The noise around who should take the reins as the next Celtic manager will only continue to grow in the coming months.
But when the name of Scotland coach Steve Clarke was put on the table, Si Ferry wasn’t having any of it.
During a recent panel discussion on Open Goal, Gordon Dalziel floated the idea that Clarke’s next logical step after the national team would be the Celtic job.
Ferry instantly shut the suggestion down, bluntly stating, ‘He can’t get the Celtic job.’
Clarke is currently preparing for the 2026 World Cup this summer, which will be co-hosted by the United States of America, Mexico and Canada.
The former Kilmarnock boss has guided the Scots to three major tournaments, including the World Cup for the first time since 1998.
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Steve Clarke can’t become Celtic manager because of his style of play
Despite Clarke’s success on the international stage, as well as success in the dugout in the English Premier League, Ferry doesn’t feel he is suited to Celtic.
When pressed by Derek Ferguson and Dalziel, who admitted many Celtic fans might not warm to the idea, Ferry zeroed in on the ultimate dealbreaker: the tactical philosophy. ‘You need to have a better style of play.’
While James McFadden attempted to defend Clarke’s domestic record, they worked together at Scotland, by pointing out his previous success at Kilmarnock, Ferry remained resolute.
He dismissed Clarke’s Rugby Park tenure as overly defensive, noting, ‘I am not saying they weren’t a good side. It’s not a style you want at Celtic.’
Ferry has struck a chord with exactly what the majority of the fanbase feels, because this summer, there needs to be the biggest clearout in Celtic’s recent history.
That front-foot, relentless, and entertaining attacking football needs to return, and a whole squad probably needs to be reassembled.
While Clarke’s pragmatic, defensively sound block has worked wonders for Scotland – and previously turned Kilmarnock into a tough nut to crack and a trip across Europe – attempting to bring that cautious, grinding approach to the east end of Glasgow would be a recipe for disaster.
At Celtic, winning isn’t always enough; you have to win with style, and Ferry hit the nail on the head on Open Goal.
Ferry: “What sort of job does he get that’s better than the Scotland job?”
Dalziel: “Celtic.”
Ferry: “No, he can’t. He can’t get the Celtic job.”
Dalziel: “Why not? I know a lot of Celtic fans don’t fancy that right now.”
Ferry: “He can’t get the Celtic job.”
Derek Ferguson: “Why don’t you want him as Celtic manager?”
Ferry: “You need to have a better style of play. An attacking style of play to be the Celtic manager.”
McFadden: “He had a good attacking style at Kilmarnock.”
Ferry: “No, they were defensive. I am not saying they weren’t a good side. It’s not a style you want at Celtic.”
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