Pundit verdict on Maresca landing Celtic job as talks open with 44-yr-old
Celtic would be taking a “big risk” if they appointed Enzo Maresca as their new manager.
That is according to 2000 European Golden Shoe winner Kevin Phillips, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the prospect of the 41-year-old succeeding Neil Lennon at Parkhead.
Maresca is currently the bookmakers fourth favourite to take over at Celtic Park, even though he has never been the manager of a senior side.
He is currently Manchester City’s Under-23 boss, having worked as an assistant at West Ham, Sevilla and Ascoli since he retired from playing in 2017.
Speaking on Go Radio, ex-Hammers and Scotland midfielder Robert Snodgrass backed his former coach, Maresca, to land the Celtic job.
When asked for his thoughts on Maresca taking over at Parkhead, Phillips told Football Insider correspondent Dylan Childs:
“It would be a risk because Celtic need to be challenging next year at the very minimum. They really need to win the league.
“To take a young manager, who has no experience of Scottish football or managing a first team is a big ask.
“Rangers are flying so I think Maresca would be a big risk. If it was a long-term rebuild and they hadn’t won the title in years then maybe. It would be like when Rangers appointed Gerrard.
“But next season Celtic need to be challenging for the league at the very least next season. Maresca would be a gamble.”
The Hoops are also on the hunt for a director of football as the club look to complete shake-up their recruitment and football operation.
Football Insider understands the club want to have a director of football in place before a new manager is appointed, with discussions underway with Manchester City transfer guru Fergal Harkin, 44.
In other news, Danny Mills has tipped Celtic to swoop for Ben Davies this summer after a telling reveal from Jurgen Klopp.