GLENN Loovens has pledged to help his former club Celtic land signings from across Europe - in his new role as a talent scout.
Loovens, who played for the Parkhead club between 2008 and 2012, retired last year at the age of 35 following a final spell with English League One club Sunderland.
The former Netherlands centre half is now planning to get into recruitment and has admitted he will be happy to recommend promising players to the Scottish champions in future.
“I had another year on my contract with Sunderland, but after pre-season last summer we both agreed it was enough,” he said. “I retired from the game. It has been good, but it was time. I was ready to call it a day.
“I don’t miss playing so much, but I do miss being involved in something. But that will come in time when I move on to what I do next.
“For the first few months after I retired I just wanted to give my body and my mind some rest and figure out what I am going to do next. Now I have had that time off I am looking forward to my next challenge in football.”
Lovens continued: “I tried a bit of coaching last year and the year before. I have done a few of my badges. But it probably isn’t for me.
“I am planning on working in the scouting and recruitment side of the game. I have played professional football for 18 or 19 years so I have certainly got contacts.
“I am currently based in Belgium, where my wife is from, near Genk. I will be happy to let Celtic know about the availability of any good players I come across.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here