Celtic are still to appoint Brendan Rodgers’ replacement following the Northern Irishman’s shock resignation last week.

The rumour mill was been going into overdrive over who is next going to take the Celtic Park hot seat, with ex-boss Martin O’Neill keeping it warm in interim charge just now.

O’Neill has won both games in charge so far, but has insisted from the offset that he is just there for the short-term, whilst the hunt for a ‘younger’ manager goes on. Here are five coaches that Celtic could employ.

1. Kieran McKenna

The bookies favourite. Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna enjoyed back-to-back promotions with the Tractor Boys which seen them back in the Premier League in 2024 for the first time in 22 years. London born, McKenna was rumoured to have been raised in a ‘Celtic-supporting’ household in County Fermanagh, and refused to categorically rule himself out of the running when quizzed about it last week. He has a reported £5million release clause.

2. Kjetil Knutsen

The Bodo/Glimt manager guided the Norwegian side to their first ever Eliteserien title in 2020, going on to win three more after that. In charge since 2018, Knutsen has supposedly said no to European giants Ajax in the past, and transformed his Arctic Circle side into a feared European side of their own, defeating Celtic in the 2022 Conference League before getting to last season’s Europa League semi finals and achieving Champions League qualification in the first time in the club’s history. His contract expires at the end of this calendar year.

3. Wilfried Nancy

One name that won’t go away is Wilfried Nancy. The Columbus Crew manager won the Ohio side the MLS Cup in 2023 and the Leagues Cup in 2024. The Frenchman won MLS Coach of the Year in 2024 and is said to be thought of highly by Parkhead chiefs due to his expansive, possession-based style of play. Nancy managed current Celtic right-back Alistair Johnston during his time at CF Montreal, and MLS reporters describe a move to coach in Europe as an ‘inevitability’.

4. Nicky Hayen

Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen is another coach with links swirling around him. The Belgian has been in charge of the Champions League Club since 2024 after replacing former Celtic manager Ronny Deila, and was able to deliver title success while still initially caretaker. He has added a Belgian Cup to his trophy cabinet since, and is another coach who has refused to dismiss any speculation when asked. He also enjoyed a spell as manager of Haverfordwest County, in the Welsh division, before a quick rise to European football.

5. Ange Postecoglou

The noise surrounding the Australian has went quiet, if there ever was any concrete links to begin with. But there is no doubt that the Celtic treble winner has been discussed between the Celtic hierarchy. Leaving Celtic for Tottenham Hotspur in 2023, Postecoglou won Spurs their first trophy in 17 years with the Europa League, despite finishing 17th in the Premier League, before being sacked after just over a month at Nottingham Forest. Now a free commodity again, the job could be his if he is looking to get back into football so quickly.