Celtic’s managerial search has reached the point where Robbie Keane can no longer be treated as a passing name and all signs suggest that he will be the new manager.
Martin O’Neill will take charge for the final time this weekend and there will be hopes that a long-term successor could be appointed before the start of the World Cup.
Keane’s name has consistently cropped up and recent events suggest that his appointment is looking more and more likely.
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The links are back again… Would you welcome Robbie Keane as Celtic manager?
Tell us why…
Ferencvaros’ title failure could see Robbie Keane leave
Keane’s time at Ferencvaros ended with frustration, as the club missed out on the Hungarian title despite a 3-0 win on the final day. That result snapped a seven-year title streak for the club, and it is a fair mark against him.
But it cannot be the whole story. Keane had already delivered a league title after taking over partway through the previous season and led Ferencvaros to their first European knockout win in 50 years.
That matters because Celtic would not be hiring someone with no track record. They would be hiring a young manager who has already dealt with expectation, delivered silverware, and managed in Europe.
The Irishman’s own words also ring true here. He has spoken about his ambition and belief that he can win trophies at the highest level, exactly the mindset Celtic should expect from any candidate.
Jens Berthel Askou looks set to move elsewhere
Jens Berthel Askou is an intriguing option, but his situation is no longer straightforward. Toulouse have made a formal approach for the Motherwell manager, and talks are ongoing without a deal in place yet.
Askou’s rise at Motherwell has been impressive, and his tactical reputation is growing, but Celtic would still need to consider how big a leap it is from Fir Park to Parkhead.
Should Celtic hire Jens Berthel Askou as the next manager?
What do you think? Let us know in the comments 👇
Craig Bellamy has the playing pedigree, but his current role with Wales complicates any move. If Celtic are looking for someone who is fully available and ready to step in, that path does not look entirely straightforward either.
This does not make Keane the perfect choice. It makes him the one with fewer immediate roadblocks compared to the rest of the field.
Dermot Desmond link keeps bringing Keane back into focus
This is where the case for Keane gets stronger. Keane is viewed as the frontrunner for the job, with O’Neill not expected to stay beyond the end of the season.
The Dermot Desmond connection is hard to overlook. Desmond personally funded Keane’s loan move to Celtic in 2010, and that history gives this discussion a different kind of weight.
Celtic should not make this hire purely on sentiment, but decisions are not made in isolation either. Relationships and influence play a part, and Keane ticks boxes in both of those areas.
That is why the story keeps circling back to him. His record has enough substance, his ambition is clear, and none of the other options look convincing enough to pull the conversation away.
Celtic still need to do their due diligence and ask the hard questions. But when you put together the vacancy, the club’s power structure, the other candidates, and Keane’s progress so far, it is starting to look like all roads lead back to him.
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