Search icon

Football

08th Jan 2015

Paolo Di Canio hoops his hat in the ring for Celtic job

How could you say 'No' to this loveable rogue?

Patrick McCarry

We reckon Glasgow would be too tame for Paolo without their cross-city rivals about

Paolo Di Canio is circling around a host of troubled clubs north and south of the Scottish border. The former AC Milan and Celtic player has been out of coaching work since Sunderland gave him the heave-ho in favour of sanguine Gus Poyet last season.

The volatile Di Canio was in loquacious form this morning, however, as he linked his name to Celtic, Newcastle United and, while he was at it, any other club that was asking. Many Celtic supporters are disgruntled with their Norwegian manager Ronny Deila after the club slipped to second in the Premiership.

The club had two bites of the Champions League cherry, too, but were nowhere near good enough to progress. Di Canio gained cult hero status at Celtic Park for his 12 goals, 26 appearances and countless fiery incidents for the cause in a 1996/97 stint.

Di Canio told Talksport, ‘I know it is not the best season for them at the moment and Scottish football is not in a good place generally. When Rangers dropped down the leagues there was less interest, because Celtic just won the league too easily. The other teams were not at the same level.

Asked about possibly replacing an embattled Deila, the Italian said, ‘I am an open manager. Scotland was my first experience abroad from Italy. It’s a top club in the world and I would consider it, if I was offered the chance.’

While he was at it, Di Canio said he would have no problem taking over at Newcastle and put his hand up for every managerial position on offer in the United Kingdom.

He enthused, ‘Obviously I want to be a manager in the Premier League, but I don’t care if it’s in the Championship or League One.’ Stirring words.

WATCH: Liverpool BOTTLED the title race 🤬 | Who will win the Premier League?