adminCeltic are reportedly considering Robbie Keane as a possible replacement for Martin O’Neill as Hoops manager, amid speculation linking him with the vacant Preston North End position.
The Lilywhites are currently without a permanent head coach after deciding to part company with Paul Heckingbottom earlier this month.
Jason Euell has been handed the reins on an interim basis, and he took charge of his first match in the dugout during last weekend’s 2-2 draw with QPR.
The Lancashire club have endured a difficult start to the campaign, collecting just four points from a possible 24. That has left PNE sitting 23rd in the Championship standings heading into the September international break.
Keane was mentioned as a contender for the vacancy shortly after Heckingbottom’s departure, but other clubs could now be monitoring his situation following his success in Israel and Hungary.
Preston North End could face Celtic competition for Robbie Keane
Football Insider have reported that Keane is being considered for the head coach position at Celtic should O’Neill be relieved of his duties.
The 74-year-old has come under pressure despite guiding Celtic to six victories from their opening seven league fixtures, with a 3-1 home Europa League defeat against Ferencvaros increasing the scrutiny surrounding his position.
Keane is currently without a club after leaving Hungarian outfit at the conclusion of last season, having guided them to a second-place finish and a domestic cup triumph during his final campaign.
Former football scout Mick Brown believes Celtic have already put plans in place that could allow Keane to step into the position relatively quickly if a decision is made regarding O’Neill’s future.
He claimed that the Scottish Premiership club interviewed Keane during the summer before deciding to retain the experienced manager, which could make it easier for him to take over without a lengthy search.
“If Celtic are going to part ways with O’Neill then they will want a replacement in quickly,” Brown told Football Insider.
It’s not quite as easy as that, we saw that last season and that put them in a very difficult position, it’s the reason they’ve ended up with O’Neill staying for another season.
“But when you look at the options available to them, it’s safe to say Robbie Keane is the most likely candidate because they’ve already interviewed him.
“They’ll know what he’s about, what his ideas for the squad are, his style of play, how he works on the training ground, all of that sort of thing.
So it would minimise the amount of time they have to spend looking for somebody, because all of that information from his last interview will still be available to them.
“When you’re looking at all of the options, he probably is the one that makes the most sense, unless they think there’s somebody else who could be persuaded.”
Keane worked under O’Neill during his international career and also spent half a season on loan at Parkhead during the 2009/10 campaign, giving him a clear connection with the Scottish giants.
However, several Celtic supporter groups joined forces to oppose his potential appointment over the summer, with his spell working in Israel with Maccabi Tel Aviv cited as one of the main concerns.
How Preston North End fans feel about Robbie Keane appointment
Preston supporters have offered mixed reactions to the possibility of Keane taking charge, with some arguing that appointing the Irishman would represent a lack of ambition.
Some fans have raised questions over the club’s decision-makers, suggesting that Keane would not be the right man to take Preston forward.
Others, however, are encouraged by the prospect of his appointment and believe he could prove to be a shrewd replacement for Heckingbottom, pointing to his achievements in Hungary and Israel, along with his Europa League experience.
Preston supporters feel the trophies he has collected elsewhere could indicate that he has the ability to succeed in the Championship.
Preston North End must use the international break to appoint a manager
Keane’s interest from Celtic may not result in an immediate move, but it could indicate that he is prepared to wait rather than committing himself to the Preston vacancy.
That could leave the Lilywhites with a difficult decision, as they need to take advantage of the extended international break by appointing a permanent successor to Heckingbottom.
This makes the possibility of securing Keane more complicated, and Preston may need to consider alternative targets if they cannot persuade the 46-year-old to take charge immediately.
There are several other candidates available to Preston, and they simply cannot afford to waste an opportunity like this international break to bring in a fresh face.
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