Celtic are looking for a new permanent manager following the sudden departure of Brendan Rodgers.
The club announced on Monday night that the process was already underway after appointing an interim team of Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney.
Here, BOYLE Sports looks at some of the contenders for the Parkhead post and the next permanent Celtic manager odds.
Next Celtic Manager Favourites
Next Celtic Manager Favourites
Kieran McKenna
Kieran McKenna (4/7)
The 39-year-old Ipswich manager is reportedly admired by the Celtic board after leading the Suffolk club to consecutive promotions before their relegation from the Premier League last season. The former Northern Ireland Under-21 international’s career has parallels with Rodgers. His playing career ended prematurely because of injury, and he coached at a big club in Manchester United before becoming a manager in his 30s.
Ange Postecoglou
Ange Postecoglou (10/3)
The second favourite with the bookmakers and favourite wih many Celtic fans. The Australian left for Tottenham in the wake of clinching a treble in 2023, having won five trophies in two seasons. Celtic supporters thoroughly bought into his style of football, but the 60-year-old might prefer a new challenge, and possibly a break, after his eight-game spell in charge of Nottingham Forest.
Robbie Keane
Robbie Keane (4/1)
Third favourite for the Celtic job is Republic of Ireland record goal-scorer, former Celtic striker and current Ferencvárosi Head Coach Robbie Keane who is reportedly on a shortlist for the role following stints with ATK, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ferencvárosi as a Head Coach as well as assistant spells with Ireland, Leeds and Middlesbrough
Kjetil Knutsen
Kjetil Knutsen (8/1)
The 57-year-old Norwegian guided Bodo/Glimt to a 5-1 aggregate Conference League victory over Celtic in the 2021-22 season and has been consistently linked with top jobs across Europe. However, he has stayed loyal to the club he helped transform. Bodo have won four domestic titles under Knutsen and are well-placed for a fifth. Their European progress has continued. A Europa League semi-final appearance last season was followed by Champions League qualification. But Knutsen’s contract is set to expire in December, and the timing could work for Celtic.
Steve Robinson
Steve Robinson (8/1)
Former Northern Ireland midfielder Steve Robinson became St Mirren manager in 2022. He led them to a top-six finish with attacking play . Known for tactical nous from Euro 2016 and successes at Motherwell.
Martin O’Neill And Shaun Maloney
Martin O’Neill (10/1)/Shaun Maloney (10/1)
The pair have been put in temporary charge, but some positive results could see that arrangement extended. O’Neill, 73, has not managed since 2019 , when he also had a brief spell at Forest, but his five-year, seven-trophy spell at Celtic in the early 2000s kick-started the club’s period of dominance.
Maloney, 42, the club's player pathways manager , had a four-month spell in charge of Hibernian in 2021-22 but was sacked after four months following a bottom-six finish and Scottish Cup semi-final defeat by Hearts. He returned to management with Wigan in January 2023 but was unable to prevent their relegation from the Championship after a three-point deduction, and the Latics then finished 12th in League One after an eight-point punishment. He was sacked in March with the club 15th in League One.
Outsider
Scott Brown (20/1)
The former Celtic captain is seen as a long-term candidate but is still learning his trade as a manager with Ayr following a spell at Fleetwood. The 40-year-old led Ayr to the Championship play-offs last season and has them well-placed in the table.
Given the instability around the club, squad and league position, the timing does not look ideal for the ex-Scotland midfielder .
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