Rumor had it that ex-Celtic fan favorite Shaun Maloney may be up for a return to Paradise. But, the 34-year-old also had other offers on the table.
Apparently an injury-riddled lasts few years was enough to turn him off a future on the pitch. Instead, Maloney made the rumored move to the coaching ranks official as Celtic announced his addition to the coaching staff at Lennoxtown.
Just as it was rumored, his role will be as the U-20’s coach for Celtic.
Maloney had not one, but two stints in the famed hoops, making a total of 215 appearances for the club. He scored 52 goals, was part of five league title-winning teams and won five Scottish Cups and three League Cups along the way during his playing career.
His role could be a vital one as well. That’s because there’s this 14-year-old wonderkid named Karamoko Demeble in the fold. He’s been tearing it up at Celtic since he was 12 years old and started seeing action in the U-20 side last season.
There are also potential fringe full-team players like Jack Aitchison and Jamie McCart in the mix and their progression could come down to the coaching that Maloney gives them both.
Aitchison has seen limited first team action, becoming the youngest to ever don the Hoops when he came on as a 16-year-old in May of 2016.
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There’s plenty of maturing still to do physically, but also on the pitch as well for all on the development squad. Maloney’s playing experience certainly will be a help to this youth side.
His role also can’t be understated when you simply take a look at where Celtic’s first team squad stand. The entire back four were under 20 years old and there are even more players looking primed to get action over the course of the next few seasons too.
All of them came in from the Celtic youth set up at one point or another too.
While the star power of the likes of Moussa Dembele and Scott Sinclair are nice, the long-term benefits of a great youth system is what will keep Celtic competitive for many years to come. Finances being fleeting and what not in Scottish football.
Next: Celtic get Dundee in Last 8 of League Cup
We’ll certainly be keeping an eye out for what comes of Maloney’s exploits with this team.