Celtic boss brilliantly details what Harry Kewell is going to add at Lennoxtown

By David Walton

June 27, 2022

Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou has brilliantly spoken about the energy and qualities Harry Kewell will bring to Lennoxtown this season.

Kewell is the first major hire Ange has made to his first-team coaching staff with the former Liverpool and Leeds United star linking up with the Premiership champions ahead of their return to the UCL.

The Australian great has Champions League winning experience himself after securing a historic success with Liverpool back in 2005.

And as he tackled his first day at Lennoxtown as the Celtic players returned for pre-season today, Ange bigged up what Kewell is going to bring to the club. Speaking via Celtic TV, Ange said: “Harry is someone who like you say has an Australian connection but we’ve never worked together. He’s obviously one of Australia’s greatest ever footballers and a guy who’s worked really hard trying to get a coaching career going. From afar and the reports I’ve had on him he brings some real good qualities in terms of his on-field coaching and his ability to mentor players.

“I think for me it was really important when the players came back this year that they understood that nothing stands still. There’s constant evolution. We want to be better every year and seeing a couple of new faces in the staff I think is going to help that. He’ll bring an energy. I know he’s super excited about being involved at this level and with this football club.

“He’s got Champions League experience as a player – he’s won it, and he’s an attacking player as well which I think will help with the group we’ve got and the balance we’ve got in the coaching group. Along with Stephen McManus and Darren O’Dea I’ve got a really good, exciting young, vibrant coaching group that I know will put a lot of energy into the first team and the B team this year.”

Harry Kewell looking to re-establish himself at Celtic after managerial roles

Kewell doesn’t actually come to Celtic Park without any coaching experience to his name. Far from it in fact. He’s managed several lower league clubs in England including Crawley Town, Notts County, Oldham Athletic, and Barnet respectively. Not forgetting his stint in charge of Watford under-23s.

Being on the training ground in a coaching capacity isn’t new to him. What is different from all of those roles is the scale of club he’s now working at. Celtic trumps anywhere he’s coached in terms of size and ambition.

But that certainly doesn’t seem to have fazed him today. Kewell was captured in this afternoon’s training video getting stuck right into the drills and trying his best to deliver messages to the players.

It’ll be interesting from a supporter’s perspective to see how Kewell’s success as a player rubs off on the team. Considering his experience in the UCL as a player, you would have to hope he’ll have some tips that will help us adjust to the competition and be competitive.

It’s difficult as a fan to get away from the reputation coaches have had as players. But working in this kind of capacity will require a totally different skillset.

All the best to Kewell as he gets set to be a part of this special journey we’re on under Ange. Hopefully, he can play a key role in leading us to further success.

In other news, Ange Postecoglou dismisses Celtic transfer timelines in fresh update