Sky Sports Presenter Jim White has claimed that Roberto Martinez is in the frame to replace Neil Lennon as Celtic manager. White posted on Twitter claiming that the Belgium boss and former Motherwell player was a candidate for the job at Celtic Park. White also mentioned Rafa Benitez and Scotland boss Steve Clarke but at this stage the latter appears the most likely.
So Neil Lennon parts company with @CelticFC – Clarke, Benitez, Martinez three names in the frame.
Reaction from John Hartson on @talkSPORT from 10.— Jim White (@JimWhite) February 24, 2021
Neil Lennon resigned from his position today and there is considerable excitement about who might replace the 49-year-old. Eddie Howe has long-since been a favourite to replace Lennon but the examples of Martin O’Neill and Brendan Rodgers prove what can be achieved if a top manager is persuaded to join up.
Martinez is the manager of the best International side in the world, arguably. His contract will take him to the World Cup in 2022 so a move for the Spaniard appears highly unlikely. Although, Martinez has a Scottish wife and his assistant is former Celtic midfielder Shaun Maloney so there may be enough of a pull to convince Martinez to come and oversee a rebuild. Realistically, though, Martinez will know he can get a top job in Europe without taking a detour to Glasgow.
Celtic were heavily linked with Martinez back in 2009 before Tony Mowbray was appointed. Martinez swapped Swansea for Wigan Athletic that year instead and Celtic replaced Strachan with Mowbray, heralding in Neil Lennon’s managerial reign later that season.
The media circus will likely through up a number of names in the coming weeks as Dominic McKay looks to begin his tenure as Chief Executive.
Luckily nobody really listens to slaver Jim White.