​Ross Grant has opened up about a life in football that began with a sense of “surreal” luck as he entered Celtic, and he has outlined what his job as a set-piece coach involves. A lifelong supporter of the Parkhead club, Grant has joined Martin O’Neill’s backroom staff after a stint at Hearts, where he played a pivotal role in their push for the title. Celtic ultimately denied Hearts a historic Scottish Premiership crown before they went on to win the Scottish Cup. Despite that league setback, Grant is confident he can raise Celtic’s level by refining their approach to dead-ball situations.
In an appearance on the Official Celtic Podcast, Grant stressed that his role is heavy on analysis—not only of Celtic’s own performances but also of the opposition, with a focus on identifying where success might come and where other teams could threaten Celtic. He emphasized that much of what he does is integrated into the team’s style of play, while also stressing the need for speed and intensity to remain a hallmark of Celtic’s approach.
So what might that look like for a team that typically dominates possession in most domestic matches? Grant said the objective is to prevent opponents from taking a breather when a set-piece is awarded, maintaining pressure and discipline. He spoke about employing creativity and innovation to maximize set-piece opportunities but without upending the team’s core principles. The aim is to provide players with clear roles and a touch of simplicity, rather than radical, sweeping changes, ensuring that nuance and decisiveness come through in set-piece situations.
Grant’s impact at Hearts was noticeable. In his sole season in Edinburgh, roughly a third of Hearts’ league goals came from set-pieces, and no other team surpassed their 23 total from such situations. That kind of contribution highlighted the value of a dedicated set-piece system, a blueprint Grant is eager to translate to Celtic. The former Hearts boss and now Celtic associate has long watched O’Neill guide his teams to homegrown success, including domestic honours and a UEFA Cup final, and Grant is determined to replicate that track record with a club he has supported all his life.
Grant’s clear objective is to bring his tactical expertise to Celtic, leveraging an analytical framework to exploit dead-ball scenarios while maintaining the team’s identity and culture. He believes that with precise roles, smart adjustments, and persistent application, Celtic can continue to dominate games and convert set-piece opportunities into meaningful results. As he settles into his new role, the hope is that his methodical, data-driven approach will help Celtic refine their set-piece play, sustain their domestic dominance, and push them further in Europe, all while staying true to the club’s traditions and his lifelong affection for the team.