Ferencvaros sporting director Judit Berkesi has admitted the possibility of Robbie Keane leaving this summer.
That’s amid new reports naming Keane as the frontrunner for the Celtic job next season, with Martin O’Neill so far indicating that he wouldn’t fancy the permanent role.
The Ireland legend has only been at Ferencvaros for 14 months, but in that time he has made history in Europe, and could well have delivered back-to-back Hungarian titles by the end of the season.
If Keane is to be the chosen one to succeed O’Neill, it appears that the Budapest club won’t be standing in his way.
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Ferencvaros sporting director on Celtic-linked Robbie Keane
Berkesi told Sportemberk: “What’s in the media about [Keane] is always one thing. Of course, we talk about this, and he also openly and honestly tells us what the reality is in these cases.
“The other thing is that it’s completely normal when someone does such a good job as he does.
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“The performance we have delivered in international matches this year is special, [it is] somewhat normal that such a personality, with a great football career as a player in the most advanced or strongest league in the world, and now choosing a different coaching career, moving out of his comfort zone…
“Already did a good and effective job under difficult circumstances at Maccabi. He also entered a difficult situation with us, because in January, when you don’t have much time to form your team or implement the playing style, playing philosophy that you want, and he solved that well.
“This is actually the club’s merit in this respect, that we are already at a point where we can sell not only players well in certain cases, but also head coaches in the last two cases.
“And it is certain that this possibility may also exist with Robbie in certain cases, despite the fact that he feels very good here, can really work in very good conditions, receives all the support that is possible, and the coaches can appreciate this as well.
“So this is the situation for now. The search for a coach should always be ongoing. But there is no current interest right now.
“But keeping an open mind, thinking and discussing certain things within the management, that is part of our job, but we hope that Robbie will stay with us for a very long time.”
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Robbie Keane’s competition for permanent Celtic role
Keane would likely jump at the opportunity to manage Celtic, but despite being the reported frontrunner, he isn’t alone in the running.
Until the last week, Jens Berthel Askou had been the bookmakers’ favourite for the hotseat. The Motherwell boss has earned rave reviews for delivering impressive results with a dominant brand of football.
Roberto Martinez and Ange Postecoglou both look like pie-in-the-sky options at this stage, whilst Craig Bellamy could enter the fray if Wales don’t qualify in this month’s World Cup play-offs.
As for O’Neill, a successful end to the season would inevitably create a widespread clamour for a permanent appointment, though he has hinted against this so far.
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