Three next Celtic manager candidates given thumbs up as ex Liverpool and West Ham duo get green light
A former Celtic star has weighed in on who he think should replace Martin O’Neill
As Celtic prepare for a new managerial era beyond the summer, three outstanding candidates who could fit the bill have been named, including an ex Liverpool and West Ham United duo.
Current boss, Martin O’Neill, is set to depart the club in the summer for the third time in his career, leaving a vacancy in the Celtic Park dugout. Several names have been bandied about as potential replacements, but former defender Charlie Mulgrew thinks Jens Berthel Askou, Craig Bellamy and Robbie Keane are the frontrunners.
Askou has completely transformed his Motherwell side this season, who have received praise here, there and everywhere for their possession-based attacking brand of football, something the Scottish game hasn’t seen from a non-Old Firm side in a long time. Former Celtic men Bellamy and Keane are also in the running for a potential Parkhead return. The former took on the Wales National Team job in July 2024, while Keane took over at Hungarian champions Ferencvaros last year. They have each represented Liverpool and West Ham United alongside others like Tottenham and Newcastle United between them.
Askou could make the step up - Mulgrew
Motherwell have hit a dip in form in recent weeks but still remain favourites to secure fourth place - which would see them into Europe this season. Speaking on talkSPORT, Mulgrew spoke of his admiration for the Dane’s ability to get results from a new system instantaneously and thinks he’d be able to make the step up to Celtic to do it on the biggest stage. He said: "I've never seen a team outside of Celtic and Rangers play like Motherwell have played this year.
“I know Hearts are up the top of the league, but the football Motherwell have played, the short passing style, what he's put into that team in a short space of time, with the budget he's got, Berthel Askou, I would take him at Celtic. I know the results have fell a wee bit the last month, but I still think what he's done with that budget, what he could do with Celtic in Europe potentially, I know they need to get there first, but what he could do next season with that would be interesting.”
Motherwell are winless in their last five as they now look to regroup before the split. They still remain three points ahead of fifth placed Hibs, who they will face on the final day. European football would be a massive achievement for Askou with the Lanarkshire side, after they finished eighth last season.
Former Celtic men well-versed to take the reins
Bellamy and Keane had similar successful playing careers with several different clubs. Both players featured for West Ham, Liverpool and Celtic during their respective long careers and are now taking their experiences from club level into the management game. Mulgrew believes the duo would also be ideal potential O’Neill replacement candidates.
He continued: “But again, you never know who can handle that pressure of being a Celtic manager until they're in the job. So you speak about Craig Bellamy, who I think would be a great candidate as well. Robbie Keane's another one who would do it."
Bellamy’s Wales narrowly missed out on qualification to the World Cup due to a penalty shoot-out defeat to Bosnia in the play-off semi-final. Meanwhile, Keane’s Ferencvaros are hoping to clinch their eighth Hungarian league title on the spin, but their hopes were dented last weekend, when they lost 1-0 to FC Gyori, who now sit three points ahead of them in the standings with three games to go.
The Scottish Football Social Club is presented by BetSBK.com | 18+ | Gamble Responsibly