Shaun Maloney appointment not a case of jobs for the ‘Bhoys’

Shaun Maloney today made a surprising return to Celtic in the position of professional player pathway manager replacing his former teammate Darren O’Dea, who recently left the club to become the Swansea City assistant manager.

In what can only be described as a terrific appointment due to the wealth of knowledge and experience the former Celtic and Scotland player will bring to the role, it hasn’t stopped some from criticising the decision to hire Shaun with some describing it as just another case of a job for ‘one of the Bhoys’.

Yes Shaun is a well known figure at the club and will no doubt have contacts deep in the hierarchy of Celtic Park, but let’s step back and take a moment to think.

If you take away Shaun’s connection to the club he still has a vast wealth of experience in a coaching capacity. Shaun left his last role at Celtic Park as under 20 development squad to become a vital member of Roberto Martinez’s all star Belgium side where he spent three years which included coaching at the Euro 2020 finals.

Shaun then decided to become a manager in his own right and returned to Scotland as he was named Hibernian manager in December 2021.

Unfortunately Shaun was dismissed after only four months at Easter Road but was soon back in the dugout as Manager of former club, English league one side Wigan Athletic and he did a reasonable job at the Latics despite several off the field troubles which led to several point deductions, although unfortunately for Shaun he was relieved of his duties on March this year.

That’s a terrific CV for any 42 year old in the game to boast, and this is an appointment that will only be beneficial to the club. This is far from a case of a ‘job for one of the bhoys’

This isn’t an appointment to criticise, it’s one to embrace.

Welcome back Shaun.