces marathon task in new UEFA twist

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Ange Postecoglou could be forced to go through his UEFA Pro Licence while managing Celtic.

For a week now the Hoops have been in advanced talks to bring in the Yokohama Marinos boss to replace Neil Lennon but as ever it hasn’t been a straightforward process.

Postecoglou doesn’t have any UEFA recognised coaching qualifications with the Pro Licence required to be a head coach at a club competing in UEFA competitions.

Ten days quarantine and acquiring a work permit are also required but clearance from UEFA, which could take a few weeks, could be the biggest obstacle.

If he is given an exemption he will have to go through the Pro Licence course while trying to rebuild Celtic from a season of almost complete disaster.

Covering the issue, the Sydney Morning Herald reports:

Postecoglou holds an Australian Pro coaching licence – the highest level of documentation in Asia – which is not recognised by UEFA as an equivalent to their Pro coaching licence, required to be held by all head coaches of major top-tier professional clubs. According to Football Coaches Australia, a union body for coaches, the lack of recognition of the badges could prompt a delay but should not obstruct his potential appointment to the Celtic job. Postecoglou can obtain a short-term exemption known as a “certificate of competency” that will allow him to coach Celtic while completing his UEFA Pro licence.

FCA executive director Phil Moss was confident the coaching licence wouldn’t derail Postecoglou’s potential appointment.

“Would it be a deal breaker? I’d like to think it won’t be,” he said. “On an interim basis you can bridge the gap between AFC qualifications and UEFA qualifications. During the time you keep the interim certificate valid, you are completing your UEFA Pro Diploma. Currently our AFC Pro diploma relates to UEFA A Licence.”

UEFA states:

The UEFA Pro Diploma requires a total minimum 360 hours of education, plus study visits. A minimum 140 hours will be spent studying theory and practical units off the pitch, with a minimum 220 hours, including work experience, spent on the pitch. The UEFA Pro diploma course is spread out as a minimum over one complete season.

Yokohama Marinos have three matches coming up over the eight days starting on Sunday, if a deal is to be done it would seem logical to be completed before Sunday’s match away to Consadole Sapporo.

It is now 100 days since Celtic announced Neil Lennon’s resignation.

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