Celtic should be looking at some different managerial options that haven’t been mentioned when discussing long-term options.
Martin O’Neill has already made the uncertainty clear. He said “the owner has not even spoken to me” about the permanent job and added that the board had not mentioned it either.
That matters because Celtic do not have unlimited time. O’Neill has also said the club will have to act quickly on players, and a manager needs to be appointed before the World Cup.
Robbie Keane and Jens Berthel Askou are the favourites, but 67 Hail Hail has looked at three different options that haven’t been considered.
I want the next manager of Celtic to be…
Miron Muslic
Miron Muslic would be the boldest option on this list. He is currently Schalke 04 manager, having previously taken charge of Cercle Brugge and Plymouth Argyle.
His strongest argument is not a long list of trophies. It is the evidence that he can impose identity quickly and lift a club beyond its recent level.
At Cercle Brugge, Muslic led the club to fourth place and European qualification for the first time in 14 years. That is exactly the kind of achievement Celtic should respect when assessing coaches from outside the obvious market.
The tactical fit would be fascinating, but not simple. His Schalke side have been built around aggressive pressing and counterpressing, with a 3-4-3 shape and a direct attacking approach, a formation that Wilfried Nancy failed to impose.
One drawback is that Schalke are all but promoted back to the Bundesliga, and Muslic may want to give the top flight of German football a crack.
Jacob Neestrup
Jacob Neestrup is the name that makes the most football sense. He was most recently Copenhagen manager, where he won two Danish Superliga titles and two Danish Cups.
He also led Copenhagen into the Champions League knockout stages in 2023, which matters for a Celtic job that always carries a European test.
The bigger reason Neestrup stands out is the style. His Copenhagen side used a 4-3-3 build-up, central overloads, inverted fullbacks and counterpressing, which makes the transition to Glasgow simple as they already play in that shape.
That profile is close to what Celtic need. They require a manager who can control territory, manage possession, break down compact opponents and still carry a plan for European nights.
Neestrup is not a glamour name for most Celtic supporters. That is part of the point, because the right appointment should be judged on fit, not familiarity.
Brian Priske
Brian Priske has the strongest winning CV of the three. He is currently Sparta Prague manager, and his record includes the Danish Superliga with Midtjylland, two Czech league titles and a Czech Cup with Sparta Prague.
That is a serious body of work. It shows he has built winning teams in different environments, which should carry weight in any serious managerial discussion.
There is also a caution attached to his name. Priske was sacked by Feyenoord in February 2025, so Celtic would have to judge the whole record rather than treating him as a risk-free option.
Tactically, his case is still strong. His Feyenoord side used 4-3-3 and 3-2-2-3 build-up structures, with central overloads, high backlines, aggressive pressing and quick transitions.
Priske was also linked with the Rangers job in the past but that should not deter the Hoops. Yes, things ended badly at Feyenoord, but he knows how to win and, crucially, compete in Europe.
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