The managerial search at Celtic is heating up as the club approaches a critical crossroads ahead of the 2026-2027 season. With Martin O’Neill’s interim tenure set to conclude at the end of the current campaign, speculation is swirling around who will take the reins at Parkhead. Among the names floated, none has sparked more debate than Roberto Martínez, the current Portugal national team manager and former boss at Wigan, Everton, and Belgium. As the Scottish giants weigh their options, voices from across the footballing world are weighing in, with former players, pundits, and even Martínez himself offering their perspectives on what’s at stake for Celtic.
Fraser Fyvie, a midfielder who played under Martínez at Wigan during their remarkable 2012-2013 FA Cup-winning season, has been one of the most vocal advocates for the Spaniard’s appointment at Celtic. Speaking to PLZ Soccer on February 25, 2026, Fyvie didn’t mince words: “If they managed to get Roberto, it would be a steal for the club. Obviously, Celtic’s a massive, massive football club, but Roberto would be a revelation in there.” Fyvie’s endorsement is rooted in experience; despite making just eight appearances under Martínez, he was deeply impressed by the manager’s tactical acumen, his calmness under pressure, and his ability to foster a positive environment both on and off the pitch.
Fyvie highlighted the synergy between Martínez’s footballing philosophy and Celtic’s traditions. “I think the style of play would suit the club, obviously Shaun Maloney’s already there, who he’s obviously been with at Wigan, and Shaun went with him to Belgium,” Fyvie noted. Maloney, now working alongside Martin O’Neill at Celtic, has had a long-standing professional relationship with Martínez, having played under him at Wigan and later served as a coach during his stints in Belgium and Portugal. Fyvie believes this continuity would be invaluable for Celtic, adding, “If they could get Roberto, it would be amazing for the football club, it would probably be amazing for Roberto and Shaun as well.”
What makes Martínez such an attractive candidate for the Celtic job? According to Fyvie, it’s the manager’s commitment to attacking football, his insistence on playing out from the back, and his ability to adapt to the demands of a high-pressure environment. “Tactically, and the way he wants to play the game, he would suit Celtic to a tee. To be the Celtic manager you have to play football in a certain way and I think Roberto meets the criteria for all of that, and just the way he represents himself and the way he is with players and everyone around the club. He’s fantastic and obviously he was really good in the Premier League in England, has a good pedigree and obviously has gone into the international game and done fantastically well so it would be a no-brainer appointment if he was available to take that job,” Fyvie explained.
Martínez’s managerial resume is nothing short of impressive. After his time at Everton, where he developed a reputation for attractive, possession-based football, he made the leap to international management with Belgium in 2016. There, he guided the nation’s so-called ‘golden generation’ to a third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup. While Belgium’s subsequent tournament performances fell short of expectations, Martínez’s reputation remained intact, and he was appointed Portugal manager in 2023. His tenure with Portugal has already yielded significant results: a run to the quarter-finals at EURO 2024, where they were narrowly eliminated by France on penalties, and a Nations League title in 2025, secured after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Spain.
Despite these successes, Martínez’s contract with Portugal is not expected to be renewed after the 2026 World Cup. This has fueled speculation about a possible return to club management, with Celtic reportedly among the most interested parties. However, Martínez himself has been cautious about his next move. In a recent appearance on The Overlap, he told Gary Neville, “I don’t know, that’s the truth. I can never plan my career. I could never imagine what I have experienced. So, I have always been that when it’s the right time, it’s the right project.” When pressed about the possibility of returning to club football, Martínez emphasized, “It’s not about a club, or I would like to manage here. No, it’s about that board and that they believe in your work, and what is the project behind it.”
Martínez’s comments underscore a key consideration for both himself and Celtic: the importance of alignment between the manager’s vision and the club’s ambitions. He elaborated on the differences between international and club management, noting, “Club football is so ‘forward, forward, forward’, with international football you need to prioritise. You can’t work at everything, you have three days. So everything becomes very specific. International football is about clarity.” For Celtic, whose supporters demand attacking football and silverware, the appointment of a manager with a clear, progressive philosophy is paramount.
Not everyone is convinced Martínez is the right fit, however. Recent reports have suggested that Celtic should prioritize Graham Potter, the former Chelsea and West Ham manager, over Martínez. At 50, Potter is lauded for his work at Brighton, where he established the club as a Premier League mainstay and developed a host of young talent. Critics point to Martínez’s decade-long absence from club management as a potential risk, arguing that Potter’s recent experience in the English top flight and his reputation for developing players make him a more suitable candidate for the job. Pep Guardiola, Manchester City’s legendary manager, even described Potter as ‘outstanding’—high praise in any context.
Meanwhile, Celtic’s current situation remains precarious. The club trails Hearts and Rangers in the Scottish Premiership but has a game in hand. They are also facing a daunting 4-1 deficit in their Europa League knockout play-off against Stuttgart, with the second leg looming. The pressure is on the board to make the right managerial appointment, especially after a season that has fallen short of the club’s lofty standards. The decision will shape the club’s trajectory for years to come.
As the summer approaches, all eyes are on Parkhead. Will Celtic opt for the international pedigree and tactical nous of Roberto Martínez, banking on his ability to revitalize the club and deliver a brand of football that excites fans? Or will they turn to Graham Potter, betting on his Premier League experience and player development skills to usher in a new era? One thing is clear: the next Celtic manager will face immense expectations, and the club’s supporters will settle for nothing less than a return to the summit of Scottish and European football.
For now, the speculation continues, with Martínez and Potter leading the field of candidates. As Fraser Fyvie summed up, “If they could get Roberto, it would be amazing for the football club.” Whether the board agrees—and whether Martínez finds the Celtic project compelling enough—remains to be seen. The coming months promise plenty of drama as Celtic charts its course into a pivotal new chapter.