Robbie Keane has emerged as the frontrunner to take the Celtic helm this summer as the club prepares for a major overhaul. Following Martin O'Neill's interim stint, the Tottenham and Republic of Ireland cult hero is seen as the perfect figure to lead a new era at Parkhead. The Glasgow giants hope Keane’s managerial experience can stabilize the club after a turbulent period.
Gordon Strachan has explained to GOAL what it takes to be an Old Firm manager, with the former Celtic boss admitting that “your entire life is ripped apart”. It takes a special kind of character to embrace that pressure in Glasgow, at Parkhead or Ibrox, with Martin O’Neill proving at 74 years of age that he still ticks the box when it comes to filling the most demanding of roles.
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has expressed his deep concern that the iconic atmosphere of the Old Firm derby may be "lost" following the chaotic scenes that marred the end of Sunday’s Scottish Cup quarter-final. The Hoops secured a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Rangers at Ibrox, but the triumph was overshadowed by a significant pitch invasion. Police have already confirmed that nine arrests were made following the disorder, and more are expected in the coming days.
Legendary former Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has questioned why fans that marred the latest Old Firm derby, those “wearing masks and punching police”, are being allowed to dictate how long managers spend in any given post. Wilfried Nancy lasted just 33 days in charge at Parkhead this season, while ex-Hoops boss Ange Postecoglou was given only 39 at Nottingham Forest.
Since the Conference League's inception in 2021, three teams have lifted the trophy: Roma, West Ham United, and the current champions, Olympiacos.
How many teams are in the Conference League?
The newest format, introduced ahead of the 2024-25 season, features 36 teams, four more than in the previous format.
Who has made the most Conference League appearances ever?
Mainz 05 midfielder Hong Hyun-seok and Gent captain Sven Kums have made 39 appearances each in the Conference League, making them the players with the most appearances in the competition.
Who is the all-time top scorer of the Conference League?
As for top goalscorers, Arthur Cabral leads the list with 21 goals to his name, including those scored in the qualifying phase. However, without taking into account goals scored in the qualifying phase, three players have scored the joint-most goals in Conference League with 12 each to their names: Arthur Cabral, Eran Zahavi, and Vangelis Pavlidis.
Who has the most assists in the history of the Conference League?
Darian Males, Gavriel Kanichowsky, and Cristiano Biraghi have the most assists in Conference League history, registering eight assists each.
Who is the oldest player ever in the Conference League and how old was he?
Veteran Spanish goalkeeper Pepe Reina, while playing for Villarreal in 2023, became the oldest player to feature in the Conference League at 40 years and 175 days.
Who is the youngest player ever in the Conference League and how old was he?
Lille wonderkid Ayyoub Bouaddi holds the record as the Conference League's youngest-ever player at the tender age of 16 years and 3 days.
Which famous players have played in the Conference League?
Stars such as Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Tammy Abraham, Declan Rice, Harry Kane, Ollie Watkins,Co Mario Gotze, Kasper Schmeichel, Cody Gakpo, Stephan El Shaarawy, James Maddison, Jonathan David, and Edin Dzeko have played in the Conference League.
Which famous managers have managed in the Conference League?
Manuel Pellegrini, Jose Mourinho, Unai Emery, David Moyes, and Ange Postecoglou are among the most famous managers to have managed in the Conference League.