Next Celtic Manager: O'Neill 4/1 to stay after winning Scottish Premiership title

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Monday May 18

Askous and Keane favoured over O'Neill

As the dust settles on a dramatic conclusion to the Scottish Premiership season saw Celtic crowned as champions again, talk now returns to who will be in charge of the Bhoys next season.

Fans would love to see Martin O'Neill, who masterminded their latest triumph, stay on but he is 74-ears-old.

The Northern Irishman, who is 4/15.00, on Betfair said he would not discuss his future until after Saturday Scottish Cup final.

So who else is in the running for one of the biggest jobs in British football?

Jens Berthel Askou 3/14.00 is the narrow favourite. The Dane has impressed since taking charge of Motherwell last year and guiding them to a fourth-place finish in the Premiership.

The other leading contender is Robbie Keane 10/34.33 who is well-known to Celtic fans after his period playing as a striker for the club.

The Irishman has enjoyed a successful spell as manager of Hungarian side Ferencvaros and has been linked with jobs in Scotland and the English Premier League.

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Tuesday January 6

O'Neill settled as winner in Next Celtic Manager market

Betfair have paid out on Martin O'Neill to be next Celtic manager... twice!

Martin O'Neill, who led the team for eight games before Wilfried Nancy's short reign, is back in the dugout and there's even more reason for punters to celebrate.

Betfair's next manager market rules require an interim to take charge of 10 games before they are classed as the next permanent manager.

But with O'Neill returning until at least the end of the season, Betfair have settled those original bets as winners. The Northern Irishman was backed as big as 14/115.00 to be the next permanent manager prior to Wilfred Nancy's appointment, which is now a winning bet thanks to Betfair.

Betfair Spokesperson Sam Rosbottom said: "We know punters who backed Martin O'Neill before Wilfried Nancy's appointment felt hard done by when Celtic announced O'Neill 3.0.

"He led the side for eight games in his second spell, just short of our 10‑game payout rule, but now he's back in the dugout until at least the summer, it seems only fair we forget that little 33‑day spell. That's why we've resettled all bets on him to be the next permanent Celtic manager as winners.

"Sadly for Celtic fans, we can't undo 33 days of Nancyball."

Celtic go for O'Neill...again!

Martin O'Neill has been confirmed as the Celtic manager until the end of 2025/26, returning to the club for the second time this season and embarking on his third spell with the Bhoys overall.

Celtic are 13/102.30 to win the Scottish Premiership even though they currently sit six points off leaders Hearts 6/42.50.

 O'Neill said on taking the job that he hoped the club would make signings in this month's transfer window. His first match in charge will be at home to Dundee United on Saturday.

So far, it has been a disastrous season for Celtic. Brendan Rodgers resigned in October, plunging the club into chaos and uncertainty. You can read the full story of a difficult few months for the Scottish giants below in updates from our live blog.  

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Monday January 5

Nancy sacked, O'Neill favourite 

After a disastrous eight game spell Celtic have sacked manager Wilfried Nancy. 

The SPL giants lost six of his eight in charge culminating in a 3-1 home defeat by Rangers this weekend. 

Favourite to replace him is former boss Martin O'Neill, at 13/82.63, who was interim manager following Brendan Rodgers' departure earlier this eason until Nancy took over.

In contrast to Nancy, O'Neill had enjoyed a successful stint to bring the club back into the title race. 

Ange Postecoglou, another former Celtic manager, is prominent in the betting at 4/15.00. 

Sandwiched in between the two is Shaun Maloney, assistant to O'Neill during his stint, at 2/13.00.

Sunday 2 November

As we suggested in Thursday's update, Martin O'Neill is the new favourite to become the Next Permanent Celtic Manager after he guided his side to a second successive win, this time beating arch rivals Rangers 3-1 after extra time in today's Scottish League Cup semi-final.

Interim boss O'Neill has shortened to 3/14.00 to have his role made permanent, or manage the Glasgow outfit for another eight successive games which would deem him the winner in the market as per Betfair Sportsbook's rules.

When asked if he would like to still be in charge of Celtic for the Scottish League Cup final on Sunday 14 December - which would be his 11th game in charge should Celtic not have any games postponed up to that date - O'Neill replied, "I don't even know when the final is", before adding, "I would imagine the club are making inroads to a permanent manager."

In a market that hasn't changed too much in recent days, Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna is the second favourite in the market at 4/15.00, just ahead of former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou at 5/16.00.

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Thursday 30 October

Matin O'Neill's odds to become the Next Permanent Celtic Manager have been slashed from 14/115.00 to 9/25.50 following an impressive 4-0 win over Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday night.

The victory - in O'Neill's first game in charge as interim boss - was greeted with loud cheers and applause when the full-time whistle sounded suggesting that the Celtic fans still adore the 73-year-old and that they wouldn't be against him becoming the manager on a permanent basis.

Remember, as per the rules below, O'Neill would need to be in charge for another nine consecutive games to be deemed the winner in the market.

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Please Note: Betfair Sportsbook rules for settlement of Next Permanent Manager markets mean that if an interim manager is in charge for 10 consecutive games then that person will be settled as the winner.

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In his first press conference earlier this week O'Neill said that he was only keeping the manager's seat warm until the club could appoint a permanent boss, though last night's victory will perhaps give the Celtic board more time to fully evaluate every candidate knowing that the team is in safe hands under their interim manager.

Next up for O'Neill is a huge encounter against Glasgow rivals Rangers in the Scottish League Cup semi-final on Sunday. Win that game and O'Neill could well be the new favourite to get the job permanently!

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna remains the market leader, though having traded as low as 4/71.57 on Tuesday he's now out to 3/14.00, just ahead of Ange Postecoglou who has been backed in to 7/24.50 following reports that the club would be interested in talking to their former manager.

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Wednesday 29 October

McKenna goes odds-on with Keane second favourite

Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna is the 4/61.67 favourite to become the Next Permanent Celtic Manager as the Scottish champions continue their search for Brendan Rodgers' successor. 

McKenna went odds-on yesterday, as reported below, and remains in pole position to land the Parkhead job, although it was reported again today that Celtic may have to pay a £5m release clause if they want the 39-year-old.

Robbie Keane has emerged as the second favourite and is 5/23.50 to manage the club he played for in the 2009/10 season. He is currently the manager of Hungarian champions Ferencvaros but is said to be interested in the Celtic job. 

The Irishman has impressed so far at Ferencvaros since taking over in January and steering them to the league title. 

Former-Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has drifted to 7/18.00 as the likelihood of the Australian returning to the club recedes. 

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Tuesday 28 October

McKenna goes odds-on but will compensation prove a problem?

Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna has gone odds-on at 4/71.57 to become the Next Permanent Celtic Manager after some reports on Tuesday evening suggested that the job would be too big to turn down for the 39-year-old should an approach be made.

However, other reports have hinted that Celtic would need to pay in excess of £5m in compensation to Ipswich should they wish to appoint McKenna and his backroom staff.

McKenna wasn't initially considered a contender to replace Brendan Rodgers when the market first opened but he quickly became the 5/23.50 second favourite after it emerged that Celtic would be interested in his services. And this evening his price has shortened even further on the back of some sources saying that he would find it difficult to turn a job offer down should one be made.

Former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou - just recently sacked by Nottingham Forest - has drifted to 7/24.50 to become the new manager at Parkhead, while current interim boss Martin O'Neill can be backed at 10/111.00 (please note the rules outlined in the previous update). 

In his first press conference since being appointed interim manager, O'Neill said on Tuesday afternoon that he was definitely just 'keeping the seat warm', suggesting he is unlikely to have his role made permanent.

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Tuesday 28 October

Postecoglou the early favourite to replace Rodgers

Ange Postecoglou is the early favourite to become the Next Permanent Celtic Manager following Brendan Rodgers resignation on Monday evening. Postecoglou can be backed at 15/82.88 at the time of writing, though he was odds-on at 17/201.85 when the market first opened.

If he is appointed it will be the the 60-year-old's second stint as Celtic manager having been in charge at Parkhead for two seasons from 2021 to 2023, winning five trophies including back-to-back Scottish Premiership titles and a domestic treble in his final season.

Postecoglou had further success with Tottenham, winning the Europa League earlier this year before he was appointed Nottingham Forest manager this season only to be sacked after just 39 days!

Another former Celtic boss, veteran manager Martin O'Neill has been put in interim charge at the club and he can be backed at 10/111.00 to get the job on a permanent basis.

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Please Note: Betfair Sportsbook rules for settlement of Next Permanent Manager markets mean that if an interim manager is in charge for 10 consecutive games then that person will be settled as the winner.

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The 73-year-old was last in management in 2019 - ironically at Nottingham Forest - but was sacked after just six months in charge with the club finishing ninth in the Championship.

Other early contenders for the job include Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna at 5/23.50, current Portugal boss Roberto Martinez at 15/28.50, and former Celtic favourite Robbie Keane at 9/110.00.

To be Next Permanent Celtic Manager:

- Ange Postecoglou 15/82.88
- Kieran McKenna 5/23.50
- Shaun Maloney 6/17.00
- Roberto Martinez 15/28.50
- Robbie Keane 9/110.00
- Kjetil Knutsen 9/110.00
- Martin O'Neill 10/111.00
- Pascal Jansen 10/111.00
- BAR 16/117.00

*Prices correct as of 15:00 Tuesday 28 October

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