Rui Faria has emerged as a potential alternative to Ange Postecoglou for the Celtic hot-seat.
The Hoops remain confident of landing new frontrunner and former Australia boss Postecoglou.
However, Record Sport can reveal that Parkhead chiefs have held tentative talks with representatives of Faria.
The Portuguese is a disciple of Jose Mourinho having spent almost two decades as his trusted number two, including assisting Porto to their UEFA Cup win over Celtic.
Faria decided to go it alone following Mourinho’s departure from Manchester United and spent a season in charge of Qatari outfit Al-Duhail where he won the cup before leaving for personal reasons.
The 45-year-old is a free agent and is keen on the vacant Celtic job but Postecoglou remains the clear frontrunner.
Faria has huge experience at the top level and played a key role in helping Mourinho win 25 trophies, including two trebles, two Champions Leagues and two Europa Leagues.
Mourinho has huge admiration for his former No. 2 and touted him for the Arsenal job three years ago when he said he would "help pack and carry” his bags to the Emirates.
Mourinho admitted Faria bought into his philosophy so much that he was capable of going alone and, speaking while he was in charge of Chelsea second time around.
He said: “I don’t want to put them, all of them in the same dimension and when I, if one day I have to speak about disciples, the real one is the one that is with me since 2000.
"The one that has more potential than any other one. The one that if he wants to become a manager tomorrow he is more than ready to do it at the highest level.
"If one day I have to choose my successor, if you want to use that, the one that I really feel thinks like me, is adapted to my way of leading, adapted to my way of coaching.
"He’s the one with more similarities with me even in some traces of personality… my assistant, Rui Faria.”
