41-year-old Belgian is linked with Celtic’s manager’s job
Soccer Football - Scottish Premiership - Kilmarnock v Celtic - Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, Scotland, Britain - April 16, 2023 Celtic players in a huddle before the match REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
Rik de Mil is the latest name apparently on Celtic’s managerial radar.
The number of candidates linked with succeeding Ange Postecoglou is probably reaching towards 20 with the Club Brugge Number 2 joining the list.
Over the last two weeks Celtic fans have discovered how Frank Trimboli has been pushing Postecoglou towards the decision-makers at Spurs, many other agents are doing the same with Celtic an attractive job to be linked with.
Taking over a successful, young squad that doesn’t require a rebuild is a decent selling point with group stage Champions League football a tasty bonus on offer.
Discussing his merits, Mark Hendry of Football Scotland explains:
Rik de Mil is on Celtic’s radar as their search for a new manager goes on.
The Hoops are on the lookout for a boss after Ange Postecoglou departed to take the role as Tottenham on a four-year contract. There have already been a number of names linked with the Parkhead position including Brendan Rodgers, Enzo Maresca and Graham Potter while Kjetil Knutsen is perhaps the fan favourite choice to leave Bodo/Glimt for Glasgow.
Now Football Scotland can reveal Celts have been keeping track on Club Brugge’s assistant manager De Mil who is considered a serious prospect with a top coaching career ahead of him.
De Mil, 41, has been at Brugge since 2015 when he became their youth coach before he was promoted to Club NXT in the Belgian First Division B.
He was replaced in 2022 when he opted to become the first-team’s assistant and after Scott Parker was sacked he was handed the interim reins until Ronny Deila took the job after leaving Standard Liege.
It has been reported that ex-Norwich City boss Daniel Farke is in talks with the club while we recently revealed Maresca will be approached after Manchester City’s Champions League final this evening. But De Mil is also being considered on a longlist of names.
It is understood the coach has a lot of admirers in Belgian football as well as across Europe and has also been linked with other jobs in recent times.
About a year ago Hendry broke the news about Celtic’s interest in signing Alexandro Bernabei.
Who do you want as the next Celtic manger?
Brendan- He is the best available
Kjetil Knutsen- Fresh, ambitious, exciting
Enzo Maresca- if Pep rates him highly...
None of them for me- other options out there
A week after Ange Postecoglou officially told Celtic that he wanted to speak to Spurs there has been nothing concrete in the search to appoint a new manager which suggests that the club was in the dark about the Australian’s intentions.
With the transfer window opening on Wednesday supporters will be looking closely at how Michael Nicholson carries out his most important task.
CLICK HERE for de Mil’s Transfermarkt profile.