Steven Pressley has left his job at Brentford after four years. The former Celtic and Hearts defender had been working as Head of Individual Development with young players, helping them move from Brentford’s B team into the first team. His work was well respected, and he was seen as someone who helped players develop properly for top-level football.
Pressley’s exit has come at a time when Celtic are also looking to fill a similar role. Darren O’Dea, who was in charge of helping young players make the step up to the first team at Celtic, has taken a new job.
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Fleetwood manager Steven Pressley before the match
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O’Dea will become the assistant manager at Swansea City in the English Championship. That means Celtic now need someone new to take on this important job.
O’Dea had played for Celtic and came back to coach the B team. Last year, he moved into a new role where he worked with Brendan Rodgers to make sure young players had the right path to the first team. It’s a job that matters a lot, especially with so much talent coming through the youth system.
Pressley could be a good option. He’s managed teams in Scotland, England, and Cyprus, and he knows what it takes to help players grow. His recent comments about wanting to return to management show he might be open to taking on a fresh challenge. It’s not clear if he wants another coaching role or if he’s only interested in being a manager again, but the timing is interesting.
There’s also been talk about Stiliyan Petrov. The former Celtic midfielder is well liked by fans and has stayed close to the club. Petrov is a qualified coach and has a master’s degree in sports management.
Stan Petrov
Petrov has been working with players to help them prepare for life after football. While he hasn’t coached full-time yet, his knowledge and connection to the club make him someone to consider.
Celtic need to act fast to fill the role left by O’Dea. It’s a big job and key to the future of the team. Whether they look at someone like Pressley, a former player like Petrov, or someone new altogether, they must choose wisely. Whoever gets the job will have a big say in which young players get their chance to shine in the first team.
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