Next Celtic Boss: Why Keane may be the perfect choice

Roy Keane has reportedly proven popular with players in his time as Republic of Ireland assistant

Roy Keane's managerial record is nowhere near as poor as his critics imply, and he fits the profile of a Celtic boss...

It looks increasingly likely that Roy Keane will return to management with Celtic after over three years away from any leadership role, with the former Bhoys player in from 150.0 to 1.625/8 to replace one-time teammate Neil Lennon.

Though the club insist that no decision has been made, Martin O'Neill confirmed that his Republic of Ireland assistant has discussed the role with majority shareholder Dermot Desmond. As his chances of a Premier League position are slim, it is difficult to see the 42-year-old declining if offered the job.

Due to the abrupt way that he left Sunderland and prior examples of dubious man-management methods, Keane is often written off as a failure. However, he is judged a little too harshly on account of his brusque outspokenness and proneness to controversy, two traits that never held Lennon back.

Keane was a near instant hit at Sunderland, inheriting a side slumped in the Championship relegation zone and guiding them to the title in his first season, then guiding them to 15th in his only full Premier League campaign, admittedly with the assistance of a generous transfer budget.

The Man United great then went to Ipswich in the second tier, guiding them to the semi-finals of the League Cup in 2010/11. While he didn't come close to executing their overdue top-flight return, nobody else has in the last 12 years, and he did no worse than his successor Paul Jewell.

Another factor that could help Keane and Celtic prove an ideal fit is the unusual bedding-in period that he will profit from with Rangers still at least a year away from a Scottish Premiership return. He was a fairly rapid starter at Sunderland and Ipswich anyway, winning his first two games with both.

Force of personality also seems to be a key component in a successful Bhoys boss. O'Neill, Gordon Strachan and Lennon are all fiercely single-minded, obdurate and powerfully charismatic. Those qualities weren't so prevalent in the two standout Parkhead underachievers of the last 15 years: John Barnes and Tony Mowbray.