You’ve captained your club to their third successive league championship, there’s a Champions League campaign ahead and you have led out your country for the first time. Just 12 months ago, Celtic captain Stephen McManus could do no wrong. This summer, however, the outlook is very different.
Following a season which, at best could be described as inconsistent, the fairly small group of Celtic fans who had always doubted McManus’ abilities as a skipper, had increased to a sizeable number looking for his removal from the starting line up. With a new manager in place, he will have to prove himself all over again.
During Martin O’Neill’s reign McManus first broke into the team, but was never more than a fringe player. Under Gordon Strachan he has developed from a raw, uncompromising centre back, into a mature defender who, although not blessed with lightning pace, is commanding in the air and able to organise those around him. He has also chipped in with some crucial goals.
Last season he appeared less assured, though this could be partly attributed to Strachan’s zonal marking system, which never at any point seemed to win over players or fans. McManus would be far more comfortable as a man marker and surely will be given the chance to show that in the upcoming campaign.
Could it be that he has been overwhelmed by the responsibility that captaincy brings? Initially McManus appeared to thrive in the role, but it may now have become a burden. As already mentioned, there were those who doubted he ever had the credentials to lead the side in the first place, and Tony Mowbray has already stated he will make a decision during pre-season as to who will be given the armband. Should Mowbray be unconvinced by McManus as a player, he will find it easier to drop a centre-back, than to drop a centre-back who is also club captain.
McManus’ downturn in fortunes is ironic, given the recent form of his defensive partner, Gary Caldwell. For much of his Celtic career, Caldwell has been the team whipping boy, particularly after a couple of howlers in the Champions League which gifted goals to Benfica and Barcelona. However, some inspired performances have resulted in Caldwell being voted Scotland’s sports writers Player of the Year for 2008/09.
McManus may miss the start of the forthcoming season due to injury, which could allow the competent but unspectacular Glenn Loovens to stake a claim for a regular start. Whilst he is by no means the only Celtic player with something to prove this season, on his return, McManus’ level of performance will need to improve or he may force his new boss into some tough decisions.
Written by William Heaney
