Harry Kewell: Decision to accept Celtic coaching role was a ‘no-brainer’

Former Champions League winning winger Harry Kewell admits joining his fellow Australian Ange Postecoglou’s coaching staff at Celtic was a “no-brainer”.

The former Liverpool, Leeds and Galatasaray star was officially revealed as first-team coach at the Scottish champions on Thursday and he says the opportunity was too good to turn down.

The 43-year-old’s new role at Celtic Park will be his first job back in football since his time as Barnet manager came to an end last September.

After scoring 63 goals in 242 for his first club Leeds United, Kewell went on to win the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005 and a Turkish Super Cup with Istanbul giants Galatasaray in 2008.

He also scored 17 times in 53 appearances for the Australia international team.

He is now relishing the chance work with Postecoglou and returning to the continent’s top competition with a crack at the group stages in the season ahead.

Speaking to Celtic TV he said: “I was actually going for another interview for another job, and I thought it went really well, and I was looking forward to the call back.

“And in between that time, I got a call from the manager (Postecoglou), and the way he spoke to me, the way he presented the job, I said ‘yes’ straight away.

“I didn’t even worry about the next part because I felt it was the opportunity for me to learn from… not only an Australian manager, but a great manager.

“He spoke very positively about how he’s been monitoring me for a while, and I never knew that, so when he did speak to me about the ideas of what I can bring to the team, it was a no-brainer.”

Kewell, who has also had spells in charge of Crawley, Notts County and Oldham, said: “I’m kind of blown away. I haven’t been at a huge club for a while now, so this is all kind of new to me and it’s nervous to come into such a huge club like this.

“I have strong ambitions, but I’m not going to go straight in there and go this, this and this – that’s not me. I want to learn.”