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Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
‘I don't know why I can't get a job' – Rangers cult hero quizzed on whether Old Firm past is denying him opportunities
He reckons people still think he acts like he did on the pitch - and called one of his old Celtic enemies "one of the nicest people you can meet" OUT OF THE GAME OUT OF THE GAME 'I don't know why I can't get a job' – Rangers cult hero quizzed on whether Old Firm past is denying him opportunities Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FORMER Rangers star Nacho Novo is desperate for a job in football management. But he has been left scratching his head as to why he hasn't had more opportunities. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 3 Nacho Novo was a cult hero during his time at Rangers Credit: Alamy 3 Novo during his time with Lexington SC in the USA 3 He's been talking about his hunt for a full-time managerial job Credit: LET ME BE FRANK The ex-Gers striker returned to Scottish football with Drumchapel United as part of the coaching staff last year. Drumchapel currently ply their trade in the West of Scotland Football League Premier Division - the sixth tier of the SPFL pyramid. While Novo admits he loves working with the part-timers but has found himself questioning why, after such a glittering playing career, that he's been passed over for other coaching jobs. It was reported last year that Novo applied for the Raith Rovers job when Ian Murray was bizarrely sacked just one game into the season. But the Kirkcaldy club appointed Neil Collins as his successor. Novo, 46, retired in 2017 after having played in the top flights of Spain, Scotland and Poland and winning seven trophies (six with Gers and one with Legia Warsaw). He went through his coaching badges before landing his first job as a coach at Lexington SC in USL League One (the third tier of football in the United States). He initially served as assistant manager and as the head coach of the Under-23s before being promoted to the interim role in September 2023. But he left and within a year had returned to Scotland. After a full season with Drumchapel, Novo has admitted he is still chasing a dream of opening a football academy if he doesn't get a full-time job in management. Rangers fans react as 49ers takeover completed Speaking on the Let Me Be Frank podcast, Novo said: "I've been at Drumchapel for a whole season now and I love it. "Especially because it's proper football, that's how I'd say it! Proper tackles! "We had a good group of boys, some have been pros. They did well this season." Drumchapel finished sixth in the Premier Division this season. And despite his reputation as a former Rangers fan favourite, Novo insists he never had any added grief on the sidelines over the past year. But he does wonder if his association to the Light Blues has held him back when it comes to applying for other jobs higher up the food chain. He said: "I don't know why I can't get a job in football as a coach or anything like that. "Is it because of Rangers? I don't know. "It's probably because of how I was on the park but how I was on the park is not how I am as a person outside." Expanding on that point, Novo talked about how former Celtic foes like John Hartson remain good family friends to this day. And how one-time arch rival Neil Lennon is one of the nicest people he's met in football. Novo said: "People think about Neil Lennon for example, they think he's terrible, that he acts like he did on the pitch. He's one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. "John Hartson, he's a good friend of my family. "We played on the same park and hated each other but we respected each other. "On the pitch we were enemies and that was my mentality but outside of that I'm very quiet and a family man." Novo has been approached for a scouting job that would see him scour Scotland and the north of England for talent. But his main ambition is to open a cross-border football academy that would link his homeland and his adopted home. He said: "I tried to open a football academy here and in Spain. "I wanted to bring clubs from Scotland over to Spain for a tournament and bring Spanish teams here for the same thing. "But that takes a lot of insurance to do it right, a lot of admin and red tape. "That's my idea at the moment." Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Scott Brown reveals the one Celtic booking he 'didn't deserve' as chuckling hero has no complaints about the other 145
Brown has few complaints about the bookings he received as a player... But this one still rankles Scott Brown was shown 146 yellow cards in his Celtic career – but there was only one of them he didn't deserve in his eyes. And it was arguably the most famous one of them all. The former Hoops captain was no stranger to the referee's book with his tough-tackling style and wind-up merchant approach putting him on the wrong side of many an official over the years. It was part of what made him an icon in the eyes of fans, of course, and the now- Ayr United boss has few regrets over doing whatever it took – after all it helped deliver an incredible 22 major trophies. But there's one booking that still rankles. The one he was shown for getting in the face of El-Hadj Diouf. The image of Brown standing in front of the Rangers forward with his arms spread out is a famous one. It occurred in 2011 when Brown put Celtic into the lead against Rangers in a Scottish Cup tie and made a beeline for Diouf who didn't take it well. And speaking on Frank McAvennie's Let Me Be Frank podcast, Brown said: 'I got booked for that. Honestly. That's probably the only booking I didn't deserve. 'We were having a go all season, to be fair. It was every game, then, was he still there that season afterwards? I can't remember how long he was there. 'But it was actually quite good banter. I liked somebody who gave me something back.' You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
‘It was complicated' – Rangers cult hero who turned down Celtic opens up on why he chose Ibrox
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HE famously turned down Celtic to join Rangers - then scored six goals against the Hoops while playing for the Light Blues. Rangers legend Nacho Novo had the choice of Glasgow's big two after a standout season in Scotland with Dundee. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Nacho Novo loved playing for Rangers Credit: Getty 2 But he could have opted to wear green and white instead Novo, now 46, moved to Scotland in 2001 when his agent recommended a shock switch to Raith Rovers - despite Valencia also being on his trail. After a season in Kirkcaldy he travelled up the A92 to Dens Park, before heading back down to Glasgow when Rangers came calling. But while the Light Blues had him on their radar for some time, it was actually Martin O'Neill who made the first official approach. Novo, however, only had Ibrox on his mind. Speaking to the Let Me Be Frank podcast, Novo revealed: "I knew Rangers were interested in me for a while. I spoke to my agent, I knew there were a big club. "It was complicated at the time because Dundee were entering administration so the chairman wanted to get as much money as possible, which is understandable. "Celtic wanted to speak to me and they made me to go Celtic Park. They said there wasn't going to be any cameras, and of course the first thing I saw were cameras. "I spoke with Martin O'Neill but Rangers were in for me for a long time, while Celtic hadn't been. "I knew Mikel Arteta, I knew Ronald (De Boer), Shota (Arveladze) and Claudio Caniggia. "I used to go to Glasgow for something to eat and things like that, so I had friends there (at Rangers) already. Rangers fans react as 49ers takeover completed "I knew I would feel more comfortable going there. "I remember before that I went to the Scottish Cup final - Celtic vs Rangers - and I sat in the Rangers end when Fergie scored that free-kick. "Being there and seeing the atmosphere, you can't beat that. I think it's the best derby in the entire world. "I just got that feeling." Novo spent six years in Glasgow and lifted the same number of trophies during that time. He clinched the league and League Cup double in his first season under Alex McLeish. Novo was Rangers' top goal scorer that campaign and he went on to score 70 goals for the club in total, leaving Ibrox in 2010 to head back to Spain. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Scottish Sun
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Inside Frank McAvennie's photo with Kylie Minogue as Celtic hero reveals it ISN'T the first time they've met
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FRANK McAVENNIE caused a stir on social media this weekend when he was pictured with Kylie Minogue. And now the Celtic hero has provided chapter and verse on the unlikely meet-up ahead - and revealed it ISN'T the first time they met. Sign up for the Celtic newsletter Sign up 3 Frank McAvennie during his 1990s heyday Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 3 Kylie Minogue playing the first of two nights at AO Arena in Manchester Credit: Alamy 3 Kylie Minogue and Frank McAvennie, the former Celtic and Scotland striker, met at a golf day in Glasgow. Credit: Instagram McAvennie was at swanky Mar Hall hotel for a golf day, while Minogue was staying there ahead of her show at the Hydro in Glasgow. But it transpires that Macca and Kylie used to hang out together at Browns nightclub in London, even getting a lock-in from time to time alongside fellow regulars such as Duran Duran. McAvennie was a key part of a fine West Ham side at the turn of the 90s, while Kylie was reeling off a string of hit records. But their shared backstory was a diverting revelation on the latest Let Me Be Frank podcast, which has Celtic icon Tom Boyd as pre-Scottish Cup final guest. Introducing the topic, host Simon Houston turned to Frank and said: "I feel like you are two-timing me!" Boyd chipped in: "He's never done that before!" Houston continued: "Anyone looking at the internet over the weekend would have seen you speaking to somebody else." McAvennie said: "My wee pal Kylie! "I had met her before. "In the 90s, Browns nightclub. Celtic legend Frank McAvennie 'lucky to be alive' after sleeping driver ploughs into his car "I met her a couple of times when we were all in there, staying behind, all the regulars. Duran Duran, it was great." Mischievously Houston asks: "Did she stay behind especially for you? "No, seriously, did she remember you?" McAvennie replied: "No, she said she can't remember a lot about Browns the nightclub but she knows she was there a lot. "I said I can't remember the 90s either! No, she was lovely." Boyd chipped in again, saying: "I wish I should be so lucky." McAvennie has said previously: "I only ever used to frequent a couple during my time in London: Stringfellow's and Browns." Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Scottish Sun
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Celtic hero reveals big money offers as he reluctantly left Hoops and his awkward moment with David and Victoria Bechkam
He's also revealed which Parkhead stars make his all time XI FOOTY SPICE Celtic hero reveals big money offers as he reluctantly left Hoops and his awkward moment with David and Victoria Bechkam A LEGEND of Celtic and the English Premier League has detailed the huge offers that tried to tempt him away from Parkhead before he reluctantly left. He's also revealed an awkward moment with the Beckhams after his joke at the expense of Victoria. Advertisement 5 Brian McClair first made his name known at Celtic Credit: SNS 5 He then moved to Manchester United and became a legend there Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 5 He, standing second left, played with some of United's biggest ever stars including David Beckham, standing far right Credit: Getty Brian McClair made more than 200 appearances for Celtic in the 1980s and score 126 goals which earned him a massive move to Manchester United. The 30-time Scotland international would play at Old Trafford for over 10 years, playing alongside some huge names as he helped welcome the legendary Class of '92 to the team. McClair came through the youth ranks of Aston Villa but at senior level he began playing in Scotland with Motherwell. Billy McNeil signed the forward just a month before he resigned from his role in the Parkhead dugout, but the player would stick around for four years. Advertisement Now he's shared what happened that led himself leaving Celtic despite having no plans to do so after winning a league title and a Scottish Cup. Speaking to fellow former Celt Frank McAvennie on his podcast Let Me Be Frank, he revealed that contract talks were paused in winter of 1986-87 with his deal running out at the end of the season. He was informed that meant he was entitled to speak with other clubs, which was something he wasn't intending on: "I said 'thanks very much for letting me know', but I had no other intention at that particular point apart from playing for Celtic. "I think it was a journalist let me know that Alex Ferguson was interested which surprised me because you're talking about Manchester United. Advertisement "I'd been a supporter of theirs since the early 70s, I knew all about them and the players they had and what players were available. "It was certainly a big boost to my confidence, thinking I would be one of the players he'd like to recruit. Man Utd legend looks like a new man with bushy beard and grey hair "But it was never absolutely nailed on that that was it and I was not going to play for Celtic anymore. That came down to the very end. "The decision I made to go to Manchester was because [Ferguson] made more of a concerted effort than Celtic did." Advertisement But despite his original reluctance to leave Glasgow behind, he believes the Manchester Giants were the right choice. He continued: "It was never anything to do with financial situations because every club that was interested in me then - Spurs, Chelsea, Cologne, a few other teams from abroad, Celtic as well - all offered me more money. "I felt quite good about that, that I'd gone somewhere for football reasons rather than financial reasons. "Otherwise I'd have gone to Germany, or to Chelsea they offered a ridiculous amount of money, even then." Advertisement After joining the Red Devils he became the first player to score 20 goals in a league season for the club since George Best - going on to finish with a total of 127 goals in 471 appearances. The Reds were not quite a dominant powerhouse when McClair arrived, it was halfway through his United career when the likes of David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, and Gary and Phil Neville were introduced. 5 McClair shared an awkward story about a joke aimed at Victoria Beckham Credit: PA And the 61-year-old who those legends saw as an experienced older teammate to learn from has told of a time he might have accidentally offended a young Becks as his relationship with the pop icon first came about. Advertisement He said: "My kids love the Spice Girls, and unfortunately my grandchildren like them now so I've got to play it in the car. "We were playing at Stamford Bridge and Victoria was there. "We were on the bus outside the player's lounge and she was standing at the top of the steps. So she was right at the level of where we'd be sitting. "You could see her close up and she had acne, right. Advertisement "I used to write this column in a magazine and I used to find things that I thought were funny to put in the magazine, some of them were truthful and some of them were made up. "About six weeks after this event I went home and said to my kids I saw one of the Spice Girls. And they said 'aw Dad, which one?!' and I said 'Spotty Spice'. "And the kids are going 'you mean Sporty?' and I say 'no, no, the one with the black dress'. "'Aw that's Posh' and I say no, no she's spotty. Spotty Spice. Advertisement "So I put this in the magazine and I had no idea they [Victoria and David] were in a relationship. "[David] didn't say anything to me." Asked if that was because the up-and-coming players were scared of him, he replied: "Oh aye, they were scared of all of us [older players], particularly me with things I'm writing in the magazine." 5 Kenny Dalglish is in McClair's all-time teammate XI, but they never met at Celtic Credit: Scottish News and Sport Advertisement "It was respectful, I think. "He's a good lad, David." But NONE of Beckham or his fellow '92 heroes made it into McClair's all-time XI of his teammates, with his time in Scotland very prominent in the list. The United representation comes in the form of Denis Irwin, Gary Pallister, Norman Whiteside, and Eric Cantona. Advertisement Kenny Dalglish joins the Frenchman up front as an international teammate of McClair for a short period. Gordon Strachan makes it as a fellow United and Scotland player before he went on to manage both the national team and Celtic And five more legends of the green and white round out the side. Pat Bonner is in goals and outfield he has Danny McGrain, Roy Aitken, Paul McStay, and Tommy Burns. Advertisement Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
