Morten Wieghorst set to join Laudrup at Swansea

Published on 08/02/2013 00:00

Swansea are set to appoint former Celtic and Dundee midfielder Morten Wieghorst as Michael Laudrup’s assistant.

The 41-year-old has been in charge of the Denmark Under-21 side, but is to give up the role to move to the Liberty Stadium, and his switch could be confirmed before the weekend.

Erik Larsen has been working as Laudrup’s right-hand man so far this season, but it is believed he will be moved into a position with more focus on scouting, while Alan Curtis will remain as a first-team coach.

During his time in Glasgow, Wieghorst helped Celtic end Rangers’ run of nine straight SPL titles, before being diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome in 2000 and making a remarkable return to resume his playing ­career.

Wieghorst, who played alongside Laudrup for Denmark, left the Hoops in 2002 to become one of his former team-mate’s first signings at Brondby. The highlights of his managerial career to date have been the consecutive Danish Cup triumphs he oversaw with Nordsjaelland, before taking the reins of the ­national under-21 side.

He was also viewed as a potential successor to Morten Olsen, with the boss of the senior Denmark side set to step down next year, but the chance to return to club football has been too strong a draw. The move to bring in Wieghorst would suggest Laudrup has no intention of leaving the Liberty Stadium, having been linked with Real Madrid and Chelsea.

Despite the speculation, the Swans manager does not believe there is any need to rush a decision over extending his contract, which runs out at the end of next season. Laudrup has taken the club to new heights after building on the foundations laid by Brendan Rodgers.