Shaun Maloney has confirmed that he has quit his coaching role at Celtic.
The 35-year-old was hired as coach for the reserve team last August, but has decided to leave Parkhead so he can focus on his role in the set-up with the Belgium national team.
The ex-Scotland international, who had two spells as a player for Celtic, has now stepped down from his senior role at the club and has thanked Brendan Rodgers and Peter Lawwell in his statement.
“I would like to thank Brendan and Peter for giving me this great opportunity at Celtic, and it is one I have enjoyed immensely. The past year has been a great opportunity for me to work with the young players at the club, and it has been a role I have given everything to,” said Maloney on Celtic’s official website.
“The players and staff have been a pleasure to work with and I would like to thank them all for the time we have had together. All the players in the squad work tirelessly each day and I am sure many of these young players will see this pay off in the next few years as they start to make an impression at first team level.
“I have had a brilliant time at Celtic in this coaching role. The club is such a great institution with great people and the best supporters of all. Celtic will always be my club and I wish everyone connected to the club every success for the future.”
OPINION
Maloney was offered a huge chance when he joined the Belgium coaching set-up last month, where he will work alongside some of the best players in the world with Roberto Martinez and Thierry Henry. He was only working with the reserves at Celtic, so you can understand why he would want to fully commit to a much more reputable role where he will coach players like Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and, obviously, Dedryck Boyata. Maloney is obviously a very good coach and will surely make a better name for himself with Belgium’s senior squad than with the Hoops reserves. It’s no disrespect to Celtic, but this is one of the best international teams in the world and if you’re offered that kind of step up the career ladder, you take it. Celtic fans will surely understand and wish Maloney all the best with the Red Devils, who beat England in the third-placed play-off at the World Cup in Russia.