Derek McInnes is set to face Celtic for the first time as a manager in 18 months this weekend, when the Bhoys visit newly promoted Kilmarnock.
McInnes was Aberdeen manager until leaving by mutual consent in March 2021, last facing Celtic in a behind closed doors match at Celtic Park in February of that year, losing 1-0.
He was appointed in the dugout at Killie midway through last season, tasked with getting the Ayrshire promoted from the Scottish Championship.
They managed to do that, just, at the expense of Arbroath in an incredibly exciting chase at the top of the table. McInnes is now aiming to keep them in the top-flight.
The Rugby Park outfit drew at home to Dundee United on the opening day and had the difficult task of visiting Ibrox last weekend, losing 2-0 after holding out in the first half.
This weekend is likely to be their toughest test yet since McInnes took charge.
Derek McInnes record vs Celtic
No team has caused McInnes more problems in his managerial career than Celtic, with the Bhoys winning a massive 36 of the 44 encounters, losing just two and drawing the other six.
If you attribute points to each match (even cup games for demonstration purposes), it works out at just 0.45 points per match. [Transfermarkt]
As you’d expect, Rangers are next in line with the best record against him, though he’s actually done much better against the Ibrox outfit. He’s faced them on 31 occasions, avoiding defeat on 11 occasions and losing 20 of the matches. That’s a 0.74 points per match record.
His last victory against the Bhoys came at Celtic Park in 2018, after Brendan Rodgers’ side had already won the league. There’s a two-year gap to the previous win before that, which came as a 2-1 result at Pittodrie in February 2016 – the Ronny Deila years.
None of this is a guarantee of a Celtic win this weekend, of course. We know nothing is earned on paper in Scotland. It will all come through hard work and application of the players.
Ange Postecoglou has never faced him in the dugout, so it’s a new experience for this coaching staff and group, but Celtic are right to have expectations of all three points and hopefully we find the answers on Sunday.
In other news, Celtic’s slow-burn start to the season will soon get much more dramatic.
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