Celtic target Robbie Keane to succeed Martin O’Neill as manager

Ferencvaros boss the favourite as O’Neill’s role ends in summer, with Craig Bellamy and Jens Berthel Askou also targets

SUCCESSOR?: Ferencvaros head coach Robbie Keane is being eyed for the Celtic post. Pic: Mike Egerton/PA

Robbie Keane is the frontrunner to become the next Celtic manager, with the club making background plans to heavily restructure football operations at the end of this season. Keane’s work at Ferencvaros and previously Maccabi Tel Aviv is understood to place him as the prime candidate to succeed Martin O’Neill, whose second spell as an interim Celtic manager will end in the summer.

Celtic’s powerbrokers believe Keane could be receptive to moving to Glasgow. There is, however, likely to be competition from other British sides for the Irishman’s services. Keane was linked with another of his former clubs, Tottenham, after the sacking of Thomas Frank but would never have accepted the short-term arrangement taken by Igor Tudor. No formal moves will be made by Celtic until the domestic season ends but Keane is the manager firmly in their sights.