Former Celtic captain open to Scotland job appointment | OneFootball

Former Celtic captain open to Scotland job appointment | OneFootball

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Celtic Shorts

·20 July 2026

Former Celtic captain open to Scotland job appointment

Article image:Former Celtic captain open to Scotland job appointment

Paul Lambert has revealed he would not be opposed to taking the Scotland job, should the Scottish FA opt to call him…

The former Celtic captain was on BBC Scotland’s Sportsound recently speaking about Celtic, which we covered right here on Celtic Shorts. Lambert admitted that the current squad are not fit for purpose to compete and win domestically, whilst you can forget European football altogether this coming season if things remain the same.

Lambert confessed that Martin O’Neill will know and understand himself that the squad isn’t up to the job, as the ex-Celtic midfielder knows the 74-year-old Irishman very well from his playing days.


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Article image:Former Celtic captain open to Scotland job appointment

Celtic manager Martin O Neill Celtic v Middlesbrough, Pre Season Friendly, Football, Celtic Park, Glasgow – 18 July 2026. Photo Phil Oldham. IMAGO/Shutterstock

Under O’Neill’s masterful tutelage, Lambert and his teammates surged through Scottish football in the early 2000’s and even managed to scale the dizzying heights of European competition too, accounting themselves extremely well in the Champions League and reaching a UEFA Cup Final in 2003.

However, Lambert didn’t just speak about his old club’s issues and was prompted on suggestions that he might get back into management via the national team gig.

Speculation continues to grow over who the footballing authorities will turn to in the aftermath of Steve Clarke’s appropriate and timely departure, following another severely underwhelming major tournament performance.

Article image:Former Celtic captain open to Scotland job appointment

IMAGO/Sven Simon. Paul Lambert (vorn) und Stefan Reuter (beide BVB) laufen mit dem Pokal eine Ehrenrunde nach dem Champions League Sieg 1996/1997

The 56-year-old former Scotland international admitted he wouldn’t apply for the vacancy directly, but would be open to a phone call from the bosses at Hampden Park, should they pick up the telephone and call the ex-Aston Villa and Norwich City gaffer.

“I’ve been asked to go back in a few times since I left Ipswich and I worked for Dortmund for a spell, which I absolutely loved,” Lambo said.

“Something would have to jump out at me to do it. I guess you have to wait for the call. I would never apply for it. There’s a great thing called a telephone, they can call.

Article image:Former Celtic captain open to Scotland job appointment

26 May 2001: Paul Lambert and Tom Boyd lift the Scottish cup after a 3-0 win against Hibernian at Hampden. Photo Michael Steele /Allsport

“You can never say never to what’s going to happen,” the man who captained Celtic in their last European final admitted to BBC Scotland’s Sportsound show.

Paul Gillespie

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