Aiden McGeady unconvinced Roberto Martinez is right fit for Celtic job

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The Celtic Star

·12 March 2026

Aiden McGeady unconvinced Roberto Martinez is right fit for Celtic job

Former Celtic winger Aiden McGeady has cautioned the club against appointing his ex-Everton manager Roberto Martinez as their next boss…

Martinez – who currently manages Portugal – has emerged as one of the bookmakers’ leading candidates to take over at Celtic once Martin O’Neill is expected to step down at the end of the season.

The Spaniard has strong links with Celtic assistant Shaun Maloney, having first signed him during his time at Wigan before later adding him to his coaching staff with Belgium.

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Celtic v Falkirk 29.10.2025 Scottish Premiership. Martin O’Neill, Shaun Maloney, Gavin Strachan and Mark Fotheringham Photo Kenny Ramsay IMAGO

Maloney recently acknowledged that he has been in contact with his former mentor but stressed that their discussions have centred on preparations for the upcoming World Cup in North America rather than any club role.

Martinez has previously indicated he could be open to returning to club football after the tournament concludes. However, a deep run for Portugal – particularly if they reach the World Cup final on 19 July – could significantly disrupt pre-season planning for any club hoping to secure his services.

Aiden McGeady celebrates after scoring as Maxi Pereira of Benfica looks on during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic and Benfica at Celtic Park on November 6, 2007 (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

McGeady – who worked under Martinez at Everton after joining the club in 2014 – remains unsure whether the 52-year-old would be the right appointment for Celtic.

While he acknowledges Martinez’s qualities as a coach, the former Ireland international pointed out that the Spaniard’s managerial record includes relatively limited success in terms of trophies and also raised concerns about the timing of any potential arrival.

Belgium assistant coach Shaun Maloney and Belgium’s head coach Roberto Martinez pictured during a training session of the Belgian national soccer team Red Devils, in Tubize, Tuesday 15 June 2021.

Discussing the managerial situation at Celtic during an appearance on Open Goal, McGeady said: “Martinez? Potentially. I don’t know, because obviously Portugal have got the World Cup, don’t they? He is a top manager.

“The career he’s had and the jobs he’s had would suggest that. I’ve always found with Martinez; I could be wrong here because Portugal could win the World Cup.

“I just think with the teams that he’s had, Belgium with that squad, you should have really won something there. You should have and that was always the thing I found with Martinez at Everton.”

McGeady added: “I thought he was a really, really good coach with really good ideas but I just wasn’t sure he had enough about him to go and win things. Which he still hasn’t done.”

“I think he is a good coach. Based on my time at Everton with him, it was always the two midfielders, where it was always James McCarthy and Gareth Barry.

Aiden McGeady of Celtic in action with Sean Dillon of Dundee United during the Premier League match between Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice Stadium on May 22, 2008. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

“They would literally do 13k a game because they were the ones required that if the ball was coming wide to a fullback, they would always be the ones to get out and put that fire out, and the wingers would just stay up.

“So he was a pure attacking and loved his attacking players. Just not me, right enough. He loved his attacking players and he was all about attacking. He was very, very possession-based, to the point where it would be sometimes in games you would have to get a certain number of passes before you could really pass forward and go out the other side.”

“The Everton fans didn’t really buy into that because they were used to David Moyes going to get the ball forward, balls in the box, headers. We finished fifth under him when we should have finished fourth in the Premier League”

Conor Spence