Jim McGuinness leaves Celtic after landing exciting new job in Chinese Super League

Climbing the coaching ladder in the football world.

Jim McGuinness is to leave Celtic to take up a new role as assistant coach at Chinese Super League side Beijing Sinobo Guoan. The former Donegal GAA coach has been at Celtic for the past three years but will take up his new position under former Beyer Leverkusen manager Roger Schmidt on Monday. McGuinness told The Irish Times that the new role is 'a fantastic opportunity'. He added:

"It’s a level up for me and a great honour to be asked. Roger is a really prestigious European coach and just to be part of his management team is a great privilege. "I also feel that it’s great timing in terms of taking the next step forward in my own coaching career."

McGuinness has said everyone at Celtic, where he was involved in the underage coaching set-up, has been hugely supportive of him and he hopes to some day return 'as a better coach'. The 44-year-old struck up a bond with Schmidt after meeting him first before a Champions League game involving Leverkusen. They met again, earlier this year, in Dublin and after exchanging some ideas, McGuinness showed him highlights of Donegal's All-Ireland win over Mayo in 2012. A deal-sealer if ever we heard it. McGuinness has signed a two and a half year contract with the Beijing side, who play at the 66,000 seat Workers' Stadium. He intends to keep his hand in with GAA coverage and analysis but may have to do some of that remotely.