Celtic coach Shaun Maloney has been tipped for a future managerial role as discussions over his Hoops contract continue.
Jackie McNamara believes Shaun Maloney has all the attributes required to become Celtic manager one day, making the club’s ongoing efforts to retain him all the more important.
For many supporters, Maloney staying on feels every bit as important as any signing Celtic make this summer.
The former Celtic winger stepped away from his role as Professional Player Pathway Manager to join O’Neill’s coaching staff and quickly became a key figure behind the scenes. Throughout two interim spells in charge last season, O’Neill regularly leaned on Maloney’s tactical input as the pair built a strong working relationship.
Jackie McNamara knows both men well.
The former Celtic captain played alongside Maloney under O’Neill before leaving Parkhead in 2005, and he believes his former teammate could eventually take the top job himself. He said (RecordSport):
“I think he has the potential to do that.
“He has a good idea of the game, a good temperament and knows how he wants to play and wants to do things. It would be one that they were nurturing him through, that possibly could take over at some point.”
Maloney’s coaching journey has been extensive.
After his playing career, he worked under Roberto Martinez at both Wigan Athletic and with the Belgium national team before returning to Scotland for a stint at Hibs, then Celtic in a development role. That experience has only strengthened his reputation within the game.
McNamara also pointed to the difference between coaching and management, while insisting Maloney may eventually be capable of handling both.
“I know he’s a different personality to Martin. There are not many people like Martin who have that charisma, stature, and it’s separate.
“Obviously, when you’re a manager, you’re taking all of it rather than just the coaching side. You’re dealing with things that’s not football sometimes and that does change you.
“I do think they’re separate, the coach and the manager. I do think it’s a separate thing altogether where you see Martin as a total manager, managing the players, getting the stuff out of them on matchdays.
“But I do think Shaun possibly could do both in the future.”
It’s difficult to argue with that assessment.
Maloney was part of a coaching group that helped transform a Celtic side which, at one stage, looked short on confidence and direction. By the end of the campaign, they were lifting two major trophies.
That is why the continued silence around the backroom contracts is attracting attention.
There may well be details still to be ironed out behind the scenes. Celtic have offered little publicly, which naturally leaves room for speculation.
What seems clear, though, is that keeping Maloney at the club should be a priority.
Not just because of what he contributed last season, but because there is a growing feeling that his long-term future could lie much closer to the manager’s office than the coaching room.
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