Ferencvaros manager Robbie Keane is expected to push for a long-term contract at Celtic if he is seriously considered for the Parkhead job this summer, with the Irishman reportedly wanting the time and backing required to build a proper project in Glasgow.
That is according to Don Hutchison, who believes the former Republic of Ireland striker could emerge as the leading contender to permanently replace Martin O’Neill once the season comes to a close.
Keane, who previously spent six months on loan at Celtic from Tottenham back in 2010, had already been linked with the role before Wilfried Nancy’s disastrous spell in charge.
Nancy’s short-lived eight-match reign eventually forced Celtic into turning back to O’Neill for a second rescue mission this season, with the veteran manager brought in once again to steady the situation.
Although the 74-year-old has helped keep Celtic alive in both the title race and Scottish Cup, expectations remain that he will walk away from the dugout once the campaign ends.
With only three Premiership fixtures and a Scottish Cup final left on the schedule, focus has already started shifting toward who could take over permanently in the summer.
Keane recently admitted he would be open to leaving Ferencvaros, but only if the opportunity represented a step up in level. Despite that, he stressed earlier this week that his immediate priority remains completing a league and cup double in Hungary.
Former Scotland international Hutchison, who now works as a pundit for ESPN, believes Keane could be an ideal fit for Celtic if Dermot Desmond and the club hierarchy are willing to meet his expectations over stability and long-term planning.
Speaking to BestBettingSites, Hutchison said:
“I’ve watched his team a lot. I commentate on the Europa League and Conference League, and Ferencvaros have done really well.
“He plays good football. I think one day he’ll want to come back. He got linked with the Spurs job, didn’t he?
“When Postecoglou was leaving, or just before, and I think Spurs were angling to give him a contract at the end of the season. He said no—and why would he?
“If he comes back, he’s going to want years on his contract so he can put a project in and build.
“So I think if Martin O’Neill left, Robbie Keane would be a fantastic signing. I think he’d probably be the number one candidate, actually.”
Hutchison also suggested he cannot see O’Neill remaining at Celtic beyond the summer even if he delivers another league title and Scottish Cup success to the east end of Glasgow.
Celtic currently sit three points behind Hearts with three matches remaining, leaving the title race delicately poised heading into the final stretch of the campaign.
He added:
“The Martin O’Neill story is a great story if he can win the league. You know, I think that’s an amazing story for him, and I don’t think he’d stay on. I think he’d walk away as a champion.
“But I still think it’d be great for Scottish football if Hearts won the league, because it might just liven Rangers and Celtic up to think, “Right, we can’t just think this is a closed shop.”
“The attitude in Scotland over the last five or so years has been, ‘right, it’s only Celtic and Rangers that are going to win the league; we don’t need to really improve—one of us can just get by winning the league.’
“If Hearts win, it might shake them both up to think, ‘right, we’ve got to raise the standards again here,’ and I think that would be a good thing.”
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