Celtic Drop Robbie Keane Appointment After Fan Protest, Martin O’Neill Signs On

Official: Martin O’Neill has signed as manager of the Hoops after the battle over the appointment of former Maccabi Tel Aviv coach Robbie Keane. Sports 5, Published: 11.06.26, 18:42

The protest worked. O’Neill (from Celtic’s social media) | Photo: Sports 5

The protest worked. After a long period in which Robbie Keane, the Republic of Ireland legend and former Maccabi Tel Aviv player, was a candidate for Celtic, it is now official. The protests by Scottish fans against his appointment because of his previous work in Israel succeeded, and the Green club announced today, Thursday, the appointment of Martin O’Neill to the role.

After coming in as interim coach in the middle of the season and helping the team win a dramatic championship, after a victory over Hearts in the final round of the regular season, the 74-year-old O’Neill has signed a new one-year contract with an option for an additional season on the sidelines.

As mentioned, some of the team’s fans did not want to see Keane in the role. In a petition that received support from dozens of fan groups, it was claimed that, "It cannot be ignored. Robbie Keane coached in Israel during a genocide, he chose to coach a team in Israel. He cannot work here. Our club is based on those who grew up as opponents of injustice. That cannot be forgotten."

The petition continued: "Celtic demands unity and needs to receive it from the fans. This is a choice that could harm the club ahead of next season. We ask the board to rethink Keane’s appointment." Keane also held a meeting with Celtic owner Dermot Desmond and was considered one of the leading candidates at this stage.