Roberto Martinez emerges among leading candidates to replace O'Neill at Celtic
Roberto Martinez has been identified among the early front-runners to replace Martin O'Neill as Celtic manager, with the club preparing for a summer change while O'Neill edges towards the end of his tenure. Celtic supporters know little about the next appointment beyond the strong possibility that it will not be Martin O'Neill.
O'Neill's timeline and concerns
O'Neill will be 74 before the end of the season and has intimated that he won’t stick around beyond the summer, instead handing over to a younger coach to take the club forward. Speaking after the last-gasp victory at Kilmarnock earlier this month, O'Neill warned that the team's habit of leaving games late is "unsustainable. " He added: "There’s no question of it. It is, absolutely. No, personally speaking, I think we have shown a spirit. I think the lads do keep going. But at the end of it all, it seems as if it’s something that you’re almost planning. It’s not. It’s not. And it’s not good for my heart at all. "
Roberto Martinez and Askou race
Recent coverage has named robeto martinez as an early front-runner and also highlighted Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou as a leading candidate. A report identified Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou and Portugal boss Roberto Martinez as the two leading candidates for the job, with the pair placed ahead of others in the hierarchy. The duo are listed ahead of Graham Potter and Robbie Keane in thinking around potential successors.
Connection between Martinez and Maloney
One of the reasons robeto martinez has been linked with the role is a close connection with Shaun Maloney from their time together at Wigan Athletic and the Belgium national team.
Jens Berthel Askou's domestic form
The Dane has transformed the Steelmen into a side that plays attractive and dominant football and they are all but certain to at least guarantee themselves a top four finish this year and European football for next season. With the Scottish Premiership tightly contested, Motherwell sit in fourth place, only four points behind the Hoops, and there remains a remote chance the Steelmen could still compete for the title. The 43-year-old has also performed well in previous managerial roles, winning a total of four trophies across spells with AC Horsens and FC Copenhagen, and Faroese team HB Torshavn.
Public endorsements and reaction
Former Celtic star Charlie Mulgrew has tipped the Parkhead club to "ask the question" of the Lanarkshire club to try and tempt him to Glasgow. Speaking on his The Breakdown podcast with ex-Rangers midfielder and coach Kevin Thomson, Mulgrew said: "If there are no discussions going on around Jens Berthel Askou, I would be amazed. " He added: "Who will it be? If I had to put money on it I would go with Berthel Askou from Motherwell. " Celtic writer Ryan McGinlay and East Kilbride manager Mick Kennedy have also been quoted praising Askou; Kennedy said: "Once you spend time in his company you quickly realise what an unbelievable talented coach/manager he is. Under pined by this is his characteristics as a person, he has an aura about him. "
Recent results and context
Since the last-gasp win at Kilmarnock, Celtic's form has included a heavy European defeat and a domestic loss. The Hoops were thrashed 4-1 at home against VfB Stuttgart in the first leg of the Europa League play-off, before going on to lose 2-1 against Hibernian at Parkhead on Sunday. The club remain the 55-time Scottish Premiership champions and are still in the title race, but observers note that the current crop of players cannot be compared with some of the dominant sides of old, meaning whoever replaces interim O'Neill in the summer is likely to have a big job on their hands.
Elsewhere in headlines connected to coverage around the club and Scottish football: "Forgotten Celtic star 'could be signed by club before IMMEDIATELY being sold on'", "Celtic told to GET RID of £5m ace as angry pundit says 'he's lost the plot'", "Benn to return on Fury vs Makhmudov on Netflix against 37-year-old ex-champ", "Celtic target who saw transfer collapse over injury fears now facing surgery", "Man Utd legend's son, 41, charged with abusing official while coaching EFL team", and "Celtic one of top five most profitable clubs in Europe with record UEFA revenue. "
Whoever is chosen — whether that ends up being Jens Berthel Askou, robeto martinez or another candidate — will inherit a club navigating recent poor results, a title race, and a mandated change of leadership before the summer.
