The Hoops hierarchy have begun interviewing candidates to replace Brendan Rodgers on a permanent basis
16:43, 12 Nov 2025Updated 17:02, 12 Nov 2025
Wilfried Nancy, Kjetil Knutsen and Robbie Keane
Celtic have been holding talks with new manager candidates this week in London as they look to whittle down their shortlist.
Columbus Crew boss Wilfried Nancy is the bookies’ favourite just ahead of Bodo Glimt manager Kjetil Knutsen, who he has added fuel to the fire by saying he is likely to leave the Norwegian side at the end of his contract.
Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna had been the early favourite but this interest has waned and would also come with a substantial seven figure price tag.
Cardiff City boss Brian Barry-Murphy has also been discussed at boardroom level.
The likes of Ferencvaros boss and ex-Celtic loanee Robbie Keane has been mentioned as well as another possible option, as has Wales manager Craig Bellamy.
Celtic chiefs have been down south conducting interviews and a new man could be in place for the Premiership clash away to St Mirren on Saturday, November 22.
Interim boss Martin O’Neill was brought back to the club two decades after leaving as a temporary replacement for Brendan Rodgers.
The veteran got the Bhoys back to winning ways with victories over Falkirk and then Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final at Hampden.
Celtic Interim manager Martin O’Neill
A bruising 3-1 away defeat to FC Midtjylland in the Europa League dented the feel good factor around Parkhead before Kilmarnock were dispatched 4-0 at the weekend.
O’Neill admitted himself that he expected an appointment to be made during the current international break.
And now club chiefs are set to sit down with him and assistant Shaun Maloney to discuss their immediate future.
O’Neill admitted after the Killie game he was open to the idea of staying on longer but that he expected to hear one way or another this week. He said: “I have to go back down to London again, I’m going to go into a darkened room and come out on Thursday and think ‘has this really happened?’
“So I should imagine at some stage or another during the course of the next week, whether it be tomorrow, whether it be Saturday or Sunday of next week, that somebody will let me know what’s happening.
“No, I genuinely don’t know. But if they make an announcement in, let’s say, in the next week or something about a new manager, I will take this fortnight and I was nearly going to say rather morbidly, to my grave, but hang about. Well you never know, but it’s been fantastic.”
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