Adriaanse, who flew to Scotland to watch Celtic's 1-0 win over Kilmarnock, confessed he was contacted over the Parkhead job after John Barnes was sacked last year.

He understood the club's powerbrokers were considering hiring a Dutchman to challenge Rangers' domestic domination under Dick Advocaat.

Adriaanse, who had just quit Willem II having taken them into the Champions League, signed for Ajax before negotiations with Celtic could progress.

And, in an ironic twist, he will now come face to face with Martin O'Neill for the ultimate prize of a place in the lucrative group stages of Europe's premier club competition.

'It's true, there was contact,' said Adriaanse. 'I think I was one of the early candidates, although maybe not the main contender for the job.

'The Celtic directors had watched Rangers, and how they had won everything with Dutch management and Dick Advocaat. Maybe that's the reason that they thought about a Dutch coach.'

Adriaanse, who had watched the 1-0 friendly win over Sunderland at Parkhead two weeks ago, returned to watch the SPL champions in competitive action at Rugby Park on Saturday evening.

With the Dutch League yet to begin, he fears Celtic could hold a key advantage in terms of match fitness - and also is concerned over the physical presence of O'Neill's side.

But he reckons his young team's best opportunity of progressing beyond the final qualifying round is by returning to the Ajax total football traditions.

'My players are tactically better and I think that can count,' said Adriaanse. 'Celtic are physically very strong and their tall players will be a danger at set-pieces.

'They use the long ball a lot and it is a different style from our play. I also think Celtic are favourites because our league does not start until August 18.

'They have more experience, too, as the average age of my team is 22 and Celtic's must be 26 or 27. Celtic are playing with a great deal of confidence.'

Adriaanse has watched former Feyenoord forward Henrik Larsson score the winning goals in two 1-0 wins, and fully expects him to be partnered by Chris Sutton - rather than £6.5million new signing John Hartson - on Wednesday night.

'Larsson is a better player now than he was in Holland,' added Adriaanse. 'In Feyenoord, he often played as a lone striker - but he is better with a tall player next to him.

'Martin O'Neill will not use three strikers in Amsterdam and he has to make the choice between Sutton and Hartson, because Larsson will always play.

'But I think the coach will be satisfied with Sutton because he used him alongside Larsson last season and Celtic won everything they could win on the domestic front.'

Hartson, though, will be keen to make Adriaanse eat his words after the Dutchman stated on Saturday night that he didn't fear the Wales striker.

The Dutch coach stated: 'I was not impressed by Hartson. My defenders will be able to handle him.'

O'Neill, meanwhile, could be forced to throw new signing Steve Guppy straight into the first leg, with Alan Thompson suspended and Bobby Petta a major injury doubt.

The Dutch winger limped off with a knee injury after 19 minutes at Rugby Park, leaving O'Neill desperately short of left-sided options.