Former Celtic defender Johan Mjallby has opened up on plans to form a managerial dream team with Hoops legend Henrik Larsson, in an interview with The Sunday Post (03/11 print edition, Post Match supplement page 12).
The former Swedish internationals came close to taking charge of English League One side Southend United only for another former Celtic star, Tommy Johnson, to pull out of the move and sink the appointment.
Mjallby admits in the new interview that this was a frustration. However he holds no ill will towards Johnson and is still hoping to team up with Larsson in British football.
As quoted by The Sunday Post (03/11 print edition, Post Match supplement page 12), the former Celtic defender said: “As you would expect, Henrik and I have kept in touch over the years and we trust each other fully.
“Our recent conversations have been about how we’d both like to work abroad, maybe in the UK. And that included doing something together.
“I think Henrik has the ability and mentality to be a top manager, I really do.”
A duo to keep an eye on
With Mjallby also explaining that it’s now just about waiting for the right opportunity, it might not be too long until we see this dream team working together in the dugout for the first time.
Whether they can make an impact in the English game is another matter. Larsson’s managerial career hasn’t exactly been blockbuster so far.
Mjallby though has excellent coaching experience and during his spell at Celtic was a key part of bringing tangible trophy success to the club, working under Neil Lennon.
Combined with the star power and leadership qualities of Larsson, it would certainly be fascinating to see how they’d get on in the English lower leagues, or even in Scotland.
If they do well, it’d certainly ramp up speculation that the legendary striker could one day take charge of the Hoops, if Lennon ever moves on in the future.
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