Martin O’Neill Prepares for Sunday Celtic Farewell
Martin O’Neill is set to bid farewell to Celtic this Sunday, marking the end of his interim managerial role. His recent achievements include a significant 3-1 victory against Feyenoord. This result ended a four-year drought for Celtic in securing an away win in European competitions.
Key Achievements Under O’Neill
O’Neill, together with assistant coach Shaun Maloney, also led the team to a memorable extra-time victory in the League Cup semi-final against their arch-rivals, Rangers. O’Neill expressed his joy during his interim management, stating, “I have honestly enjoyed it.”
- League Titles: 3
- Scottish Cups: 3
- League Cup: 1
- Uefa Cup Final: 2003
Reflecting on Performance
Commenting on the match against Feyenoord, O’Neill remarked on the quality of the team’s performance. “I thought we were really brilliant. It was as good as we’ve played in my time here,” he said. His enthusiasm is evident, especially considering that his only prior defeat while managing Celtic came in the Europa League against Midtjylland.
O’Neill’s Return to Management
Before returning to Celtic, O’Neill had not managed a club since his departure from Nottingham Forest in June 2019. He conveyed that despite his time away, the desire to manage never faded. “The appetite is always there,” he noted. “In my last days on earth I’ll still be thinking ‘yeah, that’s OK, I’ll be able to do that.’”
This opportunity arose thanks to Dermot Desmond, the club’s major shareholder, who initially hired him 25 years ago. O’Neill acknowledged the significance of this call, stating, “The call to manage Celtic again was really too great.” He expressed gratitude for having his chance to make an impact once more.
As O’Neill prepares for his farewell on Sunday, the Celtic community reflects on his contributions and the exciting matches during his interim tenure.
