Controversial Rangers hero details work with ex Celtic boss after tough season ends in pair departures
The former Rangers and Celtic striker made a shock connection with the ex-Hoops boss outside his comfort zone.
A controversial Rangers hero has talked over his experience with a former Celtic boss in his most recent jobs.
Kenny Miller featured for several clubs and the Scotland national team in his playing career, but causes division in Glasgow, having featured for both sides of the Old Firm. He has moved into coaching and his most recent role was at Atlanta United in the MLS with Ronny Deila, who managed Celtic between 2014-16.
The ex-striker - who made himself a hero with three top flight titles at Rangers - first worked with Deila at Al Wahda FC and then moved to America with him. A brutal season then unfolded with just five wins in the MLS during 2025, with the pair having since left America. Now the former Rangers and Celtic man has opened up on his stint with the ex Hoops gaffer.
What former Rangers player worked with an ex Celtic boss?
Miller told Clyde 1 SSB: “It was obviously playing against his team for that couple of years he was at Celtic. Always, it's just a networking thing. It's a connection through agents, through people you know. We actually went down and met him prior to going out to Abu Dhabi.
“We never knew we were going out there, but I went down and watched the Chelsea vs Tottenham game, I think it was. It was at Stamford Bridge. We went down and met him, watched the game there.
“Just kept in touch. When the opportunity came up, they had asked my agent if I would fancy it and that was it. The rest is history. We've been at Abu Dhabi, had a good spell there for six months, went to Atlanta and had a not so good spell over the course of the season. It was a tough year. But again, it was an experience for the last 18 months, getting back into the game, which is obviously what I wanted to do.
Why Kenny Miller worked with Ronny Deila
“That was great to get in with someone who's got the experience, who's got the success that he's had pretty much everywhere he's been. So it's been an interesting 18 months. Firstly in Atlanta, I mean, they set up the stadium, the training ground, it’s second to none. There's no expense spared in making sure that every of the pitches are right.
“The stadium is a national stadium and I think it was a $2 billion stadium. It's incredible. It's the Falcons, Atlanta Falcons stadium there, so it's a special, special arena to play in. Training ground's exceptional. The league in itself, there's so many good players. Inter Miami was one of our last games, actually, against with Sergio Busquets playing. It was Jordi Alba's second or third last game. He was retiring.
“Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, obviously the superstars in that team, but Heung-min Son just obviously went out as well. Ryan Porteous actually plays on his team. He's been out there, so had a good chat with him. He absolutely loves it out there as well. It was a great experience. It really was. Glad to be back, definitely glad to be back, and we'll see what the future holds.”