As we all know by now, John Kennedy has his eyes on the Celtic manager job one day.
The Celtic coach has admitted that it would be his “dream” to manager the Hoops in the future. Currently Neil Lennon’s number two after being promoted from the role of first-team coach, it’s easy to look at Kennedy as having no experience.
And whilst as a manager that’s true, he certainly doesn’t lack experience in the positions below. Kennedy’s association with Celtic started when he made his debut in the 1999-2000 season. Since then, he’s been attached to the club as a player, first-team coach, and now assistant manager.
Speaking about potentially taking up the Celtic manager’s job one day, this is what Kennedy had to say.
“It’s a dream. It’s not something I’m going to get caught up in and overrule what I do now in terms of trying to become the Celtic manager.
“I’m in the moment, I know if I don’t deliver as assistant manager, then things happen and you need to move on. You work at big clubs, there are those pressures.
“I’m in a good place, the club are in a great moment and when you’re in these moments you’ve got to savour it because I’ve seen the other side of it as a fan and even as a player when you’re maybe not winning, you’re chasing the opposition.”
Just look at Neil Lennon
If you want to look for an example, just look at Lennon, the man alongside him. Lennon was appointed first-team coach at Celtic back in 2008. He went down to the reserve team to coach in 2009 when Tony Mowbray was appointed, before taking over from Mogga in 2010.
That was a man that only had two years of experience in coaching. Yet he was appointed interim Celtic manager in 2010 before going on to start the run to 10-in-a-row with three Premiership title wins. He also managed two Champions League group stage campaigns and one last-16 qualification.
Kennedy, on the other hand, has been in the coaching game now for five years. He’s worked under Ronny Deila, Brendan Rodgers, and now Lennon. He’ll be learning under each coach and will use these experiences to help mould himself into a manager.
That’s not to say that Kennedy’s appointment as Celtic manager will come anytime soon. He still has a fair bit to go, and ideally would head out to hone his craft elsewhere as a number one before being given a crack at the Celtic job.
But this is a man who spent 10 years as a player at Parkhead before hanging up his boots. He’s now spent another five as a first-team coach. Kennedy has Celtic running through his veins and coaching experience to match.
Could be he a Celtic manager one day? Why not is the answer.
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