Craig Moore reckons Celtic stars will learn plenty from Harry Kewell

Craig Moore reckons the appointment of Harry Kewell will help to take some Celtic players to a different level.

The Australian has been added to the Hoops’ backroom staff by fellow countryman, Ange Postecoglou, and few know the former Liverpool and Leeds United winger better than Moore.

The pair came through the ranks with the Australian national teams, played several times together at full international level, and remain in close contact.

They represented their country at the 2006 World Cup Finals in Germany, and again in South Africa four years later.

Kewell, a Champions League and FA Cup winner with Liverpool, will start work at Lennoxtown this week, and he is delighted to have been given the opportunity to work with Big Ange.

✍️🇦🇺 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐊𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐬!

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Harry Kewell.

Welcome to #CelticFC 👊🍀#WelcomeHarry

— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) June 17, 2022

Moore is certain the pair will work together to take the coaching staff, and first-team squad, to an even higher level.

He told The Sunday Post: “Harry knows football inside out, and he will relish this opportunity he has been given by Ange.

“We know that Ange doesn’t just appoint people for the sake of it. He worked with the guys he inherited at Celtic, and they gelled very well together last season.

“But it looks as though he has identified where things can be strengthened, and that has led to him bringing in Harry.

“I’ve known Harry for many, many years. It was a pleasure to play football with him.

“In my opinion, he is the best player Australia has ever produced. He was exceptional.

“Off the park, he is also a lovely fella, and great company.

“We have kept in touch, and I have used him on a number of occasions to tap into his football brain. He has great knowledge, and I respect his opinion.

“From the conversations we’ve had, I know how conscientious he is about coaching.

“He works ever so hard, and will be on that training field every day. He will also take players for one-to-one sessions.

“The players will respect his work, and love him as a person.

“I’m certain the likes of Liel Abada, Daizen Maeda and Kyogo Furuhashi will learn plenty from Harry, and he will improve their game.

“If they manage to get Jota signed permanently from Benfica, then the same will apply to him.

“Harry will add a few per cent to their games here and there.

“The Celtic players will really enjoy his work. He’ll do everything he can for them to make them better footballers.

“It also helps, in my opinion, when he has had the playing career he had. All the Celtic players will be aware of him.

“He was amazing with a ball at his feet, and his on-field game intelligence was exceptional. I used to love being on his side at international level.”

43-year-old Kewell started his coaching and management career as Watford’s Under-23 coach.

He impressed there, and landed the manager’s job at Crawley Town.

After doing well there, he was taken by Notts County, but that move didn’t go to plan.

Subsequent moves to Oldham Athletic and Barnet also failed to work out as Kewell wanted.

Moore has no doubt, however, that all of the experiences – good and bad – will have been beneficial to his fellow Aussie.

He said: “Most managers always have one or two clubs where things don’t go the way you want them to. It happens.

“But Harry will be the better for every job he has had.

“He is only 43, and that is still very young. He has packed in plenty in such a short period of time.

“He is good on the coaching field, of that there is no doubt. Ange knows that, and that’s why he has brought him in.

“Harry will also not be fazed by the size of Celtic, and the demands there every week.

“He will not require any time to settle in, or find his feet. He is the type of guy who will hit the ground running.

“Bringing Harry to Scottish football helps raise the overall profile once again. It’s a really good move by Ange and Celtic.”

Celtic and Rangers are back in pre-season training this week.

The Hoops kick-off their title defence at home to Aberdeen, while Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men travel to Livingston.

Moore reckons we are in for a cracking season, and said: “It’s got all the makings for a special campaign.

“Celtic will be the team to beat, but there isn’t much between them and Rangers.

“It will be interesting to see how both teams operate in the summer transfer window. That will be quite telling.

“Rangers also need to try to navigate their way through the Champions League qualifiers, and that will be very tricky.

“Of course, the prize at the end of that is tens of millions of pounds. That’s a potential game-changer.

“But we will wait and see what happens. The transfer window has not long opened. There is still much work to be done.

“There may well be one or two departures from both clubs. Again, it will be interesting to see who stays, and who goes.

“Rangers will do their very best to get their players to sign new contracts, and also add two or three bits of extra quality.

“Giovanni impressed in his first six months in charge, getting to the Europa League Final, and winning the Scottish Cup.

“He now needs to go and build on that, and get to the next level with his team.”