Celtic’s search for a new manager is well underway, and the rumour mill is in full flow.
Brendan Rodgers’ sudden departure paved the way for Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney to take charge, but it has been made clear that this is not seen as a long-term option.
O’Neill has said that the club are looking to appoint a ‘young and upcoming’ coach to replace Rodgers, who Dermot Desmond has annihilated in a bombshell statement.
Kieran McKenna, Ange Postecoglou and Robbie Keane have been linked with the vacancy in the early stages of the hunt.
But a sensational link with Kevin Muscat, who rejected interest from former club Rangers just weeks ago, has been raised by his ex-neighbour John Higgins.
John Higgins raises Kevin Muscat to Celtic link
Celtic are yet to make a formal approach for any candidate, with the Hoops reportedly still drawing up a shortlist of contenders.
It remains to be seen how long O’Neill and Maloney could be at the helm – the former admitted that it could be mere days or weeks.
READ MORE: Craig Bellamy has not applied for Celtic job despite Hoops admiration for Wales boss
But could the Hoops hierarchy seriously consider Muscat?
Snooker legend John Higgins is a well-known Celtic supporter, and a former next-door neighbour of the Shanghai Port boss.
And speaking on TalkSPORT on Wednesday, Higgins raised the rumour.
He said: “I’m on the way out to Shanghai, and I hope to go and have a coffee with an old next-door neighbour of mine from when he played with Rangers.
“And I heard that it could be Muscat, he could be coming to Celtic. There’s one for you. I heard he pulled out [from Rangers] because he was wanting to stay in China.
“And obviously Martin and Shaun are in, and they might be waiting on Muscat. So who knows.”
Regardless of how suitable he is for the job, it would be humiliating for the Ibrox side to see the man who decided that the timing wasn’t right mere weeks ago consider an eventual switch to their rivals.
But it’s a rumour, and for now, it will stay just that.
Kevin Muscat and Celtic hero Ange Postecoglou
Muscat owes much of his managerial career to Celtic hero Postecoglou.
The former Millwall defender worked as Postecoglou’s assistant at Melbourne Victory before taking over from him when the Australian national team came calling.
Reuniting with Ange in Japan, Muscat repeated this exact process when Celtic poached him from Yokohama Marinos.
Should he ever make the move to Scotland or Britain as a manager, fans will note that his style of football, training and communication are all profoundly influenced by Postecoglou.
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