Celtic finds itself on high alert this Friday morning as Hungarian media outlets, particularly m4sport.hu, confirm that Robbie Keane has resigned as head coach of Ferencvaros after one and a half years with the Budapest club. This news is significant, especially as the Parkhead position has been associated with the 45-year-old for much of the season.
Celtic close in as Ireland’s record scorer leaves Hungary
Keane extended his contract with Ferencvaros in December after guiding the club into the Europa League knockout stages, but the domestic season ended in disappointment. Ferencvaros finished just one point behind ETO FC Győr in this season’s Nemzeti Bajnokság I, marking the club’s first title loss in eight years. They were subsequently eliminated from the Europa League in the round of 16, losing 4-2 on aggregate to Braga.
Celtic’s managerial picture after a turbulent campaign
Celtic has had a chaotic season of its own: Brendan Rodgers resigned in October, Martin O’Neill took over as interim, and Wilfried Nancy was appointed as the permanent manager in December, only to be sacked after 33 days. O’Neill then returned to stabilize the team from January onward.
O’Neill, who led Celtic to seven trophies in his first spell from 2000 to 2005, guided the club to a record-breaking 56th league title this season, clinching it with a 3-1 victory over Hearts on the final day. He is now widely anticipated to step down following Saturday’s Scottish Cup final against Dunfermline Athletic at Hampden Park.
What does Keane’s record say about Celtic’s options?
Keane scored 12 goals in 16 league appearances during a loan spell at Parkhead in 2010, earning the Celtic Fans’ Player of the Year award. Since then, he has made a name for himself as a credible manager. Over his 82 games in charge of Ferencvaros, he achieved 51 wins, 16 draws, and 15 losses, translating to a win percentage of 62.2%. His tenure included one league title and one Hungarian Cup triumph. However, with Slovan Bratislava’s CEO openly stating that Keane is on their radar, the urgency for Celtic to act grows.
Should Celtic appoint Keane this summer?