Shane Long believes his former international teammate Robbie Keane has what it takes to lead Celtic to greater heights in the coming season.
Long spoke to BOYLE Sports, drawing a striking comparison between Keane and multi-time Champions League winning manager Pep Guardiola.
Keane spent six months on loan at Celtic in 2010 from Tottenham, giving him an existing connection to the Glasgow club.
He was previously linked with the Parkhead job before Wilfried Nancy’s ill-fated tenure at the club.
Keane brought an end to his time at Ferencvaros last week, immediately opening the door to speculation about his next move.
Current Celtic boss Martin O’Neill, aged 74, is expected to end his time in the dugout this summer following showdown talks with Dermot Desmond over his future.
O’Neill lifted the Premiership and Scottish Cup last term before being sent an SOS for a second time to steady the ship during an eight-game spell this season.
Long said: “Would Robbie Keane going in at Celtic be a worrying time for Rangers? Definitely.”
Long added that the squad already had the quality required, with only confidence and belief in a manager missing from the dressing room.
“Robbie will instil that because I know him personally,” Long said, adding that Keane’s love for the game would rub off on the players around him.
Long was careful to clarify the limits of his comparison, saying: “I’m not comparing him to Pep, but you can see that in Pep as well, the way he just lives and breathes football.”
“Having those ties with the club and that Celtic connection in his blood will come out in the dressing room,” Long continued, emphasising Keane’s existing bond with the club.
Long acknowledged that retaining key players could prove challenging, noting that some had enjoyed great seasons and might be ready to move on.
He pointed to an influx of Japanese players as evidence of Celtic’s ability to attract and develop new talent capable of dominating the league.
“I would like to see Robbie in there at the helm and taking them to greater things,” Long concluded, making clear his strong personal endorsement of the appointment.
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