Robbie Keane’s name keeps coming up when talk turns to Celtic’s next permanent manager, and now Ally McCoist has added his support for the former striker. The current Ferencváros boss has been linked in recent weeks, with the club expected to make a call at the end of the season.
Keane’s move into management has been quick. He stepped up from coaching and picked up league titles in Israel and Hungary. That has brought him into the conversation, especially with Celtic weighing up options who can deal with domestic demands and European games.
But there are still doubts. Keane doesn’t have a long history as a manager, and most of his work has come in leagues where his sides are expected to win most weeks. Celtic is a different job, with a level of pressure that doesn’t ease when results dip.
There’s also the current picture. Celtic are still in the middle of a run of games, chasing points in the league while pushing on in the Scottish Cup. The next appointment will shape how the squad looks going into next season.
McCoist said: (talkSPORT), “I love to see ex-players come in. Robbie Keane would be another one to come into the equation.
“He went over and did his business in Israel and Hungary as well.”
Keane’s previous links to the club as a former player brings interest, and that always carries weight when these jobs come up.
At the same time, it would be a risk. Keane hasn’t managed at a club where every result is under the spotlight, and where dropping points quickly becomes a bigger issue.
His teams have shown they can play on the front foot and control matches domestically, but the challenge at Celtic is different. Teams sit in, space is tight, and breaking them down becomes the main job most weeks.
There’s also the test of dealing with tough spells. When results turn, how a manager handles that matters. Keane hasn’t had to face that over a long period yet.
That leaves Celtic with a choice. Go with a manager still building his career, or bring in someone with more experience at that level.
