Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has been backed for a shock return to football management.
Since leaving Ipswich Town in 2011, legendary Red Devils captain Keane has not held a managing position. Instead, he has concentrated on a few coaching positions and a career at the highest level of football commentary.
It’s unknown how much he wants to return to management, but his name is frequently associated with his previous teams, particularly when one of those teams is seen to need a strict disciplinarian to remind players of expectations and a strong voice in the dressing room.
Celtic put themselves in that precise situation on Tuesday. Brendan Rodgers’ team traveled far to the east for a further 0-0 draw in their two-leg Champions League play-off match against Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty following a goalless draw at home.
Kairat eliminated Celtic from the Champions League after winning 3-2 on penalties. The league stage draw for Celtic’s participation in this season’s Europa League is scheduled for this Friday.
Although they are still in control at home, Celtic’s unexpected Champions League exit serves as a reminder that they rarely get their way in the competition and can sometimes be eliminated before the real deal starts.
When such occurs, the manager usually faces intense criticism because it is assumed that winning the Premiership as Celtic’s manager is simple and that the true test is competing in the Champions League.
Since Celtic’s shootout loss, former Sunderland and Ipswich boss Keane’s chances of becoming the next Celtic manager have drastically decreased, according to AceOdds.
Overnight, he was backed into 12/1, the sixth-lowest odds, ahead of players like former Celtic manager Martin O’Neill, Everton manager David Moyes, Jose Mourinho, and former England manager Gareth Southgate.
Scotland manager Steve Clarke and Canada head coach Jesse Marsch are both at fives, while former Celtic captain Scott Brown, who is currently in charge of Ayr United, is at six one with Damien Duff.
The favorite is 5/4 shot Kjetil Knudsen, the Norwegian manager of Bodø/Glimt, who defeated Sturm Graz in their own play-off to earn a historic league-phase qualifying. He is ahead of John Kennedy, Ange Postecoglou, and Henrik Larsson.
The wise money isn’t on a replacement at the moment.
Rodgers should be able to weather this one if Celtic’s title defense in Scotland is coupled with a strong Europa League campaign, even if Gordon Strachan, Ronny Deila, and Neil Lennon have all been left in vulnerable positions after missing out on Europe.
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