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John Aldridge would love to see Robbie Keane get a crack at the Republic of Ireland job - amid talk that he is in the running to succeed Brendan Rodgers at Celtic. The Premier League legend has made a flying start to management, lifting a league and cup double with Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel before guiding Ferencvaros to the Hungarian championship in his debut campaign last season. Along with the likes of Kieran McKenna, Craig Bellamy and Bodo/Glimt gaffer Kjetil Knutsen, Keane has been touted as the next permanent appointment at Parkhead, with interim boss Martin O'Neill expected to step down from his role before the return to league action against St Mirren in 12 days time. Keane, 45, enjoyed a prolific loan spell with Celtic during his playing career in 2010 but links to the Parkhead giants have been met with scepticism by large sections of Hoops supporters due to his time in Israel . Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson only took over the national team last year but could be out of a job if he is unable to secure a World Cup play-off berth. The Boys in Green trail Hungary by a point in Group F and travel to Bucharest in their final qualifier next week, which is preceded by a mega showdown with Portugal in Dublin. And should the Irish FA decide to bite the bullet on Hallgrímsson, Liverpool and Ireland hero John Aldridge would like to see Keane and ex Celtic coach Damien Duff both considered for the role. Speaking on the Irish Independent's The Verdict, he said: "(Damien) Duff has done really well. Robbie has gone to Hungary with Ferencvaros and done really, really well. Celtic have been linked with Robbie. "If he (Halgrimsson) goes I would love to see one of them (two) given a chance, why not? "They are passionate from playing under Mick (McCarthy) and other managers, what we need to get there. "To be fair, they played in a really good (Ireland) team with really good players who were playing in the Premier League. "Okay, they have got a lack of experience but Stan (Steve Staunton) got the job (in 2006) having been the same, so why not? I'd be all for it." Another man who has been linked with a shock return to Celtic is Efrain Juarez, but this time in the dugout. The Mexican had an ill-fated year long stint in Glasgow's East End in the 2010/11 season, where he appeared just 20 times. However, after working alongside ex Hoops boss Ronny Deila at New York City FC, Standard Liège and Club Brugge, Juarez has forged a decent career for himself as a number one, taking up the reins at PUMAS earlier this year after winning a league and cup double with Atletico Nacional in Colombia. Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas currently plays under the 37-year-old and is not surprised to see his manager linked with a big move . Juarez has accumulated a reputation as a hot-headed coach since becoming a manager in his own right last year. He was given a three-year ban from every stadium in Colombia for his 'provocative' celebrations in the wake of a victory against bitter Medellin rivals Deportivo Independiente, although the sanction was later revoked. But his combative approach now appears to have been embraced by his own players, with Pumas UNAM ranked as the lowest team for Fair Play in the 2025 Liga MX season. In their 34 league games in total, they picked up 50 yellow cards and seven red cards in total, with Juarez himself given a two-game suspension after abusing officials during a clash with Club America.
