What makes a successful Celtic Manager?
Winning the Scottish League Title? Dominating our Glasgow rivals? Success in Europe? Last minute winners?
Gordon Strachan done it all and more during his time at Celtic and now – almost 20 years after he took his place in the Celtic Park hot-seat – renowned Celtic Author Matt Corr has charted the incredible maiden season of the man who was given the unenviable task of replacing the legendary Martin O’Neill.
In the summer of 2005 Celtic were still coming to terms with the loss of the great Henrik Larsson just 12 months prior and now the man who had dragged Celtic into the modern era was also departing.
Into the bargain the club were now downsizing financially and the big money moves that brought key figures like Sutton, Hartson, Lennon would also become a thing of the past.
Gordon Strachan was no stranger to Celtic and to Scottish Football, but one wonders if he quite knew what he was getting himself into.
That he went on to be quite as successful as he was at Celtic Park in spite of the various mitigating factors is all the more admirable.
But it certainly wasn’t plain sailing for the former Scotland star. Far from it.
His first game as manager resulted in a disastrous 5-0 loss at the hands of Artmedia Bratislava – a night he described as his worst in 33 years in football.
Things however would improve notably from there on in.
Silverware was in store but not before a New Year spectacular at Tynecastle, drama at Broadwood, and the arrival of Roy Keane amongst others.
It’s also a season which saw “The Jinky Final” as Strachan picked up his first trophy for the club on a day when we paid tribute to one of our favourite sons.
Helping him on the way was a dressing room littered with big personalities such as Neil Lennon, John Hartson and Artur Boruc all playing a huge part in his success, ably supported of course by the three characters who Matt has named his new book after.
Majic, Stan & The King of Japan is the story of that rollercoaster 2005/06 season under Gordon Strachan and its Bratislava, its Broadwood and its everything in between!
Matt joined Tino in The Celtic Exchange studio to pick up the story and to take us through a chapter that – until now – has been one of the lesser charted eras of modern day Celtic. Listen exclusively at The Celtic Exchange or on the player below.
Majic, Stan & The King Of Japan will be launched at a very special event at Celtic Park on Thursday 19th of October.
Guests on the night include John Hartson and Stephen McManus who starred in that team as well as other guests to be announced.
Find out more and book your tickets at the link here.
