Former Reading manager Steve Clarke is in the running to take over at Celtic should Ange Postecoglou be tempted away from Celtic Park, according to the Reading Chronicle.
Celtic continue to dominate Scottish football and will be looking to add a record 8th domestic treble this afternoon when they face Inverness Caledonian Thistle this evening in the Scottish Cup final.
Greece-born Australian manager Postecoglou has been in charge of the Bhoys for two seasons and has added two Scottish Premier League titles and two Scottish League cups to the trophy room already. His success has led to strong rumours that Tottenham will come calling as they look to replace Antonio Conte who they sacked in March.
Who is Steve Clarke?
Steve Clarke is a 59-year-old former defender who is currently in charge of the Scotland national team, having taken the job in 2019.
Clarke began his professional career at St Mirren before a move to Chelsea in 1986 where he would eventually finish his playing days 12 years later after winning an FA Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup with the Blues.
Coaching-wise, Clarke has spent time as an assistant manager to the likes of Sir Bobby Robson, Jose Mourinho and Sir Kenny Dalglish at Newcastle, Chelsea and Liverpool and has been in the hot seat himself at West Bromwich Albion, Reading and Kilmarnock before taking the national job.
The former defender took charge of Reading in December 2014 and lead the club to the FA Cup Semi-Final where the Royals lost out to eventual winners Arsenal. He would last less than a year in the dugout and spend time on the Aston Villa coaching staff before taking over at Rugby Park.
Clarke is remembered fondly at Kilmarnock after his tenure and was described by the club’s official announcement of his departure as a legend having won over 50% of his league matches in charge.
He took over at Killie when they sat bottom of the league and he would leave them having twice broken the record points tally for the club, a record-high league finish and reaching the Europa League qualifiers.
What’s been said?
Clarke is described as being ‘among the front runners’ in the Chronicle article and is currently listed alongside Celtic legend Scott Brown, former Celtic manager Martin O’Neill and ex-Hoop Roy Keane.
Writer’s View
At present, this is very much a case of ifs, buts and maybes as the Celtic position is not available and any move for Clarke would depend not only on Tottenham taking Postecoglou and those in charge at Celtic Park believing Scotland’s manager is the right man to continue the domestic domination and begin to make a mark in Europe’s top competition but also on the man himself wanting to step away from being in charge of his country.
Tottenham seem to have been linked to and rejected by a multitude of managers around Europe so whether Postecoglou would choose to swap the relatively guaranteed success of Celtic for Spurs is up for debate.
Celtic’s interest in Clarke is not necessarily a surprise after his spell at Kilmarnock and his 23 wins in 43 games as Scotland’s manager.
