Next Celtic Manager | Inside Track, Candidates & Betting Odds

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Last Updated: April 8, 2026 | 08:30 BST

Robbie Keane on left in suit and Celtic fans on right — Credit: Imago

Celtic sit third in the Scottish Premiership as we enter the twilight of the 2025-26 season, a position wholly unfamiliar to those at Parkhead. It’s fair to say that while Martin O’Neill has managed to steady the ship at Celtic Park on either side of Wilfried Nancy’s disastrous period in charge, the Hoops interim boss hasn’t been able to stamp out the continual issues that have seemingly put the Glasgow giants into this position. In fairness, it’s unlikely that the next permanent Celtic manager will be able to do that either, with current issues firmly ingrained into the club thanks to a board that doesn’t have a clue what they’re doing.

The Stat File: Lowest Win %

UPDATED: — — —-

WILFRIED NANCY

2025 – 2026 | 8 Games

25.00%

Win Rate

LOU MACARI

1993 – 1994 | 34 Games

35.29%

JIMMY MCGRORY

1945 – 1965 | 843 Games

49.70%

TONY MOWBRAY

2009 – 2010 | 45 Games

51.11%

LIAM BRADY

1991 – 1993 | 126 Games

53.97%

Historical Context: While McGrory’s percentage appears low, his 20-year tenure and 843 games managed represent a different era of club stability compared to modern short-term stints.

The Search for the Next Celtic Manager

With Dermot Desmond under fire from all sections of the fanbase, Celtic’s next appointment cannot simply be a safe choice – it must be a transformative one. Right now, Robbie Keane is the bookmakers’ favourite to replace O’Neill in the summer, with the former Hoops striker showcasing his merits for the job at Ferencvaros in Hungary. Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou is also a major contender due to how well he’s done at Fir Park this season, while Roberto Martinez and Scotland manager Steve Clarke are also in the running with the bookies. However, early in April 2026, former Wolves and Benfica boss Bruno Lage saw his odds tumble to 16/1 to take over at Celtic, and he may provide a good option as no compensation would be required.

Dugout Contenders & Odds

LIVE: — — 2026

ROBBIE KEANE

Frontrunner

13/8

Favourite

JENS BERTHEL ASKOU

3/1

CRAIG BELLAMY

7/1

ROBERTO MARTINEZ

8/1

STEVE CLARKE

12/1

BRUNO LAGE

16/1

SHAUN MALONEY

16/1

ANGE POSTECOGLOU

16/1

Market Insight: Robbie Keane remains the firm favorite as we approach the 2026/27 campaign. Interest in a return for Postecoglou remains high among fans, though the odds suggest he’s an outside shot.

*Note: Odds true as of April 2026.

Keane, 45, had a brief loan spell at Celtic Park in 2010. Although his time in Glasgow’s East End only amounted to a few months, he still managed to win Celtic’s player of the year for the 2009-10 season. The ex-Republic of Ireland striker began his managerial career with ATK in India in 2018, when he served as a player-manager. He then had spells as an assistant manager with Ireland, Middlesbrough and Leeds before landing his first full-time manager’s job at Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2023. In Tel Aviv, he won the 2023-24 Israeli Premier League and the 2024 Israel Cup. In January 2025, he joined Ferencvaros in Hungary, where he’s since won a league title and is currently battling to win his second this season.