Gordon Strachan to return to Celtic in consultancy role

Gordon Strachan is set to return to Celtic, acting as a consultant to the club on a short-term basis.

The former Celtic and Scotland manager is to remain as technical director at Dundee but will be advising the Glasgow club and working on the youth development teams, ‘B’ side and women’s team.

Strachan’s role is a newly-created post as new chief executive Dominic McKay looks to improve the structure of the football department at Celtic.

The 64-year-old’s son Gavin is currently part of the first team coaching set-up at Celtic.

Strachan said: “I am really looking forward to returning to the club to assist in these areas.  The development of young players and seeing them improve and grow is a real passion for me and I will do anything I can to support the club in these areas.

“Great people at Celtic always do great work.  I look forward to building on this work, liaising with Dom and all our Celtic colleagues once again and hope we can work together for the benefit of the club and these teams so they ultimately can develop further and bring Celtic success.”  

“I also look forward to continuing my work at Dundee FC where I have established a great working relationship and close bond with the manager, managing director, staff and coaches.”

The appointment marks a return to the club where he enjoyed success as a manager from 2005 to 2009, winning three league titles, two League Cups and one Scottish Cup.

Strachan also led the team into the last 16 of the Champions League on two occasions.

A Celtic statement read: “Celtic Football Club is delighted today to announce that Gordon Strachan will be joining the club on a three-month consultancy project.

“Gordon will spend his time looking at our activities within our football academy, our women’s team and newly established B Team, with a view to providing recommendations to chief executive Dom McKay on how we can develop these areas further, feeding into wider work ongoing across the club.

“Under Chris McCart, our football academy continues to operate really well as it has done for a number of years, delivering quality players who have ultimately contributed so much to the Celtic first team.  Currently, the first team squad features players such as Callum McGregor, James Forrest, Stephen Welsh and Mikey Johnston who have all come through the ranks.

“Likewise, our women’s team goes from strength to strength, achieving Champions League status for the first time this year, under the fantastic stewardship of Fran Alonso and our B team looks towards a bright future.

Celtic chief executive Dom McKay said: “Like all high performance environments we never stand still and always seek development and improvement and I look forward to working with Gordon over the next three months, utilising the extensive expertise and knowledge he has to the benefit of the club”.

“Gordon brings with him a wealth of experience in the areas of football development, from both his previous time here at Celtic and from the many roles he has held within football, including as our national team manager”.

“Gordon achieved great things for Celtic as our manager.  It goes without saying that he has a really close connection to Celtic and of course a tremendous affection for the club”.

Dundee posted a statement on their website confirming that they see no issue with the former Scotland boss working at another Premiership club.

It read: “Dundee Football Club would like to clarify that Gordon Strachan will be continuing his role as technical director.

“This evening it has been announced that Gordon has taken a short term consultancy role with Celtic Football Club but this will not affect his role with Dundee FC. We have been in constant communication with Gordon and Celtic throughout this process.

“Since taking the role in 2019, Gordon has been a fantastic asset throughout the club. His main role has been working closely with the academy coaches and helping to develop the future talents of the club, work which we are excited to see continue.”