Celtic target Robbie Keane gives green light to manager talks

Robin Bairner

19 Mar 2026 10:19 GMT
4 min read

Robbie Keane, one of the favourites to become the next full-time manager of Celtic, has given the Glasgow giants the nod to begin talks with him over the post.

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The former Hoops striker has been working with Ferencvaros and says he has completed his work with the Hungarian side, effectively putting himself at the front of the queue for the Parkhead position.

Martin O’Neill is currently in charge of Celtic on an interim basis, with his role expected to come to an end when the season concludes.

Keane: I’ve done my job at Ferencvaros

Keane has long been touted as a potential manager of the Parkhead outfit and fuelled speculation over a summer move following Ferencvaros’ exit from the Europa League on Wednesday.

Holding a 2-0 lead over Portuguese side Braga, Keane watched his men wilt in the second leg, going down 4-0 away from home.

Speaking after the match, he tellingly said he had completed his major target: “My players are not at this top level yet, but they have improved a lot this season, and for me as a coach, this is my most important task: to make my players better.

“This is my job. Winning is also important, of course, but it gives me much more satisfaction to see my players improve and move up a level.

“This is the job of a head coach, to find a way for his players to move up to a level they haven’t been to before.”

Bowing out of Europe with pride

The 45-year-old, who scored 16 goals in 19 matches for Celtic in 2009/10, enhanced his reputation thanks to the style his side played with – and Keane says that is something that brings him satisfaction.

“I’m very proud. Look at the teams we played against: Fenerbahce, Ludogorets, Rangers.

“We played so many games, I can’t even remember the teams. Nottingham… We’re talking about teams that sign for €50-60-70 million.

“I told the guys to go home with their heads held high, because I will too. It was a great trip and I think the really big thing is that we earned the respect of our opponents. That’s a huge thing.

“All the coaches of the opponents highlighted how well we played compared to other teams. I’m very happy with that. We showed that we are a team that cannot be beaten. I take a lot of pride with me. When my colleagues speak so highly of my team, it makes me really proud.”

© IMAGO - Robbie Keane celebrates Ferencvaros' Europa League win over Rangers

Keane ticks one big box at Celtic

After years of European disappointment, the Celtic board should study Keane’s achievements at Ferencvaros – a team with more limited resources than the Glasgow giants – and admire them. This, after all, is the target they are aiming for.

The Hungarian side finished with 15 points in the group stage of the competition compared to Celtic’s 11, while they only narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification.

His words were not exactly a goodbye to his current side, but instead acted as a job advertisement to what he could give to his next club.

Keane has brought style and success to Ferencvaros, and Celtic would be remiss if they were not looking at him as a potential heir to O’Neill.

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