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'I'd like to be there when Larsson leads Celtic out' -- Aiden McGeady

Martin O’Neill praised the Swede’s qualities as a player before laughing off suggestions that Roy Keane could take the job instead.

EX-CELTIC WINGER AIDEN McGeady says that Henrik Larsson would be a ‘good fit’ for the vacant manager’s job at Celtic and admits it’s now difficult to picture anyone else in the role.

The legendary Swede, who is currently coaching Falkenbergs, became an unbackable favourite soon after Neil Lennon announced his resignation after four years as Hoops boss yesterday.

Despite expressing shock at the timing of his former team-mate’s exit from the club, McGeady’s affinity for his hometown club shone through when his eyes lit up at the mention of Larsson, the winger paused briefly, presumably picturing himself in the stands of Celtic Park:

“I’d quite like to be there the day he’s leading the team out for the first time – I think that’d be quite good.

“He’s a legend at Celtic. He’s done wonderful things with the club with a great career. Now he’s a manager as well. It fits, you know. It does fit.

“Apart from him, to be honest I don’t know who’d be the manager.”

For some, the current Ireland assistant manager is another good fit to replace Lennon. McGeady was rushed to training in Malahide before that particular chestnut was put to him, but after the session, Martin O’Neill was finding it a recurring theme.

Aiden McGeady EA Sports ambassador Aiden McGeady poses with some trees. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

“I’ve just come off the training ground and, an hour and a half ago, someone said to me; ‘what about Roy for Celtic?’ And I thought, no they didn’t!”

Joking aside, O’Neill did his best not to be drawn on the vacant seat in his former job, but eventually said this of his one-time talisman.

“I don’t think you can ever tell if anyone wants to become a manager or they can make a manager. It’s got to the stage now, the older I get the less I would know about what it takes to make a manager.

“Henrik has experience of it. He’s a very intelligent boy. He knows the game inside out, he was a brilliant, brilliant player for me – as brave as they come – I really can’t speak much more highly of him than that.

“Why shouldn’t he be a manager? Why not?”

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