Exclusive: Celtic have clear plan to appoint Roberto Martinez in ‘huge coup’ after Martin O’Neill leaves
Celtic are willing to wait until after the World Cup to try and appoint Roberto Martinez, sources have told Football Insider.
The Spaniard is set to try and lead Portugal to glory at next summer’s tournament, but Celtic are prepared to be patient in order to try and secure an appointment that is being viewed as a potentially “huge coup.”
Martinez has become the odds-on favourite for the Celtic job in recent days, and sources have now outlined that the Glasgow giants are happy to play the long game if there is an indication that the 52-year-old is ready to return to club management.
Martin O’Neill is back at the helm at Parkhead for now, and with the veteran ready to steady the ship once again, the board are prepared to take their time in making their next appointment before O’Neill leaves in the summer.
Roberto Martinez could become a free agent after the World Cup
Martinez’s odds to take over at Celtic were cut in drastic fashion at the end of last week, and speculation is growing that a return to club football could be on the cards for him.
The former Everton and Swansea City boss famously tasted FA Cup glory with unfancied Wigan Athletic in 2013, but he has been in international management since 2016.
Martinez guided Belgium to a third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup, which remains their strongest ever finish at a major tournament.
He resigned from that post in 2023 after a group-stage exit in Qatar in 2022, and has since been in charge of Portugal.
However, his contract with the Iberian nation is due to expire after this summer’s tournament, meaning that he could be available as a free agent.
With that in mind, ambitious clubs like Celtic may never get a better opportunity to lure him back into everyday management.
Celtic ‘working overtime’ on signings for Martin O’Neill
Football Insider recently revealed that Celtic are “working overtime” to try and seal “top-class” signings for O’Neill before the end of the month.
The 73-year-old has been very vocal in his view that the squad needs significant reinforcements if he and his team are to compete for the Premiership title in the second half of the season, and he looks set to get his wish.
Julian Araujo has already come through the door in the early stages of the window, but with several positions still in need of strengthening, the recruitment team have quickly got to work on the next targets.
The board have been heavily criticised by supporters in recent months, and they intend to try and rectify that by giving O’Neill the tools he needs for the title push.