Ex-SPFL club chief: Celtic to make political move to hire 45-year-old as new permanent manager
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Wed 1 April 2026 16:30, UK Robbie Keane could become Celtic’s next manager in a move designed to bring the fanbase back on side.That is according to Keith Wyness, as the former Aberdeen chief speaks exclusively to Football Insider on Celtic’s next managerial appointment.Keane is currently manager of Hungarian side Ferencvaros, and had a loan spell at Celtic during his playing career.The 45-year-old is one of the leading contenders to replace Martin O’Neill at Celtic Park when he steps down at the end of the season.Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou is also a candidate for the Celtic job, but Keane’s connections to the club could put him ahead of Dane in the pecking order. 👔 Celtic Manager News 👔 Get the inside track on the Parkhead dugout with real-time updates on shortlisted candidates, live betting market shifts, and key boardroom decisions. VISIT THE MANAGER HUB MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES Robbie Keane can put ‘pressure’ on Celtic boardAberdeen’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004, had lengthy spells as the chief of Everton and Aston Villa and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes Keane would be a “sensible” appointment for Celtic to make amid increasing tensions between the fanbase and the board.Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thought that Askou was “nailed on” to take the job, but that Keane is now amongst the favourites.Games Managed73Games Won44Games Drawn14Games Lost15Robbie Keane’s managerial stats at Ferencvaros in all competitions.He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “He’s done well at Ferencvaros, and he’d be well received by the Celtic fans, a bit better than our old friend Wilfried Nancy.
“But I was surprised. I thought the Motherwell manager was nailed on, but no, Robbie Keane’s coming with a late run and I think he could well be the right guy for lots of reasons.
“Celtic’s still a very unhappy club deep down, a lot of division still within the club, and I think Keane, with the Irish connection, makes sense.“I think that he is part of a unifying move that could work because it’s divisions that they’ve got to try and fix. Robbie Keane could be a sensible move, whereas Motherwell was more football-based.“There’s more to the Robbie Keane appointment in terms of politics as well, so I think it probably is the right way to go.”Celtic’s next manager faces summer overhaulWhoever becomes Celtic’s next manager will have a busy summer transfer window rebuilding the squad, with the likelihood that the Hoops miss out on the Scottish Premiership title this season.Football Insider was told that the Celtic board must invest in the squad or face further protests from the fanbase.The board are already facing huge pressure from supporters to step down, and that will only increase if their issues across the pitch are not addressed in the transfer market.Motherwell forward Elijah Just is seen as a top target to bolster their attacking options, with Daizen Maeda among the stars expected to leave Celtic.