Opinion – Robbie Keane would be an unacceptable choice as next Celtic manager | OneFootball

Since Brendan Rodgers departed Celtic on Monday night, the rumours surrounding who is next in the Celtic Park hot seat has intensified throughout the week…

Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers, Dundee v Celtic. Dens Park, Dundee, 19 October 2025. Photo Stuart WallaceIMAGO / Shutterstock

We have had all sorts of names crop up. Most have been predictable enough such as former manager Ange Postecoglou, Kjetil Knutsen and Marco Rose. Recently however we have seen a few other names come to the fore such as Kieran McKenna, Nicky Hayen and Lee Carsley.

There are certainly some decent options out there for Celtic and I imagine the rumour mill will continue in full fettle until that ultimate decision is finally made. Let’s hope and pray it’s a choice all the fans can get behind as we continue to try and navigate our way through what has been a tumultuous season so far.

One name who has piqued my interest has been former Celtic and Ireland striker Robbie Keane. He is prominent in the betting and there have been rumours abound that Dermot Desmond would be keen, no pun intended. Friends in the media have been talking him up, with pundit and former teammate Jermaine Jenas saying he would be a great fit for Celtic and that the fans would absolutely love him.

Celtic Glasgow vs St. Johnstone FC – Scottish Premier League, Celtic Park 20th March 2010 Robbie Keane (Celtic) – Photo imago Color Sports

As most of you will know, the 45-year-old previously played for the Hoops during a loan spell in the second half of the 2009/10 season, scoring an impressive 16 goals in 19 games and certainly became a fan favourite. He was also one of the best strikers in Ireland’s history, where he made 146 appearances scoring 68 goals.

When Keane finally retired he moved into management, firstly as a player manager at Indian side ATK before having stints as an assistant manager at Middlesbrough, Leeds and Ireland. Having cut his teeth as an assistant he was then to move into the hot seat once more, but it was his choice of club that become hugely controversial.

Robbie Keane took up the job of manager of Maccabi Tel Aviv in June 2023.

Keane’s appointment was criticised by the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which urged him to join “the international athletes who fight for the rights of the Palestinians and oppose cooperating with apartheid“, and by Sinn Féin TD Chris Andrews, who expressed disappointment that Keane had signed up with a “racist and apartheid Israeli club”. A lot of Irish people, including myself, were absolutely disgusted by Keane’s decision to put money before morals. I felt like his whole legacy had been tarnished.

Robbie Keane Glasgow Celtic FC Celtic V Dundee United FC Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland 20 February 2010 Robbie Keane Glasgow Celtic FC Celtic V Dundee United FC Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland 20 February 2010. Photo: Allstar/Richard Selle

Keane chose to work for a club who are prominent supporters of Benjamin Netanyahu and his despicable allies in Israel. A club who’s fanbase is well known for it’s hatred of Arab and Palestinian players, even ones who have represented their club. Many have tried to defend Keane, including his wife, saying he’s a sportsperson who has no idea about politics and only moved to Israel for sporting reasons, to help further his career. Absolute nonsense. He knew when he signed there that it was ethically wrong but chose to take the post anyway.

Israel’s war on Gaza and the Palestinian people has been going on long before 7 October 2023. It’s ridiculous to state as a defence that ‘he joined before the war started’. Israel’s brutality against Palestinians has been ongoing for decades, a fact known world wide and constantly highlighted in Ireland. To pretend to have no knowledge of this is completely fatuous.

Even after the events of October 2023 and the full scale invasion of Gaza, Keane still remained in Tel Aviv. As thousands of innocent people including countless children lost their lives at the hands of the IDF, Keane still didn’t hand his resignation in. He continued in his role until the season ended before departing, claiming that he didn’t want staff members he had brought to Israel with him to lose their jobs because of him. How heroic. It’s a pity he wasn’t so worried about how his continuing presence in Israel was helping the country by sportswashing their global image.

It annoys me that Robbie Keane’s name is even being linked with Celtic.

He should never return to our club in any capacity. A man who’s moral compass is as distorted as Keane’s should be nowhere near our club. I truly hope this rumour is exactly that, lazy hacks linking an Irish former Celtic player who is now in management with our vacant post.

Robbie Keane, Head Coach of Ferencvaros (R), looks on prior to the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between FC Salzburg and Ferencvarosi TC at Stadion Salzburg on October 23, 2025 in Salzburg, Austria. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

The problem is with Dermot Desmond and our board still in charge nothing would surprise me. We all know Dermot loves employing fellow Irishmen. The fact he would come considerably cheaper than some of the better names that’s been linked.would.also hold much appeal to our board.

Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2024 Dermot Desmond on the 18th tee during the final round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2024 on the Old Course at St. Andrews Golf CLub, Fife, . 06/10/2024. Picture Fran Caffrey / Golffile.ie

With the club going through such a turbulent period and with the fans faith in the board at an all time low, a controversial appointment like Keane would be disastrous.

It would intensify fan resentment towards the board. It would lead to conflict between certain sections of the fan base. It would bring an avalanche of unnecessary friction that would totally derail the club moving forward. I genuinely can not think of a move divisive appointment than Keane. This board may be inept but even they can surely see that bringing him in would be catastrophic.

Although we all know that whatever Dermot Desmond wants, he will get. To hell with how the supporters feel.

Our next manager needs to be a man we can all get behind. Someone not only skilled at his job, but a figure whose principles align with those of our fan base.

That man is NOT Robbie Keane.

Conall McGinty

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Celtic in the Eighties and Willie Fernie – Putting on the Style both by David Potter. Photo The Celtic Star

Danny McGrain signing copies of Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Photo: Celtic Star Books

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