Celtic’s pursuit of a new manager has taken on the air of a delicate waiting game, with the club’s immediate future hinging on a decision from a 74-year-old club legend. Martin O’Neill, who answered an SOS call not once but twice last season to guide the Hoops to a dramatic league-and-cup double, has yet to clarify whether he wants the job on even a short-term basis. According to Sky Sports News, the club are open to discussing a temporary arrangement, but the terms would need to suit both parties. The indecision has left principal shareholder Dermot Desmond and the Celtic board in a state of limbo, even as the pre-season clock ticks louder.
O’Neill’s impact last term cannot be overstated. Stepping in to steady a listing ship, he delivered the Premiership title in the most nail-biting fashion Scottish football has witnessed in decades, before adding the Scottish Cup for good measure. Those triumphs have given him enormous credit in the boardroom, yet his age and the sheer scale of the rebuild required raise legitimate questions about his appetite for a full campaign. The summer ahead promises a major squad overhaul, with several first-team regulars expected to depart, and the Champions League play-off looms early in the new season—a fixture that could define the club’s financial year.
If O’Neill opts to take the reins for another year, it would represent a safe, steady pair of hands. Such a move would buy time for the beleaguered hierarchy to fill critical vacancies behind the scenes: a permanent chairman, head of football, head of recruitment, and numerous other roles remain unfilled following a period of administrative turmoil. In that scenario, O’Neill could oversee the football side while the club reconstructs its off-field structure, a pragmatic compromise that appeals to a board desperate for stability. Alternatively, should he decide the day-to-day grind is no longer for him, Celtic would still like him to remain in some capacity—perhaps in football operations or a consultancy role that preserves his institutional knowledge.
The uncertainty around O’Neill has opened the door for Robbie Keane, who has emerged as the clear frontrunner if the veteran steps aside. Sky Sports News reports that Keane has already selected his preferred backroom team: former Aberdeen manager Stephen Glass, Celtic icon Scott Brown, and ex-Hoops winger Jonny Hayes. Keane resigned from Hungarian side Ferencvaros last month after failing to retain the league title, though he did capture the domestic cup. His managerial CV is respectable: a league-and-cup double in Israel with Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2024/25, followed by a Hungarian league crown in his first season at Ferencvaros. Earlier this year, he was even on Tottenham Hotspur’s shortlist.
Yet Keane’s candidacy is not without controversy. His decision to take the Maccabi Tel Aviv job at the height of the Middle East conflict polarised the Celtic support. Keane defended the move at the time, insisting he had a duty to his team and to the staff who had relocated with him. He stepped down after delivering the title in June 2024, but the episode left a stain for some fans. Desmond, however, remains a vocal admirer of Keane, having originally been instrumental in bringing him to Glasgow as a player. That personal bond may prove decisive if the process reaches a head.
Other names have flickered on the shortlist but appear to be fading. Wales head coach Craig Bellamy emphatically ruled himself out during a press conference on Monday, reiterating his commitment to the national team and its preparations for Euro 2028. That firm stance, reported by Sky Sports News, removes a candidate who had been monitored by both Celtic and Championship side Burnley. Meanwhile, Portugal boss Roberto Martinez is considered an outsider, primarily because the upcoming World Cup would make it virtually impossible for him to take over in time for pre-season. Celtic ideally want a permanent appointment in place for the start of the summer programme.
The backdrop to all this manoeuvring is a squad in need of urgent renewal. Brendan Rodgers’ sudden resignation in October last year forced O’Neill into a firefighting role, but the underlying issues—aging core players, contract expiries, and a lack of depth—were never fully addressed. The new manager, whoever he may be, will inherit a group that must be refreshed to compete on domestic and European fronts. The Champions League play-off in particular is a high-stakes hurdle: qualification would unlock vast revenues and prestige, while failure would deepen the sense of drift.
For Celtic, the O’Neill question is not merely about one season. It symbolises whether the club opts for continuity and caution or embraces a longer-term vision under a younger, more progressive coach like Keane. The lack of a swift resolution suggests that O’Neill himself is wrestling with the decision. He has neither ruled himself out publicly nor communicated a clear desire to stay, leaving Desmond and the board to weigh their options without a firm direction. Every passing day without a manager compresses the time available for squad planning and pre-season integration.
Should O’Neill walk away, Keane’s appointment would bring energy and a clear, contemporary vision. His coaching pedigree, though still developing, shows an ability to win trophies in challenging environments. However, the polarisation among supporters and the need to build a backroom staff from scratch introduce risks. Conversely, if O’Neill stays, Celtic gain short-term relief but postpone the inevitable transition to a new era—a calculation that might satisfy immediate demands but leave them facing the same dilemma in a year’s time.
The club’s supporters, still savouring last season’s double, are growing restless for clarity. The boardroom vacuum compounds the pressure; without a chairman or recruitment chief, the manager will have to shoulder even greater responsibility. That reality might make a short-term O’Neill deal more attractive, as he is one of the few figures who commands instant respect and can hold things together during this turbulent phase. Yet the longer the silence endures, the more likely it seems that O’Neill has reservations about the energy required.
In the coming days, Celtic must find an answer. The pre-season calendar waits for no one, and the Champions League play-off will be a brutal early test. Whether it is O’Neill’s steady hand or Keane’s fresh ambition, the decision will set the tone for a campaign that could redefine the club’s trajectory. For now, all eyes remain on one man’s willingness to say yes—or no. Based on reporting from Sky Sports.