Each writer from 67 Hail Hail has had their say on the favourites to become the new Celtic manager.
Celtic are looking for a new manager after Brendan Rodgers resigned from the role on Monday night.
Rodgers was attacked by Dermot Desmond for the way he had handled his departure, insisting that the club had offered the 52-year-old a contract offer on multiple occasions.
Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney will take charge on an interim basis but there are several candidates who are emerging as early frontrunners for the job.
So, with that, here are the writers’ views on the favourites for the vacancy.
Ange Postecoglou
Paddy Sinat: “Probably the most popular choice for Celtic supporters but appointing the Australian would prove the board are out of forward-thinking ideas.”
Martin Crawford: “Would be my first choice, he’s my favourite Celtic manager ever. But I can’t see it happening at all. It wouldn’t be in his nature to return to a previous job, he will want another crack at a top league after being back-stabbed at Forest.”
Callum Boyle: “The romance of Ange returning to Glasgow is a tantalising prospect. His football was superb, supporters loved him but, the same regime that forced him to leave Celtic in 2023 are still there now. Why would he want to return to that?”
Amir Mir: “Celtic’s style of play has been dire. Ange would bring the place back to life and put fear into the leaders Hearts because they know he delivers trophies in Scotland. “The downside to Ange’s possible return is the hits he has taken recently. Getting sacked twice within a few months, plus the fact that the Celtic board would simply be recycling by bringing him back, and not doing anything new.”
Wilfried Nancy
Paddy Sinat: “Not for me. Celtic need experience and a manager with a big-club mentality.”
Martin Crawford: “I’m a nerd for football in other continents and Nancy is easily one of the best coaches outside of Europe, incredibly exciting football and very successful at Columbus. But again, I struggle to see us convincing him as he has rejected other European advances. A man can dream though.”
Callum Boyle: “He is the wildcard on the list and seems to be grabbing a lot of headlines for the way he has his Columbus Crew team playing. Nancy would have shades of Postecoglou’s first spell: written off before he’s got the job, but I think he would be my least preferable.”
Amir Mir: “Ange was an outside-the-box appointment when he first joined Celtic, and this would be the same, so it proves that it works. But having only managed two clubs, and that in the MLS, Celtic need somebody with a lot more bite to their CV.”
Martin O’Neill
Paddy Sinat: “As a temporary measure, O’Neill will do just fine but as a longer-term measure, Celtic need to look elsewhere.”
Martin Crawford: “Never say never, Desmond loves to appoint people he knows and O’Neill is a Celtic legend. But football is just so different to his first spell, and he has had struggles working with modern players at Nottingham Forest. He has all-but ruled out the permanent job, and understandably so.”
Callum Boyle: “I would steer clear of this one at all costs. O’Neill is one of Celtic’s greatest managers but has been out of work since 2019. He will be welcome as a stop-gap, but the Hoops need to step into the future and not stay in the past.”
Amir Mir: “In the short term, he will bring everyone together, and fans will have a smile on their faces seeing him in the dugout again. But the negative is the fact that he hasn’t been in a regular club job since 2013, when he was the manager of Sunderland – he only lasted six months at Nottingham Forest in 2019.”
Shaun Maloney
Paddy Sinat: “Absolutely not. Celtic fans would not be happy with this appointment as it would scream nepotism and the board not pulling out all the stops to get the best man for the job, not just a Celtic man.”
Martin Crawford: “I have massive respect for Maloney and find him impressive as a coach, but even he himself would probably admit that he isn’t ready to be Celtic manager yet. A great presence to have at the club, but not yet the man for the main job.”
Callum Boyle: “Has a lot of admirers but I’m yet to be convinced by his work as a senior manager. Sacked by Wigan Athletic, and not great elsewhere. This Celtic job is far too big for him right now and the Hoops should look elsewhere.”
Amir Mir: “A young manager trying to make a name for himself. Someone who wants to play an attacking style, and he understands the club. Maloney did a good job at Wigan, given the limited resources he had, but he didn’t last long at Hibernian, so it’s a no and the big downside to him being given the job full-time.”
Stephen Robinson
Paddy Sinat: “Next.”
Martin Crawford: “I guess the only positive here would be that he would be cheap? He has done a fantastic job at St Mirren but he’s in a different universe to Celtic. He barely ticks any boxes in my mind.”
Callum Boyle: “Stephen Robinson deserves so much praise for the work he has done at St Mirren, so it is no surprise to hear he has been linked with other jobs. However, his style of play is the complete opposite of what Celtic fans and this side thrive under, so it’ll be a pass.”
Amir Mir: “One of the best pound-for-pound coaches in the Premiership. He has done a fantastic job at St Mirren, and from that perspective, it would be exciting. But Robinson doesn’t have experience in managing a title-winning side or in Europe, so it’s another no.”
Ruud van Nistelrooy
Paddy Sinat: “Absolutely filleted by Odsonne Edouard this week, van Nistelrooy is a legend as a player, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he is the answer for Celtic as a manager.”
Martin Crawford: “If we’re after someone young and on the continent, there are far better options than Van Nistelrooy. Celtic fans will remember his PSV side losing to Rangers, and he was an utter disaster at Leicester. I’d be strongly against bringing him to Celtic.”
Callum Boyle: “Won a double at PSV in his only season but fell out with the board, and lost to Rangers in Europe. As for his time at Leicester City, well, it was abysmal. He isn’t cut out for the job and shouldn’t even be in the conversation.”
Amir Mir: “He showed great promise at PSV, picking up the Dutch cup, despite losing key players. It was an exciting start. But given what happened with Ruud in the Premier League last season, it’s another no. Celtic can and should aim for better.”
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