In a move aimed at revamping its player recruitment strategy, Celtic Football Club has welcomed Mark Cooper, a former talent spotter with extensive experience in South America and Major League Soccer (MLS), to spearhead their scouting operations. [MailSport]
This decision follows the recent departure of Mark Lawwell, the Head of Player Recruitment and son of Celtic chairman Peter Lawwell, along with chief scout Joe Dudgeon. Both exited their roles at the to explore new opportunities.
Mark Cooper, who is returning to Glasgow from MLS, comes highly recommended by Celtic’s manager Brendan Rodgers. His primary objective will be to enhance the quality of first-team recruitment, a critical area that has seen its fair share of challenges over the past two years with many recruitment decisions not yielding the expected results.
Under Cooper’s direction, Celtic aims to target promising young talents, specifically those aged between 19 and 23, who already have international experience and meet their specific financial criteria. With the summer transfer window approaching, Cooper will be tasked with creating a ‘hit list’ of potential signings that align with Celtic’s vision and budget.
The timing of this coincides with a pivotal moment in the SPFL. Celtic is currently positioned to clinch the title, with only three games remaining in the season. A crucial match against Rangers at Celtic Park this Saturday could potentially secure their lead, placing them six points ahead with just two games left. A victory in this derby would almost certainly guarantee Celtic the title.
