Four Celtic managerial candidates who would maintain success

Ange Postecoglou has left the club following an approach by English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, signing a 4-year-deal with the North London club following the departure of Antonio Conte last season.

With this, the board now have a decision to make with whom to replace Postecoglou. It is important to factor in that employing a manager with a clear attacking philosophy and style, in order to complement the assets which the club currently has on the pitch.

With that, here are four individuals who could seamlessly fit the required criteria for the next manager of Celtic.

READ MORE: The 4 Celtic manager factors needed in a post-Postecoglou era

Graham Potter

Graham Potter (Image: Getty)

Previous clubs managed:

Chelsea - 2022-2023

Brighton & Hove Albion - 2019-2022

Swansea City - 2018-2019

FK Ostersund - 2011-2018

Leeds Carnegie - 2008-2011

Honours: Svenska Cupen: 2017

Statistics: G466 W202 D125 L139

A manager who has had plenty of experience at the highest level, Potter did a stellar job at Brighton before being headhunted by Todd Boehly’s new-look Chelsea in September of last year.

Alas, the stint in North London was a disaster for the former Swansea City boss, but Celtic should not let that discourage them from at least asking Potter the question. After all, he was the man to place the foundations for what is now a flying Brighton side under Roberto De Zerbi’s guidance.

Capable of working with an ever-changing squad, Potter's arrival would be a real coup for Celtic. With talk of Postecoglou taking John Kennedy with him to Spurs, it could pave the way for former Hamilton Accies manager Billy Reid to join as Potter’s assistant, which he has done in all of the Englishman’s previous jobs.

Potter’s high press and fluid attacking philosophy would be an ideal fit for a Celtic team used to playing in this fashion. They could even revert to a back-three formation, such as a 3-5-2, which would be a far cry from Postecoglou’s four-at-the-back system used in a 4-3-3 line-up.

His signature would be difficult to secure, but given he's out of work he's surely worth a phonecall.

Kjetil Knutsen

Kjetil Knutsen (Image: Getty)

Previous clubs managed:

Bodø/Glimt - 2018-present

Åsane - 2014-2016

Fyllingen/Fyllingsdalen - 2009-2013

Honours: Eliteserien - 2020, 2021

Statistics: G405 W222 D86 L43

Perhaps the most left-field name out of this list of managerial candidates, the 54-year-old has been a massive success at Bodø/Glimt, where he has won the Eliteserien on two occasions in 2020 and 2021. This looks set to be added to this year, with Bodø currently eight points clear at the top of the league.

Where Knutsen has been most notably successful, however, has been in European competition, as it is here where his style of play has caught the eye of onlookers in Scotland. Following impressive displays against teams such as Roma in the Group stages of the Europa Conference League, Bodø were drawn against Celtic in the next round of the competition.

In a rare poor showing, Postecoglou's side were completely played off the park at home, getting beaten 3-1 in what was a one-sided game at Celtic Park. Knutsen’s 4-3-3 style went up against Postecoglou’s same formation, and the home side did not have an answer for Bodø, effectively finishing off the tie in the first leg.

Knutsen has been linked with Ajax in the past few weeks, so it is clear that he is very much a man in demand. Perhaps a move to the team he humbled last year may be the perfect next step in his managerial career.

Jesse Marsch

Jesse Marsch (Image: Getty)

Previous clubs managed:

Leeds United - 2022-2023

RB Leipzig - 2021

Red Bull Salzburg - 2019-2021

New York Red Bulls - 2015-2018

Montreal Impact - 2011-2012

Honours: Austrian Bundesliga - 2019-20, 2020-21

Austrian Cup - 2019-20, 2020-21

Statistics: G339 W170 D66 L103

A candidate that spoke publicly about the Celtic job in 2021, the past two years have not been kind to the former Red Bull Salzburg coach.

Back-to-back failures at RB Leipzig and Leeds United respectively have meant that the USA manager is not as attractive job-wise as he was a few years back, but this may work to Celtic’s advantage in luring him to the club.

The out-of-work coach has flirted with numerous formations, with Marsch adopting a 4-2-3-1 line-up during his final months at Leeds before his sacking at the Yorkshire club. Previously, he has set his team up in a 4-2-2-2 formation when pressing in order to squeeze the opponents and regain possession.

Marsch could see this as a perfect opportunity to revive his career at a big club. By winning trophies and playing a Red Bull-influenced style of play, he could rekindle a career that has faltered in recent times.

READ MORE: Ange Postecoglou's Celtic legacy is already secured

Enzo Maresca

Previous clubs managed:

Parma - 2021

Manchester City U23 - 2020-2021

Honours: Premier League 2: 2020-21

Statistics (senior): G14 W4 D5 L5

The current name doing the rounds in the media, Pep Guardiola's assistant at Manchester City has been linked with the Celtic job on more than one occasion

Previously the manager of City's U23 side, he was brought back to Manchester after an uninspiring spell at Parma, where he only lasted 14 games in all competitions.

Despite this, he will have been an integral part of the setup at City that is on course for a treble down south, assuming the position once held by Mikel Arteta, who is now the manager at Arsenal.

A riskier appointment than most, Maresca would likely employ the same tactics as his mentor in a 4-3-3 formation, the same style used by Postecoglou in his time at the club.

A member of the City Group conglomerate with links to a bank of talented youngsters down south, Maresca may be the wildcard option for Celtic to go for this summer.