Former Rangers boss surprise runner for Ajax top job as Martin O'Neill makes light of life after Celtic question
The latest news stories from both Celtic and Rangers as both sides prepare for SPFL Premiership action.
A former Rangers boss is in the running for the recently vacant Ajax position, while Martin O’Neill has spoke about his post-Celtic plans.
After their defeat to Roma in the Europa League, Rangers remain rock bottom of the league phase table without registering a single point. In the league, they have a chance on Sunday to make it three from three against Dundee, however Dens Park hasn’t been a happy hunting ground of late. Another side struggling on the European stage is Ajax, where a former Rangers boss has been linked with a managerial role.
On the other side of the city, Celtic were outplayed by Midtjylland on Thursday night in a match which could’ve been a lot worse scoreline wise. The Danish side were 3-1 victors, however this was a scoreline that flatters O’Neill’s side. As the honeymoon period comes to an end for the 73-year old in his interim stint, he has been discussing what his plans are for when he departs the club for the second time.
Clement in running for Ajax vacancy
Like Rangers, Ajax also sit bottom in the league phase in Europe having registered no points in the Champions League. With the Dutch giants behind the likes of Kairat Almaty, Pafos FC and Bodo Glimt in the table, manager, John Heitinga was sacked with immediate effect.
Former Rangers boss, Philippe Clement has been out of the game since he was sacked in February, however, according to The Daily Record, he has been a surprise inclusion for the Ajax shortlist. Former coach, Erik ten Hag is also on the list, as well as current interim boss, Fred Grim.
Clement had a promising start to his Rangers managerial career, winning the League Cup in 2024, however results deteriorated the following season which led to his dismissal. If he were to get the Ajax job, he would already have a mountain to climb in the Eredivisie, with the Amsterdam side sitting in fourth place, eight points behind league leaders, Feyenoord.
O’Neill plans to drink ‘expensive coffee’ after second Celtic stint
Never a man to take himself too seriously, when asked what his plans were for once he left Celtic, Martin O’Neill said he’ll be going back down to London where he will drink ‘expensive coffee.’ The 73-year old had to head down to the English capital before the Midtjylland game to retrieve his passport.
When asked what he’ll do after Celtic, he said: “I’ll go back to drinking coffee, which is rather expensive in London, that’s what I would do and think to myself did that really happen? But genuinely, if the board appoint someone on Monday that’s absolutely fine, it will have been a really strange fortnight.”
The interim Celtic boss said he has ‘secretly enjoyed’ being back in the Parkhead dugout, but as the International break looms, it looks as if their home fixture against Kilmarnock could be his last. Kjetil Knutsen of Bodo Glimt is now the front runner for the Celtic vacancy.