adminCeltic manager Martin O’Neill suggested after the match that he was weighing up his future following Sunday’s 1-0 home loss to arch-rivals Rangers at Celtic Park.
The 74-year-old was clearly disappointed after a difficult week for Celtic, which saw them suffer two defeats against Rangers in the cup and league, while also losing 3-1 at home to Hungarian side Ferencvaros in the Europa League.
Before that, the Hoops had secured victories in all six of their Scottish Premiership fixtures, but a dramatic collapse against LASK in the Champions League qualifiers denied them a place in Europe’s premier club competition this season.
Speaking after the latest defeat, O’Neill said: “They [fans] have every reason to ask, can you turn this round? Can you change the whole thing? It’s not the first time I’ve been questioned about my managerial time. So, I’ll have a look at it. I will reflect and see.
“The manager’s supposed to be able to do that [help the team]. And, yeah, I will have a look at that there this week. That every single time that something crops up, things don’t go so well, age plays a part. And you know what? They may well be right, you know?
I’m 110 in two years’ time, so, yeah, it might be time to wrap it up.
O’Neill and the club now have a three-week international interval to determine their next steps, with both sides having an opportunity to assess the difficult week and the season so far.
Indeed, Celtic chiefs appear to have already made their position clear, with club CEO Michael Nicholson issuing a statement on Tuesday confirming his backing for the manager they appointed permanently during the summer.
The losses in the last week have been painful for us all. We will now come together and support Martin and the players, as we focus our efforts on achieving success domestically and in the Europa League.
While the Celtic hierarchy are clearly not prepared to dismiss O’Neill, the Northern Irishman must also make his own decision on whether he wants to continue.
If he does choose to step away, there is one obvious managerial candidate the Bhoys should pursue.
Kjetil Knutsen Would be Celtic’s Next Postecoglou
There have been reports suggesting that Celtic could look towards Robbie Keane if O’Neill departs Parkhead, with the former Hoops loanee currently available after leaving his role at Ferencvaros at the end of last season.
The Guardian reported earlier this year that the 46-year-old was the leading candidate to become the club’s next manager in the summer, before an impressive run of results under O’Neill towards the end of the campaign saw him earn the position on a permanent basis instead.
Given that he is currently available, it would hardly be surprising if Keane emerged as the leading option again, although the Hoops should make an ambitious approach for Kjetil Knutsen instead.
The 57-year-old has been at the helm of Bodo/Glimt for eight years, but his most impressive season with the Norwegian club came last term.
Knutsen, described as a ‘genius’ by journalist Kevin Hatchard, guided Bodo to the Champions League last 16, with the underdogs defeating Manchester City, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and Sporting Lisbon along the way, before suffering a heavy loss in the second leg of their round of 16 tie against the latter.
Although Bodo are regarded as outsiders, they demonstrated against top-level opposition last season that they have been expertly coached to play technically excellent football, create well-constructed goalscoring moves, and aren’t intimidated by facing some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Celtic supporters adore O’Neill, but if he is nearing the conclusion of his managerial career and it is starting to affect his health, then they would surely be excited by the prospect of bringing in their next Ange Postecoglou.
Postecoglou’s Celtic Trophy Haul:
2x Scottish Premiership titles
2x Scottish League Cups
1x Scottish Cup
Knutsen appears to fit that profile, with Hoops legend Johan Mjallby previously recommending him for the position in 2023, claiming he is ‘similar’ to the Australian.
“I would go for Knutsen or Potter.
“The easiest transition is probably to pick someone who wants to play the same way of football, especially when it comes to the squad and the players, because they’re used to that type of football.
I’ve followed Bodo/Glimt quite a lot. They play the kind of football quite similar to the Ange way. Knutsen is experienced.
A report from 67 Hail Hail in November stated that the Norwegian coach would be interested in taking the Celtic manager’s role, and that possibility could be even stronger now that his former star striker Kasper Hogh is at Parkhead.
Hogh has scored three goals in nine appearances for the Hoops following his club-record transfer from Bodo during the summer, and Knutsen would likely believe he could produce even better figures from the 25-year-old.
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