Brendan Rodgers quit as Celtic’s manager after a 3-1 defeat to leaders Hearts
A Manchester United icon has ‘offered himself’ to Celtic in case Roy Keane emerges as a surprise candidate for the club’s managerial position.
Brendan Rodgers announced his resignation as Celtic manager on Monday, October 27, with the club second in the Scottish Premiership, eight points behind Hearts.
Martin O’Neill has returned to Celtic on an interim basis, having previously led the team from 2000 until 2005.
Speaking with talkSPORT on Tuesday morning, the Northern Irishman stated that he is ‘just keeping the seat warm’ until a permanent manager is chosen.
O’Neill will be supported by Shaun Maloney, a former Celtic player who was fired as Wigan manager in March while the club was 15th in League One.
Ange Postecoglou, Celtic’s manager from 2021 to 2023, has emerged as the bookmakers’ favourite to return to Celtic Park.
However, talkSPORT said that insiders close to the Australian have discounted his prospective return.
Postecoglou was fired as Nottingham Forest manager earlier this month, following a catastrophic 39-day stint at the City Ground.
Kieran McKenna, the manager of Ipswich, is another candidate for Celtic’s manager position, however he is under contract with the Championship club until 2028.
McKenna led Ipswich to back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League, but they were relegated in their first season back in the top tier and are currently 12th in the second division.
Ipswich, who were preseason favourites for promotion, will not want to lose McKenna at this point in the season.
One outsider for the Celtic position is Keane, who won both the league and the league cup while playing for the Glasgow club.
Keane has not held a managerial position since leaving Ipswich in 2011, but he has not ruled out returning to management.
Jaap Stam, his former Manchester United teammate, stated earlier this year that he would love to work with Keane if he takes over a club again in the future.
Stam told BoyleSports, which offers the most recent Champions League odds, that he would love to see Roy Keane return to management and serve as his assistant manager.
“He can give individual advise to players on how to develop, but the final choice will be his. He is doing well as a pundit at the moment.
“I believe he has the potential to be a great manager because he is so knowledgeable about the game.
“It’s a totally different life in management, day and night; you must be prepared for the lifestyle, the club in question, and the players.
“I’m sure he enjoys his current role but I’d love to see him in the dugout again, if he needs an assistant then I’ll be there.”
Despite the talk, Keane appears unlikely to forsake his punditry duties for a return to management.
He is a regular on Sky Sports, co-hosting Stick to Football with Jamie Carragher, Ian Wright, and Gary Neville.
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