Robbie Keane: Celtic's Potential Manager Amid Controversy

Robbie Keane has been tipped as a Celtic manager-in-waiting, with Ian Dowie urging supporters to judge the Irishman on his coaching credentials rather than the political storm around his past.

Keane, who previously managed Ferencvaros, came close to landing the Celtic job on a permanent basis before Dermot Desmond turned to Martin O'Neill on a short-term deal. The prospect of Keane taking over sparked protests among sections of the support, rooted in his spell in charge of Maccabi Tel Aviv.

That, Dowie says, is where the debate has gone badly off course.

“In terms of Robbie Keane, I think the fan opposition to Keane stems from where he has managed previously, which I understand,” Dowie said. “I think he should really just be judged on his footballing ability.”

The pressure around Celtic’s next move is intense. The club remains one of the most scrutinised jobs in British football, a position that demands not just tactical acumen but the temperament to live inside a goldfish bowl. Dowie is convinced Keane has been pulled into a wider narrative that has little to do with touchline decisions.

“I think Keane might be the favourite right now,” he added, before stressing that the former striker is not a political operator. “He's been dragged into the narrative a bit.”

Keane is not the only Irishman Dowie sees as a serious contender. Damien Duff, who has quietly built a strong reputation in his own right, was also name-checked as a live option for the Glasgow hot seat.

“Keane certainly has more experience internationally, but Damien Duff has done a fantastic job wherever he's been,” Dowie said. “Both would be strong candidates, but it's hard to say for sure.”

The scale of the task, he insists, cannot be underestimated.

“Celtic is a massive club, they, along with Rangers, are huge entities. You need a specific mindset to manage a club of that stature, and both Duff and Keane certainly possess that mentality.”

So the argument is laid out. On one side, a fanbase wary of the political baggage they believe comes with Keane’s time in Israel. On the other, a former Premier League manager insisting the conversation should return to the pitch.

If Celtic do eventually turn to Robbie Keane, the real question will be whether Parkhead is ready to separate the manager from the noise that has followed him.