4-2-3-1 manager a likely target for Celtic

Celtic know they need to find a permanent replacement for Martin O’Neill by the summer after his interim spell in charge of the club ends.

The Hoops have decided to let the experienced Northern Irishman go until the end of the season after opting to part ways with Wilfried Nancy in January, with him still in contention to win the Scottish Premiership and SFA Cup.

Former Celtic striker Robbie Keane, who currently manages Ferencvaros, is one of the managers rumored to be officially appointed for the 2026/27 season.

However, the Irishman has also been linked with Premier League clubs Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace, meaning there could be plenty of competition for his signature this summer.

However, Keane has never managed a first-team team outside of Israel and Hungary and typically plays in a 3-5-2 system, so his potential candidate feels a little too similar to Nancy, who has no managerial experience in England and has played in a back-three or back-five formation.

Celtic identify Premiership manager as likely target

Ferencvaros is not the only manager on the shortlist to replace O’Neill in the Parkhead dugout next season.

Celtic are considering a number of options as they take on the task of ensuring the Hoops return to dominant fashion in Scottish football over the next few years.

According to the Guardian, Ferencvaros manager Keane is the frontrunner to take over the role from O’Neill in the summer transfer window.

But Craig Bellamy and the former Republic of Ireland international are not their only targets. Jens Bertel Askou is also said to be one of the leading candidates for the position.

Celtic have praised Bellamy, who is currently in charge of Wales, and Motherwell head coach Barthel Askou, meaning both are genuine options for the Scottish giants. With this in mind, the board should push to bring the ‘Well tactician’ to Parkhead this summer as he would be a better option than Keane.

Why Celtic must appoint Bertel Askou

As mentioned above, Keane has never managed in English football and there will be question marks over how he will set up his team in Glasgow after Nancy’s back three system was a failure with supporters earlier this season.

Meanwhile, Barthel Askou has adopted a more traditional 4-2-3-1 system with Motherwell, playing in a way that puts as many exciting players on the pitch as possible, rather than having three or even five central defenders on the pitch each week.

Speaking earlier this month, former Celtic striker Chris Sutton claimed the Danish manager had the best style of play in the country, and perhaps in England.

Basel Askou played a possession-based game that created space for others with combination play and plenty of off-the-ball movement, allowing players like Elliott Watt and Tawanda Maswanhise to thrive.

Motherwell are currently fourth in the Scottish Premiership table, but are second in the division for possession per game (59.6%), underscoring their desire to control games.

Their impressive defensive record shows that despite his exciting style of play and possession-based system, Berthel Ascou does not ignore the defensive side of the game, which is another reason why he is an attractive target for Celtic.

He has proven his ability to coach an effective and exciting style of play at Premiership level with Motherwell this season, making his team fun to watch and difficult to play against.

The 43-year-old head coach appears to be a better fit for what Celtic are looking for as there are too many similarities between Keane and Nancy, including a lack of Scottish managerial experience and a 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 system.

Barthel-Askou has experience in Scottish football, a familiar 4-2-3-1 system and a style of play that supporters will be excited to see at Parkhead, which is why he should be hired to replace O’Neill.