4-2-2-2 Manager High On Celtic’s Shortlist: Will His High-Tempo Style Work At Celtic Park? | OneFootball

Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke broke the story this week. Sources told him that Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou sits high on Celtic’s shortlist. The club want a permanent manager for the 2026-27 season. Celtic’s board likes what they see from the 43-year-old Dane. The club are now accelerating their procedure to hire someone before a busy summer at Parkhead.

Askou At Celtic: Inspired Appointment Or A Step Too Soon For The 43-Year-Old Dane?

Interim head coach Martin O’Neill will step down after the 2025-26 season. The Celtic hierarchy is already talking to potential replacements, and things at Parkhead have been messy. The club struggled after hiring Wilfried Nancy earlier this season. He lasted only 33 days before the board sacked him. The board know they cannot repeat that mistake.

O’Rourke’s reporting points straight to Askou. The Transfer Insider podcast revealed that the Parkhead boardroom admires his work at Fir Park. On the Inside Track podcast, O’Rourke explained that Askou’s success at Motherwell put him in Celtic’s plans. His experience in the Scottish Premiership also helps his case.

“Yeah, look, because of what he’s done at Motherwell, Jens Berthel Ascou is definitely in the reckoning for Celtic and high on the shortlist.

“He’s really transformed Motherwell since his arrival, they’re sitting in fourth place and they were outsiders for the title race before that defeat to Celtic.

“We know at Celtic there’s gonna be big changes there in the summer on the managerial front and on the recruitment side of things.

“So Berthel Ascou will be somebody that will definitely be in their thinking.

The numbers from Motherwell’s season tell a strong story. In 39 games, Askou won 21, drew 11, and lost only seven. Motherwell have the best defensive record in the league, as they have conceded just 23 goals. That is nine fewer than Celtic. The team also rank among the best in Europe for winning the ball back. They use aggressive pressing and a specific tactic where they don’t hunt for every first ball in defence.

Journalist Michael Gannon confirmed on the Record Celtic Podcast that Askou wants the job. He said people close to the manager made it clear he would take the position immediately. Former chief executive Keith Wyness went further. He told Football Insider that he thinks the appointment is pretty much nailed on. He believes Askou is playing the best football in Scotland this season.

Does Askou’s High-Tempo Style Work At Celtic Park?

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – MARCH 14: Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou is seen during the William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and Motherwell at Celtic Park on March 14, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Askou’s tactical setup at Motherwell is impressive. He uses an asymmetric 4-2-2-2 formation. This setup requires short, quick passing and constant movement. Aggressive pressing is the foundation of his style. His system can block an opponent in one half and then attack quickly through the other. Players move out of a deep defensive shape during turnovers to carry the ball forward fast. This fluid style could work well with Celtic’s deeper squad.

At 43, Askou has momentum and a clear identity. He has the hunger that bigger, more famous managers often lack. Celtic should hire him and support him in the transfer market. The Wilfried Nancy disaster proved that bad compatibility costs the club a lot of money. Askou already knows this league well and that matters!