Roberto Martinez and Jens Berthel Askou emerge as leading contenders for Celtic job
Celtic are actively narrowing their search for a new manager as Martin O'Neill signals he will not remain beyond the summer, with roberto martinez and Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou identified as the two leading candidates. The timing matters because recent heavy defeats and O'Neill's own age and comments have intensified the urgency to find a successor who can steady a club still in the title race.
Martin O'Neill's hint and his warning after Kilmarnock
O'Neill has made clear he expects to hand the job to a younger coach rather than remain long term; he will be 74 before the end of the season and has intimated he won’t stick around beyond the summer. After a late victory at Kilmarnock earlier this month he said the team's habit of leaving games until the dying minutes is "unsustainable, " adding it is not good for his heart. That self-assessment contributed to a sense within the club that change is needed.
Roberto Martinez linked by Shaun Maloney connection
The shortlist now prominently features Portugal boss Roberto Martinez, who brings Premier League-level experience to the discussion. Martinez also has a close professional link with Shaun Maloney from their time together at Wigan Athletic and with the Belgium national team, a connection cited as part of his appeal. roberto martinez's profile remains high inside the club hierarchy as they weigh experience against other factors.
Jens Berthel Askou's transformation at Motherwell
Jens Berthel Askou has drawn attention after transforming Motherwell into an attractive, dominant side. The Dane, 43, has guided the Steelmen into a position where they are all but certain to guarantee a top-four finish this season and secure European football next season. Motherwell currently sit fourth, only four points behind the 55-time Scottish Premiership champions, a proximity that has helped propel Askou into contention.
Form and results tighten the recruitment timeline
Celtic's recent run of form has sharpened the need for clarity. The Hoops were thrashed 4-1 at Parkhead by VfB Stuttgart in the first leg of the Europa League play-off and then suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Hibernian. While Celtic remain in the title race, observers inside the club note the current squad cannot be compared with some of the dominant sides of the past, meaning whoever replaces O'Neill will face a substantial rebuilding and motivational task.
External recognition and hierarchy choices
Club decision-makers have narrowed their thinking to Askou and Martinez ahead of other names under consideration, with Graham Potter and Robbie Keane listed lower in the hierarchy. Askou's résumé includes four trophies won across spells with AC Horsens, FC Copenhagen and Faroese side HB Torshavn, a record that has strengthened his candidacy despite questions over unproven status at the very highest level. Martinez, by contrast, is cited for his extensive Premier League experience, creating a clear trade-off for the board between fresh ideas and established top-tier credentials.
Endorsements and outside interest in Jens Berthel Askou
Former Celtic defender Charlie Mulgrew has publicly suggested the club will make an approach to Motherwell to test Askou's availability, saying he would be "amazed" if discussions were not happening and that, if he had to put money on it, he would back Askou for the post. Mulgrew made the comments on his The Breakdown podcast alongside ex-Rangers midfielder and coach Kevin Thomson. Separately, elements of the English Football League have been monitoring Askou's progress, with some EFL clubs having been in contact over his situation. East Kilbride manager Mick Kennedy has also praised Askou, saying that time spent around him reveals "an unbelievable talented coach/manager" who carries "an aura about him. "
What makes this notable is the clear tension between immediate stability and the potential for a longer-term project: Celtic must choose between a high-profile, experienced operator and a younger coach who has rapidly elevated a smaller club. The decision will be framed by O'Neill's planned summer exit, recent damaging defeats, and the need to keep pace in a tightly contested title race.
The club faces a compressed window to act before the summer transition and the next European campaign, and the shortlist appears to reflect a binary choice between continuity of top-level experience and the fresh momentum offered by a coach like Askou.
