Ange Postecoglou recruits Aussie legend Harry Kewell to help him lead Celtic to back-to-back Scottish premiership titles
- Ange Postecoglou has recruited Aussie Ex-Liverpool midfielder Harry Kewell
- Kewell has had a rollercoaster coaching career, being booted out of three clubs
- The 43-year-old will join a team of four in Celtic’s backroom coaching setup
Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou has called upon former Socceroos and Premier League star Harry Kewell to join his side’s coaching ranks in a bid to retain the Scottish title.
Kewell – who excelled for Leeds United, Liverpool and Galatasaray during his legendary career – was sacked last September by Barnet FC after failing to coach the side to victory across seven games.
Harry Kewell looks coaches Oldham Athletic against Southend United at Boundary Park in Oldham in March 2021. He’s been thrown a lifeline by fellow Aussie Postecoglou
The 43-year-old will add to Celtic’s backroom team to help aid the team’s quest to win back-to-back titles, after Postecoglou stunned the football world by turning the club around despite being a relative unknown when he was hired as manager.
Kewell kicked off his patchy coaching career in 2017 and has been in and out of League Two sides since his first post with Crawley Town.
The 274-game midfielder was booted by Notts County in 2019 and found some success with Oldham Athletic before being shown the door in 2021.
Before Postecoglou’s signing, Celtic finished 25 points behind arch-rivals Rangers, and lost three of his first six games in charge.
Celtic FC coach Ange Postecoglou celebrates after leading his team to the Scottish Premier League title
The side went on a 31-game unbeaten streak to claim their 10th Scottish league title in 11 years.
Postecoglou says Celtic must lift to another level if they are to repeat their stunning campaign.
‘My role is to make us better next year, we need to be better,’ he told Sky Sports.
‘It’s not just about making an impact next year, it’s about building a team that will continually make an impact, and that takes time.’
Harry Kewell kicks the ball off his deadly left foot for the Socceroos in a friendly against the Netherlands in 2009
Kewell says Postecoglou once gave him some priceless advice about the coaching game.
‘The one thing Ange told me, and this has stuck with me, is go your own way,’ the ex-Liverpool star said.
‘Once you start listening to other people, you run into trouble.’
Postecoglou, 56, already has John Kennedy as his assistant, a Celtic diehard whose career which began at 16 was cut short after a slide tackle in his Scottish international debut ruined his knee.
Kewell in action for Liverpool in 2007, where he started 81 games for the club in five seasons – scoring 12 goals
Kewell will join a coaching staff of four and will finally link up with Postecoglou after missing out on prior opportunities with the Socceroos and Melbourne Victory.
The 58-game Socceroo scored 17 International goals and was part of Liverpool’s 2005 Champions League-winning side.