Martin O’Neill will be Celtic’s manager for next season, but he’s not guaranteed to stay on beyond that.
There is a clause in O’Neill’s contract to extend his stay by 12 months beyond next term, but many Celtic fans would expect a long-term appointment to be made next summer.
One man previously linked with the Celtic manager’s job is Roberto Martinez, who is the current coach of Portugal and is in the United States of America competing at the 2026 World Cup.
While Martinez maintains his focus is strictly on the job at hand with Portugal, journalist Ben Jacobs took to social media to report that the manager will leave his post after the World Cup, ‘regardless of how the team performs.’
Could Roberto Martinez be Martin O’Neill’s long-term replacement at Celtic?
Martinez will leave Portugal, regardless, after the World Cup. Your thoughts, Celtic fans…🍀🇵🇹👇
Could Roberto Martinez still be a long-term appointment for Celtic?
Martinez is very similar to Brendan Rodgers in terms of style and where they made a name for themselves.
The duo were successful with Swansea City; they both managed on Merseyside, Everton and Liverpool, respectively.
Also, the Spaniard lifted the FA Cup with Wigan in 2013, while Rodgers did it in the colours of Leicester City.
Either way, talkSPORT reporter Jacobs has claimed that Martinez has decided ‘not to renew his contract’, which expires after the World Cup.
But it has also been claimed that Martinez is ‘open’ to another international job.
‘Roberto Martinez will leave Portugal after this World Cup, regardless of how the team performs,’ said Jacobs.
‘Martinez has already decided not to renew his contract, which expires after the tournament. He is open to a Premier League return, but hasn’t ruled out taking another international job either.’
Celtic should still consider Martinez after Martin O’Neill
O’Neill’s status as a Celtic legend is firmly secure, and the club owes him a debt of gratitude for taking the reins during such a challenging time.
Make no bones about it, Celtic would have gone trophyless without him last season, and there are still many problems at the club.
One of them is: What is the long-term strategy? Someone like Martinez, his footballing background, style of play and experience, ticks a lot of boxes for the champions of Scotland.
With Martinez set to leave the Portugal job this summer, hopefully Celtic keep him firmly in mind as a serious candidate to succeed O’Neill, assuming he doesn’t jump straight into another role.
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