Martin O’Neill has openly acknowledged that his return to Celtic has required a period of adjustment, with the game — and the methods used to prepare teams — having changed significantly since his earlier days in management.
Now back in the dugout after a long spell away, the 74-year-old has relied on the support and expertise of his coaching staff, which was strengthened yesterday by a notable new addition.
In a move that underlines the club’s desire to keep pace with the modern demands of the game, Celtic confirmed the appointment of Ross Grant, who joins from Hearts as a set-piece coach.
Although supporters may have been hoping for the unveiling of a new signing at Celtic Park, Grant’s role should not be overlooked. The club said he will concentrate on “set-piece analysis and coaching,” an increasingly important area at the highest level.
Grant earned considerable praise for his work during Hearts’ title challenge last season, helping make them one of the league’s most dangerous sides from dead-ball situations while also improving their defensive organisation at set-pieces.
Ross Grant was praised for his influence during Hearts’ title challenge last season
Shaun Maloney will continue with Celtic as part of Martin O’Neill’s coaching team
During O’Neill’s first managerial peak, coaching teams were generally smaller and specialist roles of this kind were rare. His latest move, however, suggests the Celtic manager is willing to adapt to the evolving landscape of the modern game.
‘I am really pleased to welcome Ross to our backroom staff, I know he is a highly-rated coach and look forward to working with him,’ said O’Neill who recently became Celtic’s permanent boss after two interim spells last season.
Grant’s move to Celtic Park comes just days after it was confirmed that O’Neill will continue working with coaches Shaun Maloney, Mark Fotheringham and Stephen McManus, who were by his side last term. First-team coach Gavin Strachan, however, left last week to take on a new role at West Brom.
‘I thought that was very important really, because we kind of gelled together really,’ O’Neill said of tying down most of the assistants with whom he won a league-and-cup double. ‘It’s nice to have the staff back.
‘Gavin is a very important cog in all proceedings, so I’m disappointed that he’s leaving, but I can understand why, he gets closer to home, he’s working at a very good football club, and so we wish him well.’
Celtic began their pre-season preparations at the end of last week, although those who have been on World Cup duty will be phased back into training once they have had a suitable break.
Scotland pair Anthony Ralston and Kieran Tierney, Tunisia’s Sebastian Tounekti and South Korea’s Yang Hyun-jun have all been eliminated from the tournament, while Sweden’s Benjamin Nygren, Japan’s Daizen Maeda, USA’s Auston Trusty and Canada’s Alistair Johnston are still involved in the global showpiece.
Celtic kick off their Premiership title defence at home to Dundee on August 3 and then face the first leg of their Champions League play-off a fortnight later.
‘Of course players who are out in the World Cup have had no break whatsoever,’ said O’Neill.
Kieran Tierney is among several Celtic stars who need a break after playing at the World Cup
‘The Scottish players haven’t, they’ve gone straight from our final games just to joining up with the squad, so they’ve had no holiday.
‘Holidays seem to get shorter and shorter. Way back in my time as a player, you might get two months off and you’re thinking, ‘gosh, I can’t wait to get back’.
‘These players definitely need a break, but the staggering is right, depending on how far you go. We’ve got players out there and they need a break, it’s as simple as that.
‘We’re trying to put all of that together to try and get ready for the beginning of the season, which is not that far away, and trying to think towards the latter part of August for the Champions League game.’
