Celtic’s board is facing a massive summer. According to former Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, Roberto Martinez is the most obvious way to fix the growing rift with the fans. Speaking on Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness, who led Aberdeen from 2000 to 2004 before senior roles at Everton and Villa, argued that hiring Martinez would finally get Dermot Desmond and the board off the hook.
Celtic fans demand the board act, and Martinez could be the answer
Wyness clearly thinks highly of the Spaniard, calling him a “good operator” and a “good solution” for the club. He pointed out that Martinez has the profile Celtic need, thanks to his Premier League years at Wigan and Everton and his time managing heavyweights like Belgium and Portugal.
He also didn’t mince words about Wilfried Nancy, calling that appointment a massive gamble that blew up in the board’s face. Wyness is certain the fans will settle for nothing less than a marquee name, though getting Martinez would mean the board has to “push the boat out” financially. With his Portugal contract ending after this summer’s World Cup, the timing for a move couldn’t be better.
“I know Roberto and I have a good fondness for him.
“He would be a good operator for Celtic. He may actually be a good solution because it gets Dermot Desmond and the board off the hook. It’s showing some actual hope and taking the club forward, appointing a bigger name than Wilfried Nancy, who was, in the kindest way, perhaps not the biggest name.
“Martinez is proven, he’s handled Premier League clubs. Great stories at Wigan, did well at Everton and Belgium. Perhaps not fulfilling their potential, but that’s more to do, I think, with the players.
“He is well respected in the game, well liked in the game, and if Celtic were to get him they’d have to push the boat out, but the fans would demand that.”
Would Martinez genuinely represent progress or another calculated risk for Celtic?
The truth is, he’s likely a bit of both: a real step forward, but still a familiar kind of boardroom gamble. Martinez has the CV to back it up; he’s won three trophies, including that famous 2013 FA Cup with Wigan and the 2024-25 Nations League with Portugal. His tactics are also a great match for the Celtic DNA perfectly. Plus, his long history with Shaun Maloney (who played for him and coached alongside him) would give the club some much-needed stability.
He’s sharp tactically and great with players, but there are still valid concerns. His Everton teams were notoriously leaky at the back after his first season, and he hasn’t been in the day-to-day grind of club football since 2016. Ten years away from the league circuit is a long time.
Martinez has already said his mind is entirely on the World Cup, so Celtic would have to be patient and fight off other suitors. The board has a chance to make a real statement here, but as they’ve already learned this year, big names don’t mean much if the foundation underneath them isn’t right.
