Celtic majority shareholder Dermot Desmond is set to hold talks with Martin O’Neill and Robbie Keane this week over the Hoops vacant managerial position.
O’Neill is in the frame after success as the interim
Veteran boss Martin O’Neill is in the frame to become the permanent Celtic manager after helping the team claim the domestic double last season while acting as an interim head coach.
The double included claiming the SPL title on the final day in dramatic fashion by beating title rivals Hearts 3-1 at Parkhead. The Scottish champions also won the FA Cup 3-1 against Dunfermline in a rather more comfortable fashion.
The club are open to the 74-year-old extending his stay as Hoops boss, but only if the former Leicester boss wishes to take on the role. However, if he doesn’t want to take on the position of head coach, then the club are keen to keep O’Neill at the club in some form.
Keane is also set for talks
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The club are also looking to hold formal talks with their former striker, Robbie Keane, about the vacancy. He is believed to have admirers at the club, including Desmond himself.
Keane is available after resigning as head coach of Hungarian outfit Ferencvaros earlier this month, after 16 months with the club.
The 45-year-old has enjoyed success in his coaching career. He guided Maccabi Tel Aviv to the Israeli Premier League title in 2024, before winning the Hungarian top-flight title with Ferencvaros in 2025.
Bellamy rules himself out of the job
Other head coaches have been linked with the vacancy, including former Hoops striker Craig Bellamy, who is currently the head coach of the Wales national team.
However, the 46-year-old has recently stated that he is more than happy in his current role. He also revealed that he has already turned down opportunities at club level because he loves his current role.
One outsider for the job is Portugal boss Roberto Martinez, but the former Everton boss seems unlikely to get the job, as Celtic are keen to have a head coach in place for pre-season in July.
With Martinez at the World Cup with Portugal, the timeframe wouldn’t work for the Hoops.