Celtic coach joins forces with former Rangers director as SFA send message to Hoops after connecting duo
A Hearts coach has been named in the raft of Scotland coaching additions.
The Scottish FA have announced a Celtic coach has joined forces with a former Rangers director in their new coaching shake-up.
With several hires made from U21s down, David McCallum will lead on the U17s after moving on from over a decade at Rangers, latterly serving as interim academy director. He will be assisted by Celtic ‘B’ team coach Jonny Hayes with the former Hoops winger to combine his Lennoxtown work with a role with the SFA.
Sebastien Pocognoli has arrived as Scotland head coach while former Dundee boss Tony Docherty in charge of the U21s. He is assisted by former Rangers attacker Steven Naismith. Tam Courts joins on a full-time basis, holding managerial experience from time at Dundee United, leading role at U19s level. Hearts transition coach and ex-Rangers left-back Lee Wallace will assist him alongside his Gorgie duties.
Former Airdrie manager Rhys McCabe is with the U16s alongside current SFA duo James Grady and Stephen Clarke, who will play their part in U14s and U15s development. Peter Leven is aiding talent ID after Aberdeen coaching experience and Brentford coach Neil MacFarlane is giving his experience for all levels. Graeme Smith is the goalkeeping lead.
What have SFA said about new Scotland coaches?
Chief Football Officer, Craig Mulholland, said: “I am delighted to have such a diverse group of coaches working together and complementing one another’s skillsets for the overall benefit of our best talents. This is an exciting new era, with an exciting group of coaches.
“We will now work tirelessly with Sebastien and his staff to ensure a new Scotland team identity and way of working is fully aligned across all our age-groups. I would also like to thank Hearts, Celtic and Brentford for allowing Lee, Jonny and Neil to work with us during the international breaks.”
A statement adds: “All of the new coaches will be called National Youth Team Coaches, as opposed to being designated a permanent age group, as they will work collaboratively as a team, across all age groups ensuring a full knowledge of the Scotland pathway, enhancing out talent identification process, and ensuring a clear alignment and Scotland DNA from Pocognoli down through our teams.
“Tam Courts will join the Scottish FA on a full-time basis and his initial designation is to take charge of the U19s, where he will be assisted by Lee Wallace. David McCallum also joins the Scottish FA in a full-time capacity and will initially look after Scotland’s U17s, alongside Jonny Hayes. McCallum is a former Queen’s Park Academy Director and was credited with playing an influential role in the development of Scotland captain Andy Robertson.
Who has been hired by SFA to join Scotland coaching staff?
“After spells with the Irish Football Association and Scottish FA, working in Coach Education, McCallum spent more than a decade with Rangers – latterly as Interim Academy Director.
“Celtic B Team coach Hayes will be well known to Scottish football supporters after productive stints as a player for Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Aberdeen (twice) and Celtic. Like Wallace, he also brings international experience having played for the Republic of Ireland.
“Rhys McCabe arrives at Barclays Hampden initially working with the U16s, on the back of a stand-out breakthrough coaching role as player-manager of Airdrieonians. McCabe will be supported by existing Scottish FA coaches James Grady and Stephen Clarke, who - in addition to the work within the Scottish FA’s JD Performance School set-up - will initially lead an exciting new programme for our U15s and new U14s squads, while both will also take on new opportunities supporting our older age-group squads.
“Also joining the National Youth Team coach group is Peter Leven, who will assist across all age groups, while supporting our new talent ID process. Neil MacFarlane – currently first-team coach at Brentford in English Premier League – will also continue the excellent work he has done with the Scotland. Graeme Smith remains Goalkeeping Coach for the U21s, and is also in charge of our national goalkeeping pathways work.”
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