Jackie McNamara had a glittering Celtic career where trophies were concerned.
The former full-back lifted nine pieces of silverware for Celtic in his 10 years at the club and has a UEFA Cup runners’ up medal in his cabinet at home.
As a manager with the likes of Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership he also had a modicum of success where he took the Terrors to two cup finals.
Nowadays for the 51-year-old it is all about helping others achieve their own dreams as he works in the agency world with Consilium Sports and he has a number of recognisable names on his roster.
McNamara was the man responsible for making the Luke McCowan deal from Dundee to Celtic back in the summer happen and it was a dream switch for the Greenock-born midfielder who has shone at Celtic Park since arriving.
McNamara explained how Celtic signed Luke McCowan
It was a deal McNamara claims almost did not happen as the agreement between both clubs was only struck late on on deadline day.
Jackie, McCowan and Celtic were all unconvinced that it may happen until it did. And McCowan joined Arne Engels as the last-minute signing that evening.
McNamara has now explained what went down that evening and revealed the details of the move.
“We’ve been looking after Luke since he was at Ayr. It was good because I’d met him and took him to one of the Champions League games years ago and said, ‘You could play this level’,” McNamara said on Open Goal’s podcast.
| McCowan Celtic stats 2024/5 so far |
| Matches played: 38 |
| Goals scored: 9 |
| Assists: 11 |
“He went to Dundee and did well and then in the summer he moved. You see his wee face when he comes out, it’s brilliant.
“How close was Hibs? They were in for him but Celtic were wanting him as well. There was nothing done at the time, it was just all last minute. For him it was same as me as a wee boy at Dunfermline for Celtic in the last minute of the window.
“His face coming out is just a dream come true for him. We thought it was off and then back on, all last minute and too rushed. Obviously they signed other ones on that day.
“He thought it was off and he was going back up to Dundee, then it was we need to turn the car and go to Celtic Park to sign and do medical.
“He’s a great boy and I’m delighted for him. That’s the good part of the job when they get a chance to go and do that, live their dream.”
Celtic could have kept hold of Ben Doak
Another young man who has benefited from McNamara’s guidance is Ben Doak who is now tearing it up at Middlesbrough on loan from Liverpool.
The youngster made his Celtic debut at 16 and was thrown on for a derby win over Rangers which had Hoops fans excited about his future.
That was short-lived when Liverpool signed Doak for buttons and McNamara has now revealed what it would have taken for Celts to keep their prospect.
“How did Ben Doak come about? I went to watch him at 15. I went away to watch him at Scotland 17s but everybody was trying to get him, then I’d signed with him, he signed with us and Celtic were trying to get him to extend and stay,” McNamara added.
“Ange had put him in a couple of times and if he’d have kept him in the first-team. The problem is if you’re not in the first-team they need something in between that to get the boys to go out.
“No disrespect to the Lowland League but when you’re at a certain level it’s stimulation, you need to go and play and be tested so there’s somewhere else boys can go if they’re not in the first-team.
“I think if they kept him in at that point he might’ve wanted to stay.
“He’s injured just now but I think he’s special. I watched him away with Scotland and he’s got it, he’s special.”
Crystal Palace were linked with Doak in January and a bid was lodged.
But McNamara clarified: “Did Crystal Palace put in a £30million bid? No. The put a bid in for him but not as much.”
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