Next Celtic manager odds: Martin O’Neill tipped to make another return

Read the latest odds for the new Celtic manager after the Scottish champions sacked Wilfried Nancy

(Mike Egerton/PA Wire)

Celtic have become the latest high-profile club to sack their manager after the Scottish champions parted ways with Wilfried Nancy just over a month after appointing the Frenchman.

Nancy arrived at Celtic Park on 3 December but lasted just eight games at the helm, with the 3-1 defeat to Old Firm rivals Rangers proving the final straw for the club.

He won just two of his six league games in charge, leaving the Hoops six points adrift of Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership, and the champions are looking for another boss for the third time already this season.

And betting sites are already pricing up the favourites to succeed the 48-year-old, with recent interim manager Martin O’Neill favourite to return to the job for a second time this season.

Next Celtic manager odds

Manager	Odds	Betting site
Martin O’Neill	1/1	Ladbrokes
Shaun Maloney	7/4	BetVictor
Ange Postecoglou	7/2	BetVictor
Robbie Keane	10/1	Coral
Kieran McKenna	10/1	Ladbrokes
Kjetil Knutsen	10/1	Coral
Craig Bellamy	10/1	Ladbrokes
Gary O’Neil	12/1	William Hill
Brian Barry-Murphy	12/1	Betfred
Kevin Muscat	12/1	Betfred
Frank Lampard	12/1	William Hill
Scott Brown	12/1	William Hill

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Martin O’Neill is the favourite to take over at Celtic Park, with the former Celtic boss having guided the club to a period of relative stability in the lead up to Nancy being appointed.

O’Neill remained unbeaten in domestic competition during his spell this season between October and December, winning seven of his eight matches overall, and though it would be a popular appointment if the 73-year-old were to return again, he did seem to distance himself from the full-time role when in charge.

Nevertheless, he did state that his “job was to come in and hold the fort” at the time, so if the Celtic board were to ask him to return more permanently, O’Neill could well opt for another long stint in the hotseat.

Former Celtic figures under consideration

Two popular former Celtic figures are second and third in the list of favourites for the job, with ex-manager Ange Postecoglou priced at 7/2 on football betting sites.

The former Tottenham and Nottingham Forest boss found mixed success in the Premier League but he won two Scottish Premiership titles when in charge of Celtic.

He might not feel he has anything to return to at Celtic, but it could be a solid way for him to rebuild a reputation that has taken a hit after failures in England.

Elsewhere, former Hoops winger Shaun Maloney is also in the running at 7/4. The 42-year-old made over 150 appearances for Celtic as a player and is a popular figure at the club, where he is currently the assistant manager.

The permanent Celtic job offers a huge jump in status and the former Scotland international could well be tempted by making the step up.

Intriguing names in the mix

There are a few interesting names on the list too, with Robbie Keane, Kieran McKenna and even Craig Bellamy considered as outside shouts.

Former Celtic, Spurs and Liverpool striker Keane is currently managing Hungarian club Ferencváros, with his side second in the league as he passes a year in charge.

While he has only found limited success in Hungary, he could be tempted by the step up in pedigree and the chance to enhance his reputation in what would only be his third managerial job, though he is a 10/1 outsider according to betting apps.

McKenna is a manager who impressed when taking Ipswich to promotion but has suffered somewhat since, with the Tractor Boys returning to the Championship and now sitting in third.

While his side are only eight points behind Coventry in the fight for automatic promotion, McKenna may well feel that the jump to Celtic is one worth taking at this point.

However, with the 39-year-old also reportedly under consideration for the Chelsea and Man Utd jobs, he might even think that Scotland is below him at this point in time.

Finally, Craig Bellamy feels the ‘most unlikely’ of the 10/1 shouts, with the Wales manager surely unlikely to leave the national team in their hour of need as they look to secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

Speaking on the matter before Nancy was appointed, the Welshman distanced himself from the job, adding: “I couldn’t want anything more than I have at this present moment.”

Usual suspects make the list

A few of the usual names will likely be under consideration by the club, with managers including Kevin Muscat, Brian Barry-Murphy and Gary O’Neil having been considered by a number of sides including Celtic, Rangers, Wolves and more over recent months.

Frank Lampard is one of the more interesting options at 12/1, partly because it is difficult to imagine the former Chelsea man leaving Coventry with the club currently six points ahead at the top of the Championship.

O’Neil is also priced at 12/1 in the early betting on gambling sites, with the former Wolves boss having rejected a move back to Molineux at the end of last year.

While he has some pedigree after avoiding relegation, the long odds reflect more suitable options available to Celtic, though he could be an interesting option if some others fall through.

Finally, the same goes for Celtic legend Scott Brown, who is currently the head coach at Scottish Championship club Ayr United.

He has top-flight experience as an assistant at Aberdeen, but the 12/1 odds reflect the fact that he’ll likely need more top-level experience as an outright head coach before making a return to Celtic Park.

Responsible gambling

If you’re planning on having a bet on the next Celtic boss, remember to gamble responsibly.

When using gambling apps or sites be aware that betting can be addictive.

As such, you should take steps to remain in control of your time and budget at all times.

The same applies whether you’re using online bookmakers, slot sites, casino sites, casino apps, or any other gambling medium.

You can stay in control by making use of the responsible gambling tools offered by regulated operators, such as deposit limits, loss limits, self-exclusion and time-outs.

You may also want to visit the following free organisations to discuss any issues with gambling you might be having:

• NHS Help
• GambleAware
• Gamblers Anonymous

We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.