---
title: "Celtic: Martin O’Neill gives glowing Roy Keane recommendation"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-martin-oneill-gives-glowing-roy-keane-recommendation/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2021-03-30T16:50:41Z"
modified: "2021-03-30T16:50:41Z"
---

# Celtic: Martin O’Neill gives glowing Roy Keane recommendation

**Roy Keane has the ‘personality’ required to lead Celtic going forward, according to former Hoops manager Martin O’Neill.**

O’Neill, who led Celtic to three Scottish titles and a UEFA Cup final over five years in Glasgow, was speaking to [BBC Scotland *Sportsound*](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56571934).

[Betting was suspended](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/roy-keane-unlikely-to-return-to-celtic-as-manager-67kck78f7) on Keane’s potential appointment on Friday, but [The Times](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/roy-keane-unlikely-to-return-to-celtic-as-manager-67kck78f7) reported two days later that the Manchester United legend was ‘unlikely’ to take up the post.

O’Neill seems to fear that it would be a mistake to overlook the 49-year-old, who has worked under the ex-Hoops boss as assistant manager in the [Republic of Ireland and Nottingham Forest](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/roy-keane/stationen/trainer/3721) setups.

### £30m Champions League prize on the line for Celtic

“Next season is really big because it’s automatic qualification for the Champions League,” O’Neill said.

“That’s a massive extra prize. It’s the 30 million. Maybe it bolsters the argument that Celtic are taking their time – that whoever is in there is able and capable of facing Rangers in the big contest.

“Roy Keane’s got the personality, for a start. A massive player, iconic figure in the game. He’s also very strong-willed. But he’s got the capacity to motivate the players.

“Roy’s learned a great deal over the years. Dermot \[Desmond, Celtic’s principal shareholder\] is a strong-willed man himself. He’ll know what is necessary.”

Keane has been out of the managerial hotseat [since 2011](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/roy-keane/stationen/trainer/3721), when he left Ipswich Town.

Whoever succeeds Neil Lennon at Celtic Park faces a daunting task. The Hoops trail their arch-rivals Rangers by a full 20 points in the table, and Steven Gerrard’s men have not lost a league game all season.

### Transfer Tavern verdict

With £30m potentially on the line as O’Neill has outlined, Celtic probably shouldn’t be taking this big a gamble on their next manager.

Eddie Howe, who did a remarkable job at Bournemouth and [is now the favourite for the job](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/roy-keane-unlikely-to-return-to-celtic-as-manager-67kck78f7), would appear a more sensible appointment, given his [impressive track record](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/eddie-howe/leistungsdatenLigenNational/trainer/10976) at Premier League level in recent times.

**In other news, [what will the new boss have to say about this potential transfer?](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-news/celtic-hoops-keen-to-make-diego-laxalt-deal-permanent/)**