Robbie Keane is being linked with another major job move, with Slovan Bratislava wanting talks with the Ferencvaros boss while Celtic prepare to decide on their next manager after the Scottish Cup final against Dunfermline.
Keane, who spent six months on loan in Glasgow from Tottenham in 2010, has already been linked with the Celtic hot seat before Wilfried Nancy’s brief tenure. He has also made clear he would only be open to leaving Ferencvaros if the move took him to a higher level, and that is the test now hanging over any approach from elsewhere.
Slovan Bratislava chief executive Ivan Kmotrik Jr said Keane could be an option for the club and said they would like to meet him if his situation allows it. He said Keane could also be an alternative for manager, underlining that the former Republic of Ireland striker is no longer being viewed only through the lens of his Celtic links.
Celtic’s managerial picture has shifted repeatedly this season. Dermot Desmond brought Martin O’Neill back into the dugout earlier in the campaign after Brendan Rodgers left, but Wilfried Nancy was then shown the door after eight games. O’Neill is now expected to end his spell in charge after the Scottish Cup final against Dunfermline, leaving the club to settle on its next long-term appointment.
That is why Keane’s name has surfaced again at exactly the right moment. His past connection with Celtic gives him instant recognition in Glasgow, but the same timing also gives Slovan a chance to push ahead if they decide he fits their own plans. The next move is likely to be driven by which project offers him the higher level he said he wants, and by whether Celtic choose to reopen a door they have already approached before.
For Keane, the coming days may decide whether this is another passing link or the start of a more serious move away from Ferencvaros. For Celtic, the post-final decision will show whether the club wants continuity after a season of upheaval or another fresh face to steady the dugout.
