Deila interviewed for the assistant manager job

Ronny Deila's former right-hand man has revealed how the new Celtic boss had talked himself into an instant promotion - moving from potential Parkhead backroom boy to No 1 contender for the top job.

Lifting the lid on a process that saw the relatively unknown Stromsgodset manager handed control of the Champions League hopefuls, David Nielsen said his close friend and confidant would have been willing to work under a more high-profile head coach like Roy Keane.

But Nielsen, former assistant and now interim successor to Deila, insisted that Celtic majority shareholder Dermot Desmond and chief executive Peter Lawwell had been completely won over in the space of a single interview - so much so that they put all their faith in a 38-year-old who has never worked outside of Norway.

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Promotion: David Nielsen believes Ronny Deila (above) talked himself into becoming the new Celtic boss
‘He went in to interview for the assistant’s job and I think he would have taken it, because it’s such a big job,’ said Nielson.

‘But Ronny knew within his heart that he could do the top job. He went into the meeting and, when he came out, there was no more talk of him being an assistant manager.

‘He blew them away. The board knew that wasn’t an option – he was their man. That’s what happened.’

Deila is guaranteed a rousing send-off as he takes to the field for an emotional farewell at half-time during Monday’s home game against Kamper.

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Impressed: Stomsgodset FC assistant coach Nielsen claims Deila blew the Celtic board away



Thats mental to think he was coming here for the assistants job with Keane its must have been.

 

Even more mental to think our board appointed him then, completely out of the ordinary for them but a masterstroke all the same.

Makes me like him a little more.

 

We don't get Keane and we do get Ronny, hopefully we haven't used up all our luck for the coming season all at once

 

Well hammer, do you know he won't?

 

If you can combine Mr Bean and Osama Bin Laden together then anything is possible for Ronny.

 

He must be amazing then, really can't wait to see him get to work here. Its all very quiet atm. I need another Deila fix

 

Watching Stromsgodset game just now, they 78% possession and play unbelievable fitbaw. Just attack attack attack :smiley-laughing002:

 

Is it bad that I thought this too? With all the talk of Keane or Coyle getting the job when Ronnie got it I couldn't believe our luck.

 

I'm beginning to, against my better judgement, let myself get excited by Deila. Lawwell is notoriously hard, patient and logical. All his negotiations (whther with players, staff or sponsors) take months of painstaking detail. So for him to be blown away in one day, Deila must be something special.

Has he officially started with us yet or is he still coaching his old team for a bit?

 

Stromgodset are mid season whilst our boys are either at the world cup or on holiday. He wont have started with is yet but his old assistant has taken over at stromgodset

 

Apparently he has got a lot of DVD's and matches to watch. So I'd imagine he'll be doing that for the next week or so.

 

Are they of that blonde that VVD shagged?