Celtic told 'astute' EPL coach would be ideal Martin O'Neill successor - 'I can see that having legs'

O’Neill, 74, helped Celtic win a domestic double after being appointed the club’s interim manager last season, before agreeing to become the club’s new permanent boss in the summer, signing a one-year contract with the option of an extra year at Parkhead.

The Irishman has enjoyed a perfect start to the new domestic campaign, winning all six of his league games, but came unstuck in the Champions League qualifiers, as Celtic failed to qualify for the competition for a second successive year, losing 5-4 on aggregate to Austrian Bundesliga outfit LASK last month.

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Before O’Neill’s permanent appointment in the summer, the Celtic board had held discussions with former Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane about becoming the club’s new head coach. However, the move faced serious backlash from a section of the Celtic fanbase, with Keane having opted to remain in charge of the Israeli side during the outbreak of the nation’s war against Gaza, and some Celtic fans openly supporting Palestine in the conflict.

However, according to former English Premier League midfielder and Sky Sports pundit Kevin Nolan, Celtic should be keeping a close eye on the progress of another former Republic of Ireland international, with the 44-year-old labelling his ex-Newcastle United teammate Damien Duff as a potential heir to O’Neill’s throne.

The 47-year-old was loosely linked to the vacant role at Celtic last season following the resignation of Brendan Rodgers after his sterling work with Shelbourne in the League of Ireland, where he led the team to the Premier Division title in 2024.

Leaving Tolka Park in the summer of 2025, Duff was recently appointed assistant manager at Brentford, where he works alongside former international teammate Keith Andrews, and Nolan believes the experience he is currently getting in West London could see him emerge as a strong candidate for the Celtic job in the future.

“I think they’re in a good place at the moment,” said Nolan. “Obviously, they had that shocker of a Champions League game against LASK not long ago, but they’ll be in the Europa League now. If I’m honest, that probably suits them better, even though the prize money isn’t as good. I think they could do something decent in the Europa League, especially with that home advantage.

“I can see why Damien Duff’s name has been mentioned in relation to the Celtic job. Duffer is a good lad, very astute, and he’s doing really well. He had Joey O’Brien with him in Ireland when he was managing there and Joey then took over. I think he’s someone who could definitely step into that role. He’s with Keith Andrews at Brentford now, so he’s gaining experience as a Premier League assistant, which will be invaluable.

“I can certainly see that happening in the future,” he told BettingLounge. “I can see that having legs if Martin O’Neill were to step away. It’s one I’d like to see, because I really like Duffer and enjoyed playing with him. Hopefully, he’d take Joey O’Brien with him as well, as they seem to work very well together.”

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