After Nancy Debacle Celtic facing Robbie Keane Paradox

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The Celtic Star

·13 marzo 2026

After Nancy Debacle Celtic facing Robbie Keane Paradox

Many Celtic supporters would see Robbie Keane as a decent appointment in a footballing sense as the next Celtic manager, but wrong morally…

Robbie Keane has once again been linked with the Celtic manager job, and it’s fair to say that it’s news that’s split opinion amongst the fans.

According to The Guardian, the Republic of Ireland legend, and one time Celtic loanee is the favourite on a three man shortlist to take the reins at Celtic Park this coming summer, with the other candidates being Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou and Wales manager Craig Bellamy.

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I’d take this ‘exclusive’ with a massive pinch of salt, as Roberto Martinez was recently said to have been the favourite for the position, and very much like our transfer targets, it’s perhaps just a case of guesswork by the Scottish media fraternity.

As supporters we can only debate the issue, as Keane is very much a name that is within our reach, but like every other target, he has his positives and clearly his negatives.

Keane’s CV as a football manager is rather impressive. Currently he’s doing a splendid job at Hungarian side Ferencvaros, whom he led to a league title, and is on course to do the same this campaign.

It’s in Europe that Keane has impressed, taking Ferencvaros to the last 16 of the Europa league, with last nights 2-0 home win over Braga putting the Hungarian champions in the driving seat for a place in the last eight, further highlighting his ability on the big stage.

Keane cut his managerial teeth at Indian side ATK, before spells as assistant at Republic of Ireland, Middlesbrough and Leeds, to sharpen his skills, and it wasn’t long until he became his own man.

September 25th, 2018, Cork, Ireland – Robbie Keane leaving the tunnel to warm up on the Pairc Ui Chaoimh pitch, for the Liam Miller Tribute match between Ireland and Celtic XI vs Manchester United XI. Photo IMAGO / Depositphotos

The club he chose to lead in a bid to make his name is where it becomes controversial in the eyes of the Celtic supporters, as it did within his homeland at the time, with several organisations blasting his decision to move to a Israel.

That club would be Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv. Maccabi is a club with supporters known for its extreme racist views, not to mention their repetitive condoning of the barbaric genocide that is being inflicted on the people of Palestine. The behaviour of their supporters in the past year is testament to their vile beliefs.

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

In a footballing sense, Keane done reasonably well in Israel winning a title with Maccabi, as well as reaching the last 16 of the Conference League. But the very fact he chose to participate in the terror state is a stain on his character to many back in his own homeland in Ireland. My colleague Conall McGinty has previously written about this from the Irish perspective on The Celtic Star.

However it can’t be denied that Keane has the credentials to be the manager of Celtic football club. He’s young, he’s experienced, he’s led his teams to league titles, and he’s punched above his weight on the European scene, just what we require, but on a moral level it’s a big no no.

Celtic needs to re-unite as a family after the most turbulent season in decades. Many Celtic supporters in Ireland could not accept Robbie Keane as our manager and this could in turn have significant long-term implications for the club with the Irish support.

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)

Others will simply want Celtic to appoint the best possible candidate and the traumatic experience we all had to endure under the farcical 33 day reign of Wilfried Nancy, who could blame them?

If Celtic do want to look at Robbie Keane a reconciliation plan needs to be considered. Football reasons, fine it makes perfect sense but Celtic has always been more than that and that’s what makes our club unique. Any decision to appoint Robbie Keane must factor in these legitimate concerns that many supporters will have and look to provide a way to reconciliation to allow the Irishman to be simply judged on his football management of our club.

Of course Keane himself might not fancy the job as he will be well aware of the strength of opinion in Ireland after his decision to take the Maccabi Tel Aviv job.

Tomorrow Celtic supporters will get the chance to see Jens Berthel Askou’s Motherwell side up close with an eye of the Danish coach as potentially the next Celtic manager.

After the Nancy debacle we simply must appoint the best man for the job.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy