Celtic boss confirms exit

Celtic manager confirms Harry Kewell is on the verge of a move to Japan.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that Australian legend Harry Kewell is set to take charge of J1 League club Yokohama F.Marinos, with the situation to be “clarified in the coming days.”

Kewell, a member of Rodgers’ coaching staff in Scotland, is widely expected to succeed fellow Australian great Kevin Muscat, who stepped down after winning the J1 League title and the Japanese Super Cup during his two-and-a-half-year tenure.

Muscat has since joined Chinese champions Shanghai Port as F.Marinos look to continue their Australian trend following the departure of trailblazer Ange Postecoglou, who transformed the club and Japanese football between 2018 and 2021 before the former took over.

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Kewell is set to be appointed by the 2023 runners-up, and Central Coast Mariners legend John Hutchinson is expected to join him as an assistant.

“Yeah, we will probably know more in the next few days but he has been in talks about going to Japan and it is something that will probably be clarified in the coming days,” Rodgers said when asked about Kewell ahead of Saturday’s blockbuster derby against bitter rivals Rangers.

Kewell is on Rodgers’ Celtic coaching staff after being lured to Glasgow by Postecoglou in 2022.

The 45-year-old joined Postecoglou’s Celtic ahead of their triple-winning season last season, and he has remained at the titleholders despite his countryman’s big move to Premier League Tottenham.

A move to F.Marinos would be Kewell’s first senior head coaching position since 2021, when he was in charge of National League club Barnet in England.

Former Leeds United and Liverpool midfielder has also managed Crawley Town, Notts County, and Oldham Athletic.

“It’s great for Harry,” Rodgers added. “I think it’s great if you’ve coaches who have that chance to go on and develop, improve and achieve an ambition. I’ve really liked working with Harry.

“He’s a good guy, he’s very honest and diligent. His work is very professional. But if there’s an opportunity to go and manage and you want to do it then you go and do it.”

F.Marinos has been drawn against Bangkok United in the AFC Champions League Round of 16.

Hutchinson has been working as an assistant for city rivals Yokohama FC, but the former A-League midfielder is no stranger to F.Marinos.

He was a member of F.Marinos’ coaching staff until Muscat arrived midway through the 2021 season, when changes were made ahead of the 2022 season.

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