'Most likely' next Celtic manager candidate emerges as club already have CV of previously-linked boss

With Celtic boss Martin O’Neill’s future at the club uncertain, ex Hoops striker Robbie Keane has emerged as the ‘most likely candidate’ to replace him, according to former Manchester United scout Mick Brown.

The club are already well aware of the Irishman’s credentials as it was him and O’Neill who were the frontrunners for the vacancy in June, however the latter perhaps had the advantage before the interviews even begun, having just helped the club secure the domestic double a month earlier. However, 74-year old O’Neill’s future at the club now hangs in the balance following three straight defeats.

After their most recent disappointment against Rangers in the weekend’s 1-0 home defeat, the Hoops boss said he’s going to take the opportunity to ‘reflect’ on his future during the extended international break. Ex scout Brown, who remains well-connected in the game, reckons if he is to walk, that Keane will be waiting in the wings to succeed him.

Keane becomes ‘most likely Hoops candidate’

He told Football Insider: "If Celtic are going to part ways with O'Neill then they will want a replacement in quickly. It's not quite as easy as that, we saw that last season and that put them in a very difficult position, it's the reason they've ended up with O'Neill staying for another season. But when you look at the options available to them, it's safe to say Robbie Keane is the most likely candidate because they've already interviewed him.

“They'll know what he's about, what his ideas for the squad are, his style of play, how he works on the training ground, all of that sort of thing. So it would minimise the amount of time they have to spend looking for somebody, because all of that information from his last interview will still be available to them. When you're looking at all of the options, he probably is the one that makes the most sense, unless they think there's somebody else who could be persuaded."

The former striker made 19 appearances for the Hoops during the 2009/10 campaign amid a loan spell from Tottenham Hotspur. Since hanging up his boots in 2018, he’s managed Indian side ATK, Israeli outfit Maccabi Tel-Aviv and Hungarian giants Ferencvaros, who also defeated the Hoops last week in the Europa League.

O’Neill plans to ‘reflect’ after three defeats

With Celtic’s other defeat over the past 10 days also coming against their rivals in the 3-0 demolition job at Ibrox. As pressure now builds on the veteran boss, O’Neill now plans to do some soul-searching over the next three weeks to help decide his future plans. After last week’s league defeat to their rivals, he said: “I think there's every reason to ask, you know, can you turn this round? Can you change the whole thing?

“We are, as I said, two points clear, so I have to kind of look at the bigger picture at this minute. But I knew that we were in a big, big fight anyway, with both ourselves, Rangers, and Hearts again, who are far from out of anything. It's a long season ahead. It's not the first time I've been questioned about my managerial time. So, yeah, I'll have a look at it. I will reflect and see.”

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