Former Celtic defender and coach Johan Mjallby is looking for a return to management but would prefer to make his next step outside his native Sweden.

The 47-year-old was back at Celtic Park on Saturday afternoon for the Celtic foundation charity game between Stiliyan Petrov and James Milner’s respective foundations and would relish a return to the dug-out after a demoralising spell with Gefle in his homeland.

“I’ve been out of football since June,” said the Swede. “I was quite happy to split with the club because we had different views about the squad.

“If the results don’t come then obviously you have to either split or keep working hard. But you also need people to believe in you.

“It is different in Sweden, not what I’ve been used to working at the highest level here for a few years and even at Bolton in the English Championship.

“If you’re not working with the top six or eight teams in Sweden it’s quite difficult. But it’s a learning curve.”

Mjallby worked alongside Neil Lennon and Garry Parker at Celtic and then at Bolton before leabing his post in England and returning to Sweden due to personal reasons.

Lennon and Parker continued to work in tandem and Mjallby would enjoy the chance to get out of Sweden again and get back to a broader football landscape.

“I’ve got great experience working here with Neil for five years,” he said.

“Now I’ve worked for two clubs in Sweden and it’s been interesting. But I would rather not work in Sweden.”