SNN Journalist’s Midseason Scottish Premiership Awards
With the Scottish Premiership season ticking over the halfway mark, our team of journalists looked at their current standouts from this unpredictable campaign. Signing of the Season Mack Kelly – Alexandros Kyziridis: It is out of him and Braga realistically, but for the same reasons mentioned above, I just think Kyziridis looks a better football player than Braga, despite the G/A complimenting Braga more. Craig Baigrie – Elijah Just: A both player and signing of the season, he scores important goals. Offers pace and direct play that helps drive Motherwell forward, and his adaptation to Scottish football is very impressive. Rhys Livingstone – Alexandros Kyzridis Cameron Caldwell – Stuart Findlay: The former Kilmarnock man has formed a formidable partnership with fellow centre-back Craig Halkett, not to mention his four league goals, including a late winner at Tannadice, and opener against Rangers. Declan Tumblety – Josh Mulligan: Hibernian getting him on a free could go down as one of the best bits of business for years to come in this league; they look a completely different side when he’s in and out of the team. Hibs have been crying out for a John McGinn replacement ever since he left, and they might’ve just found him – until they sell Mulligan for millions and have to look again. Liam Smith – Claudio Braga Manager of the Season Mack Kelly – Jens Berthel Askou: Nobody expected Motherwell to do as well as they did, even when results weren’t going his way, you could see what he was trying to implement, and the steel men are reaping the rewards from that just now. Craig Baigrie – Derek McInnes: as manager of the season because of the consistency of results from Hearts. In the 40 years where only Old Firm teams have won the league, there’s been next to no serious competition from other clubs, but this is the first genuine title push for many years outside Rangers and Celtic Rhys Livingstone – Jens Berthel Askou Cameron Caldwell – Jens Berthel Askou: From their opening day draw against Rangers, the progression that the Danish manager has installed has been mightily impressive. He is working on a smaller budget compared to his rival managers and has improved stalwarts such as Stephen O’Donnell and Paul McGinn. Simply – Askou will not be at the Fir Park for long. Declan Tumblety – Jens Berthel Askou: Derek McInnes narrowly misses out here, but JBA has taken Motherwell from bottom-six regulars to a side people genuinely fear to come up against. An outstanding appointment where it looks unlikely he will remain in Lanarkshire for long. Liam Smith – Jens Berthel Askou Team of the Season Mack Kelly – Motherwell: seems incredulous not to award it to Hearts despite them being 6 ahead, but I actually think they should be further ahead, as mad as that sounds, due to the state of Celtic and Rangers and their results against them, as for Motherwell, they made a semi-final, albeit the result was embarrassing, and could leapfrog Celtic and Rangers themselves. JBA is pulling up trees with a lesser squad, and if they can keep him, the sky is the limit going forward, despite their limited resources Craig Baigrie – Hearts: From the analytics and the smart signings to how well the team has been able to gel together, the improvement of players already there, especially Cammy Devlin, is huge. Rhys Livingstone – Hearts Cameron Caldwell – Motherwell: Between the Jambos and the Steelmen, for me, I edge towards Motherwell because of their lesser budget and tremendous style of play. Declan Tumblety – Hearts: It really pains me to write that as a Hibs fan, but we’re into the new year now and they’re still top of the league. Whilst I still don’t think they’ll go all the way, they raise the question with every week that passes now. It’s absurd that a team outside of Glasgow is six points clear in January. Liam Smith – Motherwell Player of the Season Mack Kelly – Alexandros Kyziridis: He is such an exciting player to watch and a massive cog in Hearts’ title push, always looking to make stuff happen and is such a dynamic asset. Craig Baigrie – Elijah Just Rhys Livingstone – Alexandros Kyzridis Cameron Caldwell – Alexandros Kyzridis: He is the difference maker in that Hearts XI, and has produced several key moments already this season (late Livingston winner, cross for Findlay’s goal vs Rangers). If McInnes’s side wins the league, the Greek winger will be a huge influence. Declan Tumblety – Lawrence Shankland: The current top scorer and captain of the league leaders. He looks back to his best after what seemed to be a blip last season Liam Smith – Tawanda Maswanhise
Martin O’Neill in as Celtic begin post-Nancy reset
The Celtic great oversaw the team just a matter of weeks before bowing out for Wilfried Nancy is now back in charge. Martin O’ Neill is just off the back of leading the Champions to seven wins from eight matches before Wilfried Nancy’s appointment. And after a complete disaster from the Frenchman, with six defeats in eight, the Celtic hierarchy had no choice but to pull the plug and sack him and the Sporting Director, Paul Tisdale, from their duties. After O’ Neill’s spell as interim manager just a few weeks ago, he said: “The reception I got was fantastic. My backroom staff have been sensational, but the game is still about players. “They’ve turned up and won the matches. We’ve had a number of injuries, and players have stepped up to the plate every single time. I’ve had the time of my life over the last five weeks. It’s five or six weeks that I will never ever forget” Celtic’s season has been one to forget so far, and with Nancy becoming the latest casualty, his departure felt inevitable as the supporters’ frustration was continuing to grow. However, this left pressure on the Celtic board to get the next appointment correct and get back to winning ways. With a packed fixture list approaching, Celtic had no room for any more errors or experiments, and the board have gone down the route of experience to steady the ship as they did after Brendan Rodgers’s departure. With O’ Neill’s attachment to the club already, considering the demands of what it takes to be Celtic boss, it made him the obvious candidate to come in and calm everything down. However, Celtic must now turn their attention to their next league fixture as the club’s search for a new manager comes to an end, with Martin O’Neill appointed to the role.
Wilfried Nancy sacked by Celtic
Celtic have announced the dismissal of head coach Wilfried Nancy following 3-1 defeat to Rangers. The Frenchman endured six defeats in eight games, including a defeat in the Premier Sports Cup final to St. Mirren. He leaves the champions six points behind league leaders Hearts. Nancy has now overtaken John Barnes for the unwanted accolade of shortest reigning Celtic manager, with his tenure cut short at 33 days. Nancy took over from interim manager and Celtic legend, Martin O’Neill following Brendan Rodgers resignation. Celtic will now look for their fourth coach of the season in a bid to retain the Scottish Premiership title in what has been a season to forget for Celtic fans. The statement from the Celtic board reads “Celtic Football Club today announces that it has decided to terminate the contract of manager Wilfried Nancy, with immediate effect. The Club thanks Wilfried for his efforts and wishes him and his family well for the future. Wilfried’s assistants, Kwame Ampadu, Jules Gueguen, and Maxime Chalier, will also be leaving the club and they take with them our good wishes. The Club can also confirm that Paul Tisdale has left his position as Head of Football Operations. We thank Paul for the contribution he has made in that role. A further update will be provided to supporters as soon as is practical.” Celtic’s next game comes against Dundee United on Saturday where there is currently no news on who will take charge.
Six Managers That Should be on Manchester United’s Radar
Manchester United have sacked manager Ruben Amorim after 14 months in charge, with the Portuguese boss losing more game than he won in 2025 and leaving Old Trafford with a win rate of less than 39%. With speculation over the former Sporting Lisbon gaffer’s future growing with every passing week until now, here are six managers Manchester United should have already had waiting in the wings to prepare for this moment. 1. Oliver Glasner The number one priority for the Red Devils should be Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner. The Austrian has a proven record of over achieving at his other jobs, famously winning the Europa League in 2022 with Eintracht Frankfurt, as well as securing his current employer’s their first piece of silverware in their history in the FA Cup last season along with a Community Shield a few months later. Glasner is yet to manage a ‘top’ club, but would reportedly be willing to make the move to the red side of Manchester with the 51-year-old’s contract at Selhurst Park up at the end of this season. 2. Xavi Hernandez Another perfect fit for United would be Barcelona icon Xavi. The silky Spaniard would command respect from the dressing room, given his standing and all that he has achieved as a player, something many would argue was sorely missed with Amorim. Having won league titles in Qatar and Spain in his management tenures at Al Sadd and Barcelona, his hand at Barca was also forced into producing young talent due to the financial mess of the Catalan giants, seeing him introduce the world to a certain Lamine Yamal. A match made in heaven for a club like United who take such pride in the youth talent that they have produced over the years. 3. Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer Former Man United player and manager Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer must be desperate for a second bite at the cherry. The Norwegian was sacked after a poor beginning to the 21/22 season after taking the job permanently in 2019. Looking back, he is the only manager post Sir Alex Ferguson that has a good relationship with the support. Perhaps it is mere revisionism, but it seems there is a section of the Manchester United faithful yearning for Ole-ball to return, and the baby faced assassin is available following his sacking from Turkish giants Besiktas at the beginning of this season. 4. Zinedine Zidane The man who appears to be linked with every high profile job under the sun, yet keeps himself far from the limelight. French legend Zizou won three Champions League trophies in a row in his first spell as Real Madrid manager, and won a league title in each of his spells. A CV like this would appeal to every big club in Europe, yet the jury on the former Ballon D’Or winner’s coaching ability is still out, provided that he is yet to manage outside of the Spanish capital and hasn’t managed at all since 2021. 5. Andoni Iraola The Spaniard has developed a reputation at Bournemouth of overachievement and has his side playing some entertaining football at the Vitality Stadium. The Bilbao legend took over the Cherries in 2023 following a failed application for the Celtic job, and has been in the discussion for any big 6 vacancy pretty much since. It would be interesting if United be the first to take the chance on him, however, considering the South-coast club’s form this season. 6. Enzo Maresca The immediate bookies favourite, Maresca left Chelsea on New Year’s Day following disputes with the club’s hierarchy. The Italian has experience of working in Manchester already, winning Premier League 2 with rivals Manchester City’s development squad, as well as working under Pep Guardiola as assistant the season the Cityzen’s won the treble. He guided Leicester City back to the Premier League as Championship winners the year after as manager, before leaving for Chelsea where he spent eighteen months, winning a UEFA Conference League and the first expanded version of the Club World Cup within six weeks of each other.
Ruben Amorim Sacked as Manager of Manchester United
Ruben Amorim has been sacked as manager of Manchester United with immediate effect. The 40-year-old took charge at Old Trafford in November of 2023, but has endured a torrid time of things in Manchester during his 14 months in charge, signing off with a 1-1 draw away to Leeds United yesterday. United and Scotland hero Darren Fletcher, whose twin sons both made the bench at Elland Road, will take temporary charge as the Red Devils travel to Turf Moor to face Burnley on Wednesday, with the backroom staff also departing. Amorim’s spell is the shortest of any Manchester United manager since David Moyes replaced Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013 and only lasted eight months, however Amorim has the worst win rate of any United manager in the Premier League with 32%, and a record low clean sheet ratio of 15%. His side’s best chance of silverware came in last season’s Europa League final, in which they lost 1-0 to Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur who finished 17th in the league the same season, incredulously only two places behind Manchester United in 15th. He seemingly survived the unfathomable in August of last year when League Two Grimsby Town knocked United out of the EFL cup on penalties, but a lack of ‘evolution’ this season has provided the club’s board with no choice.
