Celtic supporters groups have united in opposition to the proposed appointment of Robbie Keane as the club’s next manager.
More than 50 fan groups, including the Green Brigade, have signed a joint letter urging the Celtic board to abandon any plans to install the former striker in the role.
Keane is understood to be in the running for the position alongside former Celtic manager Martin O’Neill, with both men holding talks with Parkhead supremo Dermot Desmond.
A decision has yet to be reached, and Keane recently travelled to South Korea to participate in a Liverpool legends match amid the ongoing managerial speculation.
The primary source of fan anger centres on Keane’s previous role managing Maccabi Tel Aviv during the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The joint statement from the supporter groups made their position clear and unambiguous, citing Celtic’s founding history as central to their objection.
The statement read: “As Celtic fans, we oppose the proposed appointment of Robbie Keane as manager of Celtic Football Club.”
It continued: “For us, Robbie Keane’s decision to manage Maccabi Tel Aviv during the genocide in Gaza is impossible to ignore.”
The letter further stated: “To choose to manage a club in Israel while, less than 40 miles away, the same country was using indiscriminate weapons of mass murder against a defenceless people is unconscionable.”
The groups drew a direct line between Celtic’s origins and the current situation facing Palestinians, invoking the club’s founding community.
“Celtic was founded by a community shaped by the legacy of genocide, displacement and famine,” the statement said, adding that solidarity with the oppressed remained central to the club’s identity.
The fan groups also argued that beyond the political dimension, the appointment would represent a poor footballing decision at a critical juncture for the club.
The statement warned: “At a time when Celtic requires unity and collective purpose, this appointment would be deeply divisive among the support.”
It added the move would “represent a predictable and uninspiring choice at a moment when greater ambition is needed,” framing the opposition as both ethical and sporting in nature.
The letter concluded with a direct appeal: “We urge the Celtic board to listen to supporters’ concerns and reconsider this appointment.”
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