Andreas “Andy” Hinkel would love to manage Celtic one day.
The current Spartak Moscow assistant has his own designs on management. Hinkel, still only 39, is no.2 to Domenico Tedesco. The former German international spent 3 years at Celtic, making 95 appearances in total [Transfermarkt].
A hard-working, industrious right-back who struggled with injury issues, he was only usurped at Sevilla by Dani Alves before joining the Bhoys. Possibly the finest right-back of his generation, Alves became a key man for the Andalusians. So, there was no disgrace for the 22-cap ex-Stuttgart man there.
Signed by Gordon Strachan in 2008, Hinkel’s running, tackling and work-rate made him a popular figure at Paradise.
After playing, Hinkel went on to get his coaching badges, and spent some time learning his craft at Lennoxtown. According to the Herald, the former right back has spent two short stints at Celtic’s training facilities post-retirement.
Hinkel said [Herald]:
“It would be a big, big honour to be the head coach sometime in the future and to help Celtic.
“I can imagine doing many, many different things, you know, in football. But to help Celtic in some way, to help build a new structure at the club would be a pleasure. It would be a big honour for me to help with that.”
Is a Celtic-Andreas Hinkel reunion a possibility?
Learning his trade in one of the bigger leagues, with a historic side like Spartak Moscow can’t be a bad thing. The ‘Krasno-Belye’ sit second in the Russian top-flight [BBC], and Hinkel has had to step in before. The rather hot-headed Domenico Tedesco is no stranger to a touchline ban [Twitter].
During his training stints at Lennoxtown, he learned about the Academy set-up and how the youngsters were coached. Furthermore, he took on lessons about scouting and recruitment, as part of his coaching badges. Seemingly, he’s a coach who wants to be involved with multiple facets of the sport.
Perhaps Hinkel didn’t get the credit he deserved at Celtic. Certainly, his replacements in latter years weren’t as solid or as experienced as the German international. A likeable, young and forward-thinking coach, he’s more likely to join Tedesco in a Bundesliga dug-out than at Celtic.
But eventually, he’ll want to manage in his own right. And if the cards fall his way, Celtic could be on the phone.
READ MORE: A St. Pauli man and a Brazilian youngster feature in our latest scout report.
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