José Mourinho’s next move could end up having unexpected implications for Celtic’s ongoing managerial search.
A few months ago, reports emerged suggesting Roberto Martínez may soon find himself back on the managerial market after the World Cup, with Portugal believed to be considering a change in direction.
The former Belgium and Everton boss is currently preparing to lead Portugal into the tournament later this year, but speculation had suggested the Portuguese Football Federation were eyeing Mourinho as a possible successor once the competition concluded.
That scenario would potentially have opened the door for Martínez to become available just as Celtic continue their hunt for a permanent manager following another chaotic campaign.
However, the situation now appears to have shifted dramatically.
Mourinho is now set for a stunning return to Real Madrid instead, which could change Portugal’s succession plans entirely and could keep Martínez in his current role beyond the World Cup.
That, in turn, could impact Celtic’s long-term options in the dugout.
Martínez has been loosely linked with the Celtic job in recent months, largely because of his close relationship with Shaun Maloney, who remains highly respected behind the scenes at the club after his interim spells alongside Martin O’Neill this season.
🚨 BREAKING: José Mourinho back to Real Madrid, HERE WE GO! 💣🤍
All terms have been verbally agreed between José Mourinho and Real Madrid, waiting to sign all documents.
Plan for initial two year deal, JM to travel to Madrid after Real-Bilbao game.
The Special One is back. pic.twitter.com/K267WgiqjC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 18, 2026
At this stage, there have been no concrete talks or major developments involving Martínez and Celtic. But equally, that has largely been the case with every name linked to the vacancy so far.
Celtic’s managerial search has remained unusually quiet publicly despite the scale of the job and the importance of getting the next appointment right ahead of Champions League qualifiers in August and the defence of the league title.
Much could still depend on how Portugal perform at the World Cup. A disappointing tournament could yet change the picture again and place Martínez’s future under serious scrutiny regardless of Mourinho’s situation.
For now though, Mourinho’s expected move to Madrid appears to have complicated what once looked like a potentially straightforward route for Martínez back into club management.
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