Willie McStay has been confirmed as manager of Hungarian side Ujpest after leaving his role as Celtic reserve coach.
The Hoops agreed to let the former Sligo Rovers manager leave the club in order to take up the position as part of their link-up with the eastern European club. The agreement will see Celtic loan young players to Ujpest while also involving the club in their programme to recruit talent from eastern Europe.
Former Celtic player McStay, who has coached at Parkhead for 15 years, said: "I intend to keep in touch with developments at Celtic but this is a great move for me at this stage of my career and I am really looking forward to the challenge."
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell concluded the deal following talks with Ujpest counterpart Joe Borocz in Glasgow.
Lawwell said: "Willie goes with our very best wishes. This is a tremendous opportunity for him to gain invaluable managerial experience and we wish him every success."
Borocz added: "We are looking forward to welcoming Willie to Budapest. We are confident that he will have a very positive impact on our team and on Hungarian football overall."
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Probably a better standard of football in Hungary
Well thats what it says in the article doesn't it?
It has went on with bigger and better clubs than Celtic so why the hysteria?
Black47; So while pretending to manage Ujpest, giving 100% to his employer and developing the football club, he is actually scouting for Celtic; a kind of double agent if you will, funnelling all the good stuff Parkhead way. That'll do his credibility the world of good won't it? I'm sure UEFA will see the funny side of that too.
w.keating & Metz, maybe you should read a bit more into the deal. Willie McStay is, ultimately, still an employee of Celtic Football Club. The deal involves him going to Upjest as head coach to develope the football side while at the same time unearthing talent for Celtic.
All this talk about politics and links between eastern European clubs! Who exactly is it going to benefit? The wallet is too small in Scotland to import players of any quality, even if they do come from Ujpest or any of the other Eastern European links. If a quality player emerges from any of these sources, then the 'big boys' in the EPL and Championship will wave money at them to secure their services. In the final analysis, it is money that dictates who plays where.
nevt61; perhaps you could enlighten us on the 'political' aspect of the deal! Willie McStay is now no longer at Celtic Park, depriving Celtic of arguably the best coach in many generations. Are you suggesting that Celtic will now send all of their youth over to Ujpest so that they can be coached to the standard required to reach first team quality? Or maybe that this Ujpest have a surplus of talent over there and will be only too pleased to give them all to Celtic with Willie McStay as the main facilitator? As I see it, and I have to somewhat agree with METZ here, Celtic have failed to acknowledge this real talent and have left themselves poorer for it. Willie McStay has worked hard to become such a respected coach, and I believe that he is ambitious enough to want to create his own piece of history. Do you think for a second that Ujpest, if success comes their way under Willie McStay so increasing his net worth, will happily say to Celtic, yes Mr Lawwell you can have him back with our best wishes.
and by the way metz celtic did realise his potential and thats why he was offered the chance to head up the celtic end of the deal at ujpest.
sorry lysdexic but no way will we have to buy him back!this is a purely political move because no employee of celtic could take over another team under eufa rules.the mans still with the hoops.
Trouble is, give it three or four seasons and they'll be handing out another few million to buy him out of his contract to come back to Celtic Park. Shortsighted in my opinion.
Well done willie,if septic refuse to realise your talents,some1 should
#14 oops, should have been #13; now I'm confused again, I'll have to go lie down!!!
#12 They would need to start making Grecian 4500; :-(
12 - try using Grecian 2000 on them grey hairs... Works for me!! Hahaha!!
#6 How are you doing Singin'Ginger!!. Thanks for the laugh the other night! You were the only poster who sussed the wind-up; but it was a hoot to see green and blue locked together and fighting from the same corner for a change. Maybe that's why my butt-hairs are grey; all the rude names I got called.
#7 Now there would be something to consider, but, if the truth be told, Celtic are too tight to part with the money to encourage these guys to stay involved with the club.
8 - TOO MUCH INFORMATION!! LOL!!
I was actually meaning The Ginger, Lysdexic hehe...
Luckily I shave my head so I don't have Grey hairs there, but the odd one on my beard...
In a year I'll probably look like Buster Bloodvessel if he'd starred in The Lord of the Rings as Gandalf!
#5 I prefer the term 'experienced' myself, but if the truth be told, even the hairs on my butt are grey.
I remember back when a wiz maybe 13 or 14 and seeing Willie McStay and Paul McStay - Think Paul was only dating his wife at the time - They signed ma wee Waverley book at Rothesay Pier - Both were true Fans and true Gentlemen...
Don't know why Celtic don't get Paul McStay, Henrik Larsson, Frank McGarvey, Big Pierre, Jorge Cadete, Paolo DiCanio and wee Lubo back in some capacity - You know like take the youngsters on week's training through the summer, show them the tricks and skills - Surely could only benefit the likes of wee Ferry or Paddy McCourt and the likes...
LYSSIE - MAGGIE (or should that have been GAMMIE?..) says "HI!!"... LOL!!
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