Celtic are being backed to make a “big statement” by appointing a former Premier League manager who would be a “real success” for them.
Celtic identify candidate for next manager
Celtic’s search for a manager has been long and at times chaotic. It was the result of a season that began with the shock resignation of Brendan Rodgers in October, continued to reel through Wilfried Nancy’s disastrous month in charge, and was only partially stabilized by the experienced and generous interim intervention of Martin O’Neill.
The 74-year-old is set to step down at the end of the campaign, and with Hearts on course for their first title in years, the vacant seat that awaits will require a decision with real conviction.
There are many names thrown around.
Robbie Keane’s candidacy has generated a lot of buzz, with former Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness claiming the former Ireland captain represents a political and unifying appointment that could heal the rift between the fan base and the board.
Motherwell’s Jens Barthel-Askou continues to wholeheartedly support what would be a sensible approach for someone who has proven he can do it in Scotland.
Serie A side under threat of takeover as Celtic and Rangers ‘battle’ over ‘fantastic’ Scottish star
His old company wants him too.
Both are trustworthy in their own ways, but neither has the name recognition that is gaining traction elsewhere.
Celtic told to make ‘big statement’ with appointment of Roberto Martinez
Roberto Martinez is outstanding. At least, that is becoming the consensus in certain quarters.
Now, the man who knows the 52-year-old better than most has added his voice to the debate, with an assessment he enthusiastically endorses, but with a notable caveat that Celtic’s board would be wise not to sack him.
Gareth Barry, who played more than 100 games under the Spaniard during his three years at Everton, spoke at length about his former manager to the Daily Record this week.
His summary of what Celtic get is convincing.
“The signing of Roberto Martinez would be huge for Celtic,” Barry said.
“If you look at Roberto Martínez’s managerial career, you can see that happening. He has taken a break from international work and day-to-day work in recent years.
“Having worked at Everton, he completely lives and breathes football, knows all the players and knows all the tactical moves.
“I think he will be successful there. He will develop the players coming into the club. He will suit their style of developing young players and sometimes wanting to transfer them.”
“I actually see it happening and I understand why he is one of the candidates for this job.”
Martínez is currently the Portugal national team coach and led the Selekção to the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup and the last eight of Euro 2024.
His contract expires at the end of this summer’s World Cup. He will be available for Portugal’s group matches against Uzbekistan, Colombia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and will likely be keen to return to club football.
The connection through Sean Maloney, who worked with Martinez in the Belgian set-up before joining Celtic’s backroom staff, is an inside line that adds further weight to the speculation.
Martinez was also spotted in the Fir Park stands watching Motherwell beat Celtic 2-0 earlier in the season.
Barry’s tactical depiction of Martinez, drawn from experience, provides useful insight into what Celtic supporters can expect.
The Spaniard is possession-based, attacking with direction and unashamedly, but the defensive burden of that style tends to fall on the central midfielder rather than the wide players, a system Barry himself exemplified at Goodison Park.
“If you think about the time I spent with him at Everton, we always had two midfielders doing 13km a game, because they had to go out and put out the fires and the wingers had to stay up,” Barry explained.
“He loved attacking players and was very possession-based, to the point where you needed to win a certain number of passes before you could really make progress. Everton fans didn’t buy into that because they were used to David Moyes, balls in the box and headers.”
That said, Belgium’s golden generation of Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku and Axel Witsel, widely considered to be some of the most talented players in European football in modern times, failed to bring any major trophies to the table under Martinez.
For Celtic, where victory is the bare minimum expectation and domestic dominance the baseline, the question of whether Martinez can cross the finish line is one that must be answered before any appointment is made.
O’Neill could drop Maeda by unleashing Celtic’s new Juranovic
By dropping Daenen Maeda for the star player, manager Martin O’Neill could discover Celtic’s new Josip Juranovic.
