Lubomir Moravcik set to be central Europe scout for Celtic

Lubomir Moravcik has offered to be a super scout for Celtic in central Europe to help unearth players who will enhance their chances of qualifying for the Champions League group phase and potentially provide healthy profits from subsequent transfers.
Lubomir Moravcik: Scout. Picture: SNSLubomir Moravcik: Scout. Picture: SNS
Lubomir Moravcik: Scout. Picture: SNS

The 50-year-old Slovakian, who remains an idol among supporters for his contribution to Celtic at the turn of the century, has joined an agency which has a strong reach in his homeland, the Czech Republic and neighbouring nations.

Moravcik has opened up discussions with Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell – with the caveat that the best players will remain out of their reach.

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He contends that Celtic should be qualifying for the group phase of Europe’s top tournament every season.

The 2001 Treble winner said: “I have spoken to Peter Lawwell about maybe helping the club in the future. He knows I am always ready for Celtic. I have known him a long time and I can help find players for Celtic if we can find a way to work together.

“I work for a bigger agency in Slovakia now. I told Peter that I can be used for this part of Europe, but it is hard to find the very best players. With the money that Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich have, how can you compete and get these players at 16?

“It’s impossible. Even in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, the best teenagers are already with the biggest clubs.

“But Celtic do have a chance of getting players who are between 18 and 21. They are not the biggest talents but there are good players who are ready for a step to Europe.

“Celtic can provide a stepping stone for these players. They are not ready for the biggest clubs. They are not like Martin Odegaard going to Real Madrid, but they could do well at Celtic. There are a lot of players who could go through Celtic to somewhere else in Europe. The wages are affordable. The transfers fees are not high and it is possible to get these players.

“Celtic can give them European football, they can give them big games under pressure in front of a lot of fans.”

Celtic have already been watching one of Slovakia’s brightest young players, Matus Bero of Trencin, but it seems he will move to Slavia Prague in the summer.

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Moravcik said: “There is one player in Slovakia who is interesting clubs and Celtic are watching him. But maybe he will go to the Czech Republic because he has that choice and the language will be easier for him.”

Moravcikbelieves it is a pre-requisite that Celtic qualify for the Champions League every season, and he feels they should also be able to finish third in their group to parachute into the Europa League, providing more revenue. Having failed to qualify in either of the past two seasons he knows the pressure is on.

Moravcik said: “It’s Celtic’s duty to be in the Champions League every year.

“Celtic will never win the Champions League and to go through from the groups is very hard. But to qualify, finish third and qualify in the Europa League is possible. That must be the objective for Celtic.

“Celtic fans must expect the Champions League every year. You have to have that and it is possible.”