Robbie Keane’s candidacy for the Celtic job sparked strong debate among supporters long before it became clear Martin O’Neill was likely to remain in charge.
The former Celtic striker emerged as a serious contender after leaving Ferencvaros, with talks taking place between Keane and the club as they assessed options for the permanent position.
Many supporters questioned his managerial credentials.
While Keane won the Hungarian title during his first season at Ferencvaros, the club had been leading the league when he arrived. His first full campaign ended without a league title, prompting further scrutiny of his record.
However, football reasons were not the only source of criticism.
Sections of the Celtic support also raised concerns about Keane’s previous spell in Israel with Maccabi Tel Aviv, with some supporters voicing opposition to his appointment because of his decision to continue working in the country during the genocide in Gaza.
The reaction quickly became one of the major talking points whenever Keane’s name was mentioned in connection with Celtic.
According to Record Sport journalist Michael Gannon, the scale of that response came as a surprise.
Speaking on RecordSport Podcast, Gannon said:
“But I don’t think he expected the backlash that came on the back of him being linked to the job so strongly.”
However, Gannon does not believe supporter reaction ultimately played any role in the club’s thinking.
“I don’t think it had any impact on him getting the job.
“I don’t think it was a case of ‘Oh, Robbie Keane is getting the job. But there is a backlash, so we are back to Martin.’ That’s not the case.
“I think Martin was always going to get first refusal, and he had earned that right.”
O’Neill’s league and cup double effectively made the job his to turn down.
Twice the 74-year-old answered Celtic’s call during periods of instability and he delivered silverware.
As a result, while Keane may have been a genuine candidate and discussions may have taken place, the decisive factor appears to have been O’Neill’s achievements rather than any backlash directed at alternative options.
The final piece of the puzzle now remains Celtic’s official confirmation, with supporters still waiting for the club to formally announce what increasingly appears to be football’s worst-kept secret.
He’s even thicker then than his questionable decisions paint him.