Celtic next manager candidate makes candid confession on future.
Celtic managerial candidate Robbie Keane had dropped the biggest hint yet that he could leave Hungarian giants Ferencvaros this summer.
Keane, 45, is the bookies’ current favourite to succeed current manager Martin O’Neill in the summer, with links to the former Republic of Ireland international first appearing when former head coach Brendan Rodgers resigned from his role in October, prior to the ill-fated appointment of Wilfried Nancy.
The former Celtic forward, who scored 12 league goals during a six-month loan spell at Parkhead back in 2010, has been a huge success in the Hungarian top flight. Appointed as manager at the Groupama Arena in January 2025, he won the Nemzeti Bajnoksag title in his debut season with the club.
Currently three points behind ETO FC Gyor at the top of the table, the Irish boss’ current focus in on defending the title in Budapest, but has opened up on his managerial future via an interview on Nicky Byrne HQ.
Robbie Keane has been linked as a potential successor to Martin O’Neill this summer.placeholder image
Robbie Keane has been linked as a potential successor to Martin O’Neill this summer. | AFP via Getty Images
“I have ambitions,” he said. “Everyone wants to get to the highest possible level they can. I’m very lucky that I’m at a top club in Ferencvaros.Of course, there are other bigger clubs, we all know that. Ferencvaros is a top team in Europe, and that’s why I went there.
“I am at a high level in terms of what I am doing and what we achieved in the Europa League. I am already at a big club, but if I don’t have ambitions to go to the highest level, I might as well stop. If I don’t believe I can get to the top, there’s no point being a manager. Don’t always think that, ‘You are happy to stay here’, even though you could stay for 20 years.
“Always think you can reach even higher, because that drives you on — that makes you a better manager. I always have to believe I can go to the very top and win a lot of trophies. If I don’t, I won’t do it.”
Meanwhile, Celtic have been credited with an interest in former Arsenal and Brighton goalkeeper Mathew Ryan, who is available on a free transfer from Levante on a free transfer this summer. The 33-year-old stopper is expected to be Australia’s number one at the World Cup this summer, but has a decision to make on his club future with his contract set to expire at Estadio Ciudad de Valencia.
Levante goalkeeper Mathew Ryan has been linked to Celtic.placeholder image
Levante goalkeeper Mathew Ryan has been linked to Celtic. | AFP via Getty Images
According to a report from Dutch football magazine Voetbal24, Ryan is emerging as a target for both Celtic and Club Brugge, with the latter considering the experienced international as a replacement for Simon Mignolet, who is set to retire from football at the end of the current campaign.
Ryan has played 22 times for Levante after joining at the beginning of the season following short stints with RC Lens, Roma and AZ Alkmaar. However, he first rose to prominence with English Premier League outfit Brighton, where he spent a successful three-and-a-half seasons between 2017 and 2021.
After making a total of 124 league appearances at the AMEX Stadium, the Socceroos spent time on loan to Arsenal, but struggled to make an impressive impact for the Gunners, before signing a permanent deal with La Liga outfit Real Sociedad.