Robbie Keane, Kieran McKenna and Ange Postecoglou in running for Celtic job

The Scottish champions are considering their options after placing Martin O’Neill in temporary charge following Rodgers’ sudden and acrimonious departure.

O’Neill, who will be assisted by his former midfielder Shaun Maloney, has made it clear he only expects to lead the club on a short-term basis.

O’Neill enjoyed remarkable success during his first spell at the club between 2000-05 and said Celtic will now be searching for a “young manager with proven ability who has got a bit of a track record” to take over.

Keane, who spent time at Celtic on loan, has enjoyed great success as a manager in Israel, with Maccabi Tel Aviv, and now in charge of Hungarian club Ferencvaros, and would fit the bill as an exciting young manager.

The former Tottenham and Leeds forward won the league title in both countries and works with assistant Rory Delap, who is a former Ireland international team-mate. Importantly, it is also understood the 45-year-old would be interested in talking to Celtic if an approach is made.

Postecoglou, another former Celtic manager, would be a popular choice among fans. Some sources have claimed the Australian will take his time after being dismissed by Nottingham Forest after just 39 days and, also, may not want to make a return to Scottish football where he won back-to-back titles.

However, it has been suggested that the 60-year-old is actually Celtic’s preferred choice, despite O’Neill’s claim that they want a young manager, if a deal can be agreed.

McKenna is admired by Celtic but it is understood the compensation due to Ipswich Town could be prohibitive. The Northern Irishman is under contract until 2028 and although the compensation amount will have come down significantly since relegation from the Premier League, it is still expected to be in excess of £5m.

Brendan Rodgers resigns as Celtic boss with Martin O’Neill taking interim charge

Ipswich would also certainly fight to keep McKenna. The 39-year-old took over at Portman Road in 2021, when they were in League One, and earned back-to-back promotions which led to him holding talks with both Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion to become their head coach. He was also strongly linked to Chelsea.

The first game for 73-year-old O’Neill, whose last managerial job was with Forest in 2019, will be at home in the league to Falkirk tonight with Celtic in second place but eight points behind leaders Hearts after Sunday’s 3-1 defeat at Tynecastle.

“I knew about it less than 24 hours ago,” O’Neill said on being asked to step in and then having “10 minutes to make up my mind” about taking over as he walked down the King’s Road in London.

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