WIM JANSEN, the former Feyenoord and Holland midfielder who once contributed to Celtic's most painful defeat of modern times, yesterday became the highest-paid head coach in the Glasgow club's history.
Two months after the departure of manager Tommy Burns, Jansen, in his early fifties, accepted a three-year contract worth upwards of Pounds l,000,000 a year.
Former Dutch international Johan Cruyff believes Jansen is the right man to win the respect of the players and the support of the fans.
Cruyff knows all about Jansen's capabilities and although the fans remain sceptical of the appointment, the Dutch legend insists he will win them over.
"I have been in touch with Celtic to congratulate them on the appointment of a top-class coach. He has been a close colleague and a friend of mine for many years," said Cruyff.
"It is a massive statement of Celtic's ambition. I have no doubt he will be a huge success.
Jansen was in the Feyenoord side who beat Celtic in the 1970 European Cup final in Milan.
Jock Brown, Celtic's recently appointed general manager, emphasised that, despite almost hysterical speculation over the identity of the new head coach in recent weeks, Jansen was the first to be made a firm offer of the job.
Jansen did a live-year coaching "apprenticeship" with the Feyenoord youth side before meeting Holland's stringent criteria for qualifying to coach at senior level. He was with Lokeren in Belgium before returning to Rotterdam to revive his old club. Having slipped almost to obscurity, Feyenoord won the league championship and the national cup twice under his direction. His last coaching position was with Hiroshima in Japan.
Jansen's first task is already lined up a showdown with the club's two most influential players. Paolo Di Canio and Jorge Cadete have both infuriated Celtic by their behaviour this week.
Di Canio remained behind when the squad flew out to Holland yesterday to their training camp, saying he wanted to train alone. Cadete says he is unwell and shows no signs of returning after demanding a transfer.
