Efrain Juarez has received a proposal to join Martin O’Neill’s Celtic staff with a view to taking over as manager, according to a report in Mexico.
The detailed report comes after Juarez called an end to his time as manager of Pumas UNAM following their defeat to Cruz Azul in the Mexican Clausura final.
Best known for his short spell as a player in Glasgow, Juarez has since made his name as a manager, making history at Atletico Nacional in Colombia prior to managing his boyhood club.
Amid uncertainty over the future of Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham, the report is certainly interesting… even if there doesn’t appear to be much backing it up.
Your thoughts on the latest update on the delayed appointment of Martin O’Neill… 🤦♂️
Efrain Juarez ‘presented with medium-term project’ by Celtic
The report in Mexican outlet Juanfutbol claims that, after the conclusion of his season, Juarez received a call from Parkhead directors requesting a meeting.
There, he was reportedly presented with a ‘medium-project’ by the club: come in as an assistant, with a view to later becoming manager.
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It’s said that Celtic have faith in the potential of Juarez; he was widely reported to have been on the club’s managerial shortlist prior to the appointment of Wilfried Nancy.
No decision has reportedly been reached, though the report was a few days ago. It says that an agreement hasn’t been ruled out.
As a manager in his own right, it would certainly be an unusual move for Juarez to leave one of the biggest clubs in Mexico to become an assistant at Celtic.
Furthermore, he has no pre-existing relationship with O’Neill, unlike Fotheringham and Maloney, who made their senior debuts under the Parkhead boss.
It’s similar to that which was offered to Ronny Deila in 2014: the Norwegian was initially slated to come in as assistant to Roy Keane.
When Keane said no, the club offered the top job to Deila.
Funnily enough, Juarez later worked as assistant to Deila in Norway and the USA, and the pair now share agents.
🚲 What Celtic target Elias Filet has in his locker…
Efrain Juarez on previous Celtic links
Speaking to the Mexican media last November, Juarez seemed to confirm that there was interest in his services from Celtic.
He said: “Obviously, there has been interest from other clubs. In every sense, that, for me, is not distracting.
“I think we know perfectly well that the club is aware of the situation, because I also played there (at Celtic). And it’s not easy for a young Mexican coach to be involved in that type of club.
“For me, they obviously see and think that maybe we’re doing a good job. In that respect, I’m calm.”
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