Will Celtic Change Manager Again at the End of the Season – A Look at the Odds

With only four games to go until the end of the 2025/26 SPL season, manager Martin O’Neill’s place at the helm for next year is still uncertain. With three different managers across a chaotic season – Brendan Rodgers, O’Neill, Wilfried Nancy and then O’Neill again – anything could happen before the 26/2027 campaign begins. Including a potential title and Scottish Cup double.

So what are the potential scenarios? If O’Neill can pull it out the bag and win the title over the favored Hearts then never say never. If he does go, sportsbooks odds and the rumor mill suggests there are plenty of candidates ready to step in at a moment’s notice. These are the names in the running. 

Martin O’Neill Wins the Title and Stays On 

O’Neill stepped into the Celtic dugout once again in January. That was after taking charge on an interim basis earlier in the season, between Rodgers leaving and the short-lived tenure of Nancy.

Strong performances and results (12 wins in 19 games) have seen O’Neill bring Celtic back into serious title contention. However the expectation among the club and supporters is the 76-year-old won’t stay on past his short-term contract. If he does do the double, it’s possible they’ll build him a statue and then fire him. 

William Hill, for example, has O’Neill at +1200 to be the Hoops manager at the start of the 2026/27 season, with other sportsbooks at similar odds. That is an implied probability of just 7%.

That reflects the general consensus that, despite his very successful managerial career over several stints at the club, O’Neill is not the manager to take charge of a long-term rebuilding project.

Fans can find what the market thinks of Celtic’s possible managerial options by looking at various operators’ odds and deals through comparison sites. Bettors also use these resources to compare factors like William Hill bonus offers for example – on which there is more information available here, compiled by experts in the field. 

Robbie Keane Most Sportsbooks’ Favorite

Most sportsbooks have no clear favorite, with no candidate on more than 50% implied odds. But the frontrunner is definitely Robbie Keane. The former Celtic and Republic of Ireland striker is currently in charge of Hungarian side Ferencvaros, whom he led to a domestic title last season.

While one or two ‘books have him as nailed-on favorite, Keane is averaging around +180 to +350 – or around a 25% to 30% implied chance. 

The former Premier League legend was also linked to the Celtic job last year, but told press he wasn’t interested in leaving his post mid-season. Before taking over at Ferencvaros in 2025 Keane was an assistant manager with the Republic of Ireland, Middlesbrough and Leeds United.

Keane played one (on loan) season at Celtic in 2010, but he did win the club’s player of the year award for his goalscoring exploits. 

Close behind Keane in the odds is Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou. The Danish former journeyman defender has been impressing in his role at the SPL club, with them sitting a solid fourth in the table despite limited resources. 

Askou’s odds have fallen in recent weeks, as conversations between Celtic and Keane have reportedly developed. But he still sits at around +250 to +400 to be in charge at Celtic Park next season by most sportsbooks. 

Martinez, Bellamy, Ange Are All Apparently in the Running 

Former Hoops forward Craig Bellamy, internationally experienced Roberto Martinez, recent Spurs boss Thomas Frank and a possible return for Ange Postecoglou, are all names that have been considered in the press and by sportsbooks.

Most are considered unlikely at this stage however. Bellamy was higher up in the odds, but the Wales boss has limited club level managerial experience. Celtic will be looking for someone young but also experienced enough to take on a potential seasons long rebuild, with plenty of player contracts expiring over the summer. 

The most likely out of those is former Brentford and short-term Tottenham boss Thomas Frank. Despite his miserable time in North London, the Dane is still highly rated after his time at Brentford, while extenuating circumstances at Spurs surrounded his time there. 

The return of Ange Postecoglou is considered an outside chance by the markets at +1400 on the moneyline or implied odds of 6.7%. One candidate who has been mentioned in rumors but isn’t listed in any sportsbooks is 79-year-old Harry Redknapp. The legendary former manager was seen at various SPL games over the past month or two and was pictured meeting former Celtic chairman Peter Lawwell. 

However, Redknapp dismissed any links out of hand and sportsbooks’ lack of odds on it show they consider it to be a non- story. 

The main theme here is that there are many names the markets are considering. This suggest bookmakers and the market see an upcoming managerial change for Celtic as almost certain.