Paul McGinley says Jim McGuinness has a plan to return to soccer coaching after the Glenties man left his post with Beijing Sinobo Guoan last week.
McGuinness had been assistant to Roger Schmidt at the Chinese Super League club since last summer, but in confirming his departure, the former Donegal manager hinted that he would be back at work in Europe.
Former Ryder Cup captain McGinley remains in close contact to McGuinness, who left a post at Celtic in July to take up the role in China.
“I spoke to him last week,” said McGinley. “Jim’s okay. He’s on a plan. He’s on a plan and a lot of things are confidential that I can’t talk about but he’s on a plan.
“He’s got one year to go before he’s fully qualified and he’s flying through his exams and doing great.
“He’s learning every word, he’s going to conferences all around Europe.
“A big connection obviously with Celtic and he’s on a plan. Don’t worry about Jim McGuinness. He’s not coming back to the GAA, put it that way.”
McGinley was speaking at the 2018 GAA Games Development Conference in Croke Park last Saturday.
McGuinness began his UEFA ‘A’ badge, which takes two years to complete, in the summer, and he would then have to undertake the ‘Pro Licence’ before he could manage a top flight team in Europe.
McGinley added: “But he’s got a lot of ambition, a lot of determination.”
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