Robbie Keane as Future Celtic Boss: Support from Ian Dowie

Robbie Keane’s name is back in the Celtic conversation, and this time it comes with a strong endorsement from a fellow manager who believes the Irishman has been harshly judged for the wrong reasons.

Keane, who most recently managed Ferencvaros, came close to landing the Celtic job on a permanent basis before the club turned to Martin O’Neill for a short-term stint. The path was there for him, the timing seemed right, yet the move stalled.

The sticking point wasn’t tactics, experience, or ambition. It was politics.

Sections of the Celtic support protested against Keane’s appointment, objecting to his previous role with Maccabi Tel Aviv. The reaction was strong enough that majority shareholder Dermot Desmond ultimately opted for O’Neill instead, shutting the door on Keane – at least for that moment.

Ian Dowie believes that door should not stay closed for long.

The former Crystal Palace manager has thrown his weight behind Keane, arguing that the 44-year-old deserves to be viewed through a football lens, not a geopolitical one.

“In terms of Robbie Keane, I think the fan opposition to Keane stems from where he has managed previously, which I understand,” Dowie told BettingLounge. “I think he should really just be judged on his footballing ability.”

That line cuts to the heart of the debate. Keane’s coaching journey has taken him across continents and into complex environments, but Dowie is adamant the narrative around his time in Israel has overshadowed what he actually brings as a manager.

He’s not alone in seeing potential. Keane’s résumé includes international coaching experience and a growing body of club work, and Dowie is convinced that, stripped of the noise, there is a serious candidate there for a club of Celtic’s size.

Dowie also floated another familiar Irish name into the frame: Damien Duff.

If Keane offers profile and international pedigree, Duff brings a different type of credibility – the quiet, consistent impression he has made in every role he has taken.

“Keane certainly has more experience internationally, but Damien Duff has done a fantastic job wherever he's been,” Dowie said. “Both would be strong candidates, but it's hard to say for sure.”

That uncertainty is less about their ability and more about the scale of the job. The Glasgow giants are not a gentle proving ground.

“Celtic is a massive club, they, along with Rangers, are huge entities,” Dowie stressed. “You need a specific mindset to manage a club of that stature, and both Duff and Keane certainly possess that mentality.”

It’s a pointed compliment. Handling Celtic is about more than picking a team or setting a press. It demands a manager who can live inside the pressure cooker, absorb the scrutiny, and still project clarity and conviction.

Dowie senses Keane may be edging ahead in that race.

“I think Keane might be the favourite right now, but I don't think he's a political person,” he added. “He's been dragged into the narrative a bit.”

Dragged, not driving it. That distinction matters. Dowie is effectively challenging Celtic fans to separate the man from the storm that has swirled around his past employers and to ask a simpler question: can Robbie Keane coach a team to the level this club demands?

If the answer is yes, the next time Celtic come calling, the conversation around his name may sound very different.