An exclusive interview with Mark Fotheringham, by Callum McFadden for WFi.
You have come to the end of an interim spell as first-team coach at Celtic, working alongside interim manager Martin O’Neill and his assistant Shaun Maloney. You know both men well from your history together at Celtic. What was your initial reaction when Martin and Shaun asked you to come in and support them during this interim period?
“It was really interesting. I received a call around 11.30 at night from Shaun. You could hear the adrenaline in his voice. He simply said, ‘Foz, can you be at Lennoxtown at the drop of a hat?’
“For me, it was an easy decision. I told him I would be there the next morning. I did not ask any questions because I knew he had a lot going on.
“When I arrived at Lennoxtown, Shaun explained that he and the gaffer would be working together during this interim period and that I would be joining them. It was an incredible feeling to return and to work again with the gaffer and with Shaun, someone who means a great deal to me.
“People know our story. Old photos have been shared many times. We came through the academy together and lived in a house in Barrhead with Irene and Vinnie McCann, who looked after us like family. We would take the train from Barrhead to Glasgow Central, then the bus to Bridgeton, then run as fast as we could to avoid any Rangers supporters before getting up to Celtic Park [laughs].
“We helped John Clarke and wee Angie with the kit and were around the first team very early. After cleaning the kit in the afternoon, we would play a quick game of snooker and then head back to Barrhead for dinner with Irene and Vinnie. They told us everything that was happening at Celtic and supported us as if we were their own.
“That was where we learned what it truly meant to be part of Celtic and the expectations that come with wearing that badge. Returning now to support the gaffer and contribute to the run we have been on has meant a great deal.
“It has been a special feeling because Celtic means everything to us.”
Mark Fotheringham and Shaun Maloney during their early days in the Celtic academy.
Given how suddenly you arrived, how important was it that all of you had Celtic in your hearts and a previous connection to the club?
“It helped enormously. We spoke a lot about our connection to the club and our desire to see Celtic succeed. The club has enjoyed so much success, and we felt only small adjustments were required.
“Shaun and I are young coaches who have stepped outside the Celtic environment to work under high-profile managers. We wanted to test ourselves, learn, and gather valuable experience.
“We have both managed in the English Championship, which is one of the toughest leagues in Europe, at clubs that were struggling. We proved we could adapt, stabilise a team, and work under intense pressure.
“Working alongside the gaffer is something we would have accepted instantly. Our respect for him is enormous. His record speaks for itself. To stand beside him at Celtic is a real privilege.
“The staff at the club have also been outstanding. Christine in the office, Stevie Wright and Hughie in the kit room, the dinner ladies, and so many others have been incredibly supportive. They work hard, they care about the club, and they make life easy for anyone coming in. They are a credit to Celtic.”
When the managerial change happened, long-serving coaches such as John Kennedy left, and the players were used to working closely with them. However, the squad appears to have taken to you, Shaun, and Martin very naturally. How pleasing has it been to see their confidence grow, especially among players who struggled for form earlier in the season?
“First of all, John Kennedy was a great servant to Celtic and someone we all respect enormously. The staff who were here before us and those who have remained alongside have achieved a great deal of success over the years.
“The gaffer, Shaun, and I simply looked at areas where we believed little tweaks and improvements could be made.
“On the pitch, we focused on being more aggressive with our passing, reducing touches and playing more vertical passes that create one against one opportunities out wide. We worked on positional play and introduced new concepts. The players have responded brilliantly, and you can see the improvements in their performances.
“We have worked very closely with Greg Wallace and the analysts, Ross, Mike, and Sam, particularly on statistics such as counter-pressing. The improvement in that area has been significant. That is the Celtic identity: press hard, win the ball back quickly, and win it as close to the opponent’s goal as possible.
“To be able to counter-press aggressively and consistently, you need players who are extremely fit and capable of repeating these high-intensity actions week in, week out, especially with the volume of games we play. Tim Williamson and Andrew Boles, alongside Alejandro and William, ensure the squad are in fantastic physical condition and follow a very thorough recovery process between matches, allowing the players to sustain those levels throughout the season.
“Much of what Shaun and I have implemented comes from the high-profile managers we have learned from. Shaun worked under Roberto Martínez. I learned from Felix Magath and Jürgen Klinsmann. The gaffer has a very similar way of viewing football. He keeps it simple and effective.
“I have tried to be authentic with the players. That is the only way to work. I have enjoyed connecting with both the young players and the experienced ones.
“I also understand how difficult it can be for foreign players to settle. I experienced that myself when I moved to Freiburg as a young Scotland under-21 international. It took months to adjust to the Bundesliga. I try to give our foreign players clarity in their roles so that the game becomes simpler for them.”
Callum McGregor was immense for you during the interim period. How enjoyable was it working with him, Kieran Tierney, and the other homegrown players who understand the club as academy graduates, just as you and Shaun did?
“We have huge admiration for all of them. My bond with Callum is very special. I admire him deeply. His family are wonderful people. Many do not know this, but his mum has been sending my three boys one hundred pounds in Christmas cards along with Celtic strips for years. They are incredibly humble and hardworking.
“Sometimes I think Callum does not fully realise how special he is. His performances have impressed the gaffer and Shaun enormously. He is a top captain. I call him the maestro. In my view, we may not see another academy player quite like him in my lifetime.
“The younger lads, such as Dane Murray and Colby Donovan, have also stood out. The Scottish boys have been excellent. Kieran Tierney is an exceptional footballer. Anthony Ralston works tremendously hard, and Luke McCowan brings incredible energy and drive to training every single day.
“James Forrest is a throwback winger who puts defenders on the back foot. The gaffer would have loved to have worked with him in his first spell at the club.
“I have also connected well with the foreign players. I knew Yang from my time working in South Korea and was aware of the high expectations placed on him. Arne Engels is a great lad who came from Augsburg and has real quality. As well as those two, Benjamin Nygen has been such a driving force and a real goal threat from midfield alongside Engels.”
“Overall, I have tried to give every player equal attention and invest myself fully in helping them deliver on the pitch.
“The staff we’ve had to work with have been outstanding. Stevie Woods does a fantastic job of ensuring our three goalkeepers are match-ready whenever they are called upon. I also have to acknowledge the work of Gavin Strachan as well as Stephen McManus, who stepped up from the B team, as they have been excellent professionals. They made the transition as smooth as possible for us.”
What would you say was the highlight of your time in the interim role, and is there a sense of sadness that it has come to an end, even though you knew it was temporary?
“Shaun and I spoke with the gaffer about Celtic’s proud history in Europe. We learned a lot very quickly from the Midtjylland game. We were proud of how we implemented changes against Feyenoord. We told the players there would be periods where we would be without the ball and that they did not always need to press aggressively. They followed the plan with real discipline.
“Callum McGregor set the tone as he always does. Reo Hatate and Daizen were outstanding on the night as well. They are players with the quality to succeed in any league in the world.
“On a personal level, it was special for Shaun and me. As academy players sharing a room, we used to go to sleep at night speaking and dreaming about playing in Europe for Celtic together. To then be on the first-team staff and secure a win at De Kuip against a strong Feyenoord side, and to do it in the manner that we did, was an unforgettable feeling.”
Looking back at your coaching journey – pre Celtic – in Germany, South Korea, and the English Championship, are you now looking to return to management after this successful spell at Celtic?
“Yes, absolutely.
“When I took on the interim assistant position at Swansea alongside Alan Sheehan in February of 2025, we were four points from relegation.
“From there, we drew away at Leeds in the first match and then recorded five or six wins in a row with five clean sheets, which was a club record. We won away at Sunderland, who are now performing very well in the Premier League, and had players such as Enzo Le Fee and Jobe Bellingham, who is now at Dortmund.
“In light of our spell in charge, Alan was then offered the Swansea job on a permanent basis in the summer of 2025 on the back of our strong finish to the 24/25 season.
“It is always about making an impact and leaving a positive impression. I want to create special memories with the players I work with. I feel passionate about this Celtic group. The team spirit is exceptional, and the intensity in training has been outstanding.
“I am often at Lennoxtown from half past six or quarter to seven in the morning, and, in all honesty, I do not want to go home because I enjoy the environment so much, especially with the positive momentum in the building.
“Our task was to leave the club in a stable position for the new manager. We gave everything we had. The gaffer is a wonderful man. His knowledge and work ethic at seventy-three are remarkable. I have spent many hours with him analysing games and listening to his stories.
“His knowledge of players throughout Europe is incredible. Even at the age of 73, he was willing to go with me to watch games live to scout the opposition – we went to St Mirren v Hibs and Motherwell v Hibs – which was a real credit to his professionalism. It highlighted his dedication and how thoroughly he would analyse and respect every opponent.
“He says that Shaun and I reinvigorated him, but the truth is that he has also reinvigorated us.”
You mentioned working under Felix Magath. What was he like to work with, given his incredible coaching career at clubs such as Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg, where he won multiple Bundesliga titles?
“He was very special in a similar way to the gaffer. Felix would joke that he was tired of hearing me talk about Celtic, but I always believed that if I could handle the standards and expectations of the gaffer’s squad as a young player, then I could handle anything. I think Felix recognised that.
“He brought me to Hertha because he knew I was thorough, committed, and focused on winning. At clubs like Hertha Berlin and Celtic, you must win every week. There is no period of adjustment.
“That is why coming back here was an easy decision. I feel privileged to work alongside someone I believe is one of Celtic’s greatest managers. His people skills are outstanding. The way he treats staff and players is an example to many.
“To experience this alongside Shaun, someone I grew up with and travelled from Aberdeen to Dundee to Barrowfield with every weekend, has been very special. The sense of excitement around it has been incredible, Callum.”
Finally, Mark, looking ahead, you have spoken about wanting the right new project. Do you believe you are in a strong position to continue the momentum you have built at Celtic alongside Martin and Shaun, wherever that may take you?
“Yes, absolutely. I want to continue working at the highest level possible. It is difficult to know where you go after working with Felix Magath, Jürgen Klinsmann, and now Martin O’Neill. Every time I have worked with managers of this calibre, we have made an impact.
“I enjoy being around high-profile managers because it pushes me and my family. We place ourselves under pressure so that when difficult situations come, we know we can deliver.
“My wife and three sons are incredibly supportive, and they are all Celtic-mad.
“My boys are in the St Johnstone academy and are making their own way in the game. They tell me they cannot wait for my next opportunity as a head coach because they believe I will do well.
“I am proud of them for supporting me as I live my dream, and proud of the young men they are becoming.
“Football is a huge part of our lives and will remain so. As a family, it’s given us so much, and we’re all incredibly passionate about it and ensuring that we can be the best possible versions of ourselves.”
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