Momentum for Martinez but Christian Ilzer would be perfect for Celtic job

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The Celtic Star

·21 April 2026

Momentum for Martinez but Christian Ilzer would be perfect for Celtic job

Roberto Martinez rumours gathering pace, but I believe that Christian Ilzer is now the best man for the Celtic job…

Roberto Martinez has long been rumoured for the vacant Celtic managerial position, with yet more speculation regarding the matter being reported in several outlets over the past few days.

The current Portugal national team coach would clearly be a box office capture for Celtic, that isn’t up for debate, but for me the man we should be looking at is Hoffenheim coach Christian Ilzer.

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Head coach Christian Ilzer of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim looks on prior to the Bundesliga match between 1. FC Köln and TSG Hoffenheim at RheinEnergieStadion on February 21, 2026 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)

I discussed the Austrian coach at length in a recent article on The Celtic Star as one of a few names that I believed should be on a short list of names to become the next Celtic manager, and the more I look into the 48 year old, the more I believe that he’s the man to take the reins at Celtic Park.

Ilzer has done an impressive job at current club Hoffenheim, who were relegation candidates when the Austrian took over, and are now currently in fifth place, and still very much in contention for a Champions League spot.

It’s not just the way he’s applied himself in the ultra competitive German Bundesliga, he’s also more importantly experienced the pressure of a title race in his native Austria having led Strum Graz to a league title in 2024, as well as two domestic cups, an achievement that won him a move to the German Bundesliga with Hoffenheim.

At Celtic he would be required to be fighting for honours, so his Strum Graz experience would stand him in good stead.

Ilzer also requires his side to play a certain way, one which I reckon would suit Celtic perfectly. He’s a coach who studies his opponents throughly and adapts his game to combat the opposition.

He demands that his sides adopt a high press, winning the ball back quickly and attacking directly and fast. Frequent cross balls into the box is also high on Ilzner’s agenda.

The Austrian also frequently employs a 4-4-2 system, with concentration on a tight and compact midfield, complemented by a well disciplined defence, all traits that are quite obviously missing from our side at this moment in time and indeed for pretty much the entire season.

Ilzer has also shown that he can turn the fortunes of a club in no time at all, something he’d need to do if he took the job at Celtic park.

He’d have to be backed in the transfer market of course, and he’d have to be persuaded to swap the Bundesliga for the Scottish Premiership. But we can only ask the question. He’d certainly be my top target for the Celtic job.

Manager Roberto Martinez of Portugal looks on prior to the international friendly match between United States and Portugal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on March 31, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

If recent speculation is correct and Roberto Martinez is the club’s top target then of course he’d get my full support and the backing of all Celtic fans.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy