Welcome to our new FM23 series ‘Legacy of the Hoops’ from our new site contributor FM Henke!
In this game, I will be playing as the decision maker behind the scenes, almost like a Director of Football style challenge. The only difference is that I will be loosely in charge of match days too, simply because I don’t have enough trust in the AI!
My ‘manager’ persona will be Celtic legend Henrik Larsson – a man steeped in Celtic history who knows the club inside out. With his playing history, managerial experience and reputation in the global game I think he would make a fantastic DoF. He (I) will be the brains behind the vision.
Why Celtic FC?
1. Celtic are notoriously bad at hiring managers.
From the tales of Ronny Deila, who was only supposed to be Assistant Manager rather than the top man, to Neil Lennon being given the job in the showers of Hampden Park, or Celtic’s rather embarrassing one-man pursuit of Eddie Howe, only to then be left red-faced and up a creek without a paddle… Celtic’s ineptitude in hiring managers is well known. The stories are far too numerous to be fallacies and Celtic find themselves manager-less once again. Will they turn to a ‘good Celtic man’, pursue Graham Potter all summer only to then be wiping egg from their brow, or will they actually do their job properly? Thankfully, in FM23, I’ll do it for them!
2. Current events
(Written before the arrival of Brendan Rodgers) As Ange Postecoglou leaves the building, I’ll confess to being apprehensive about the future. Ange acted as the link between the academy and the senior set up. He oversaw scouting policy. Essentially, he was acting DoF. Celtic are linked with the same old targets – have they learned nothing!? It’s almost as if Celtic need a DoF to come in to make sure that a vision and blueprint is followed. To ensure that there is continuity and reduce upheaval, imagine if Moyes is given the job…will possession football be scrapped? What will happen to our contingent of Asian players? Step up, Henrik!
3. Improve pathways from youth to senior level
For a number of years now talented youth players have either made flitting appearances then faded away or become bit part players. The very best prospects have quickly moved to new clubs such as Doak to Liverpool and Morrison to Bayern Munich. Granted these are difficult clubs to say no to, but a club such as Celtic should be seeing these players come into the senior set up and then be selling them on for a fair price. This just isn’t happening and the academy is not reaping the rewards. I will make sure that the senior squad has manageable numbers and there is always a clear pathway to the first team with plenty of chances for youth players to make their name in Paradise.
Aims for the Save
- Continue domestic dominance
- Regularly play European football post Christmas
- Promote more youth players to the first team
- Have a clearly defined player profile
- Use stats to make informed decisions
- Don’t get sacked
This is a results business. Losers don’t last long at Celtic Park. I’ll have to rely on wins coming quickly and repeatedly, despite taking a backseat from matchdays. It will be quite embarrassing if I manage to get sacked! I need to continue to seek trebles every season and even turn some heads on the European front. I don’t expect much but third place finished in the CL and then a minor Europa League run has to be the aim.
To do this I need to make sure that there are no passengers in the squad and that every player and staff member is on the same page. We still need to play football the Celtic way and it is my job to make sure that we scout, sign and develop Celtic quality players. To help me out a little here I’ll be trying to identify signings based on some key stats but not as a moneyball approach with stats just being one string to the scouting bow.
I think most of all I’m wanting some continuity. For easily the last decade the average Celtic manager has only stayed for two seasons before moving on. I want Henrik to lay down some roots and forge a relationship with an Assistant Manager for over three seasons at least, hopefully much longer.
Glasgow is green, let’s keep it that way!
FM Henke
Football Manager Addict 
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