Ally McCoist says Robbie Keane would be the perfect successor to Martin O’Neill as Celtic head coach.
Keane, who spent one season on loan at Celtic Park during his playing days, has shown promise since venturing into management in 2023.
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The 45-year-old led Maccabi Tel Aviv to the Israeli Premier League title in his only season at the club.
He repeated his title-winning heroics the following season by steering Ferencvaros to the Hungarian championship just four months after his arrival in January 2025.
He was linked with the Celtic post following the exit of Brendan Rodgers last October with speculation over a move back to Glasgow still circulating.
Keane, who previously spoke of his ambition to manage at a higher level, has already been endorsed by O’Neill who sees the former striker as a ready-made candidate for the job.
“Robbie has done really fine at Ferencvaros, so why shouldn’t he be (in contention)? The club should be looking at someone of that calibre,” O’Neill recently told reporters.
Primed for the job
And former Rangers star McCoist is in agreement that Keane would be a good fit for the Hoops.
“I love to see ex-players come in. Robbie Keane would be another one to come into the equation,” McCoist told eSPORTY’s Sports Breakfast.
“He went over and did his business in Israel and Hungary as well.”
There is no definitive answer yet as to whether O’Neill will continue as Celtic boss past the end of the current campaign.
The 74-year-old was drafted in on an interim basis following Rodgers’ exit and subsequently led Celtic to seven wins in his eight games in charge.
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He departed the club in early December with Wilfried Nancy brought in with a long-term vision in mind.
However, the Frenchman was dismissed just 33 days into his tenure having lost six of his eight matches in charge, which saw O’Neill return to the dugout in January on a deal until the end of the current campaign.
Discussing the future of the ex-Leicester City and Aston Villa boss, McCoist said: “We’re assuming he’s going to pack it in. He might not, but I think he will.”
Former Celtic defender Charlie Mulgrew, joined eSPORTY on Friday to discuss his former side’s title hopes with the Hoops locked in a three-way battle with Rangers and Hearts for the title.
Three points separate the three clubs heading into the final five fixtures of the season in what is shaping up to be the most exciting Scottish Premiership title in years.
Best of the lot
And if Celtic are to land a 56th top-flight championship, Mulgrew believes it will be a greater achievement than any of O’Neill’s previous three title wins at the club.
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“If Celtic win the league this year it’ll be the greatest title Martin O’Neill has won,” Mulgrew said.
“He’s not had a striker for the majority of the season, he’s had a goalie with one arm – [Kasper] Schmeichel had been playing with a rotator cuff issue that’s needed an operation.
“The injuries they’ve had with [Cameron] Carter-Vickers and [Alistair] Johnston – arguably the best players they have.
“Jota, who has hardly been mentioned this year, did his cruciate (ligaments) last year.
“The recruitment has been shocking for Celtic. If they win it this year it’s Martin O’Neill’s greatest title win.
“There’s massive surgery needed to the Celtic squad,” he added.
“There’s no short-term fix to this. Martin O’Neill deserves a place on the board. He’s been a big part in bringing the fans and board back in an amicable way
“The Green Brigade are back in and everyone’s together for the last bit (of the season) and he’s played a huge part in that.”
