Elena Sadiku puts Celtic 'on the map' as Hoops women boss reacts to major FIFA recognition
Elena Sadiku has insisted that her individual recognition is down to her Celtic players and staff.
The Hoops boss has been named on FIFA’s ‘The Best’ shortlist among some prestigious names. While flattered, Sadiku has maintained that her success is down to the hard work of those round about her. “I am honoured and I am happy,” said the Swede. “Beside my name we have the name of Celtic FC so it is not just great recognition for me, it is also for the club, for the players, for the staff.
“I would not be there without them. I am very proud to be recognised but it is not something I spend a lot of time thinking about. But it is always nice to be able to put Celtic on the map. A lot of people in Sweden are very pleased for me. They know what my journey has been. They have watched how hard I have worked to get to where I am so there are a lot of people who were very pleased for me.”
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Sustaining her place among some of the best respected coaches in the game will require a continuation of what she has been doing at Celtic. Sadiku delivered their first title and took them into the group stages of the Champions League for the first time this term.
FIFA's The Best women's football coach nominees
Arthur Elias (Brazil)
Elena Sadiku (Celtic)
Emma Hayes (Chelsea/USA)
Futoshi Ikeda (Japan)
Gareth Taylor (Manchester City)
Jonatan Giraldez (Barcelona/Washington Spirit)
Sandrine Soubeyrand (Paris FC)
Sonia Bompastor (Lyon/Chelsea)
That two-pronged assault has had an impact on domestic results although this weekend is about Cup football rather than the league. Celtic play Glasgow Women in the Scottish Cup with Sadiku keen to get through it before attention turns to Real Madrid this week.
The Champions League has been a steep learning curve for the club - who have yet to take a point after four games - but it is all about the Scottish Cup tomorrow. “We want to score a lot of goals but it will be a challenge and we know that it won’t be a good pitch to play on,” she said. “The most important thing is that we get a great performance.”
The pick of the games is the Edinburgh derby which will be played in front of a sell out at the Oriam. It is one a piece so far between Eva Olid’s Hearts and Grant Scott’s Hibs.
There will be some intrigue as to how this one plays out with the teams meeting one another on the opening stages of the competition. Elsewhere, Partick Thistle will look to create a shock of their own as they take on Glasgow City while Rangers are away to Westdyke.
