Michael Beale's relationship with Ange Postecoglou was a topsy-turvy one - but that may not continue with Brendan Rodgers.
Despite the many sly, humorous or telling digs that both Beale and Postecoglou made to each other - including the famous 'lucky man' quip - there was generally a level of respect between the two, with both Rangers and Celtic bosses admitting as much throughout their spells - despite Postecoglou's dominance throughout the derby games in the second half of the season.
But, with the Aussie departing for the vacant Tottenham job at the start of the season, that has opened the door to someone else to take Beale on. It is expected to be former Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers, with an announcement all but imminent - and, given Beale's previous comments, it appears the two have history.
Beale has already worked with Rodgers, with the latter being named Head of Youth Development by Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, with Beale coaching the under-7's group. Elsewhere, Rodgers then found Beale working for him at Liverpool, where Beale coached an under-15's side as Rodgers almost won the Reds their first Premier League title.
And the Englishman has already described what it was like to work for Rodgers - calling it a 'nice coincidence'.
Beale said back in 2018: "When I was on holiday in Spain, I had a chance meeting with Frank (McParland), who was the Liverpool academy manager. We got talking and he said there was a vacancy coming up. I went to speak to Liverpool and I moved there in the summer of 2012.
“Kenny Dalglish was manager at the time. He was my hero for years and a close relative of my nan, Ray Harford, had been assistant to him at Blackburn. He left as I was on the brink of coming in but Brendan took over as manager. That was a nice coincidence because I knew Brendan’s background. I’d been involved with him as a staff coach at Chelsea and I had an idea of what he might like. I believed in his philosophy and fell in line with that.
“Things moved very quickly at Liverpool. From 2012 to 2017, we had 25 debuts for players who had worked their way up. Brendan and Jurgen Klopp are both managers who like to work with people and develop them."
There may be love lost between the two as they square off in the Old Firm derby this season - but will the new kid on the block beat his former colleague?
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