Jens Berthel Askou seems the current favourite to be the next Celtic manager in many punters’ eyes.
That’s despite many Hoops fans likely not knowing who the Dane was until this season, which has seen him take Scottish football by storm at Motherwell.
It’s difficult to overstate the seismic jump it would be if he were to leave the Lanarkshire side to take the Parkhead role, should he be offered the opportunity.
But it’s far from a foregone conclusion that Askou would accept an offer from Celtic, despite the pre-existing connection he has to a certain John Collins.
Jens Berthel Askou to Celtic: do you see it happening?
Jens Berthel Askou’s Celtic decision
However disrespectful it may be to Motherwell, the many conversations currently going on about Askou moving to Celtic are inevitable given how the season has gone at both clubs.
And this is the precise reason why a move may not be a straightforward decision for Askou.
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The 43-year-old isn’t the only one at Fir Park who has been catching attention this season.
Whether or not the club can keep a hold of key players such as Tawanda Maswanhise, Eli Just and Elliot Watt is likely to be a factor in if he decides to stay around for another season.
If Askou is satisfied that he can kick on, Celtic will be in his sights, as well as a run in Europe, which their form over the last four months has suggested that they are absolutely capable of.
If he decides to leave, the mammoth task of rejuvenating Celtic may not be his most attractive offer. Let’s remember that the Hoops might not even have the opportunity to qualify for the Champions League.
Coaching circles are small, and Askou has already worked against Europe’s elite in the competition with Sparta Prague. If he went to work with similar (or greater) resources in Belgium or the Netherlands, could you really blame him?
That’s not even mentioning the elephant in the room which is England, where the Fir Park boss played during his career. Askou has already received approaches from at least one Championship club.
Under usual circumstances, an offer to manage Celtic could easily be too hard to resist for a Motherwell manager – but these are not usual circumstances.
I want the next manager of Celtic to be…
Jens Berthel Askou’s connection to Celtic hero John Collins
Celtic hero Collins – who has, of course, already assisted a Scandinavian manager in the Parkhead dugout – was seen next to Askou at Celtic Park for their Europa League defeat to Stuttgart.
Askou’s agent is former Danish international Bjarne Goldbaek, who was teammates with Collins at Fulham between 2000 and 2003.
This creates a direct professional link between Askou’s representative and the ex-Celtic man. Of course, to say that this could bring him to Glasgow would be pure speculation at this point.
But Collins’ well-known mantra of ‘passing, moving and tempo’ is certainly a fitting description of how the Dane has the Steelmen playing…
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