Celtic secure fifth straight Scottish Premiership title as O’Neill reflects on surreal return
The result extends Old Firm dominance to 41 years, with Martin O’Neill describing the triumph as a dream following a rollercoaster campaign.
Celtic have secured their fifth consecutive Scottish Premiership title, extending the Old Firm’s stranglehold on the league to 41 years. The victory was confirmed on 16 May 2026, following a 3-1 win over Hearts at Parkhead, a result that also marks the 111th combined title for Celtic and Rangers in the competition’s history.
The triumph comes after a complex season for Celtic, during which manager Martin O’Neill served two separate tenures in charge. O’Neill, who returned to the club after a spell working as a pundit, guided the team through a challenging campaign to secure the championship. Speaking to Celtic TV after the final whistle, he described the achievement as surreal, noting the stark contrast between his role as a commentator the previous year and his position at the helm this season.
The path to the title was not without its uncertainties for the defending champions. Hearts had mounted a serious challenge earlier in the season, but their campaign collapsed in February 2026 following a significant defeat to Rangers. The loss, combined with a failure to secure points in the final week, allowed Celtic to pull clear and secure the league crown.
O’Neill highlighted the personal significance of the victory, referencing his family’s presence at the match. He noted that his seven-year-old grandson would grasp the magnitude of the occasion, while his three-year-old granddaughter simply repeated the club name. The manager also drew parallels to his time managing Wycombe Wanderers, recalling the pride of his daughters attending the FA Trophy win at Wembley.
Reflecting on the pressures of managing one of Scotland’s most scrutinised clubs, O’Neill cited former player Tommy Burns, who once remarked that playing for Celtic was more difficult than playing against them. He emphasised that players must rise to the occasion in front of 60,000 demanding supporters, asserting that courage and adaptability are essential when tactics shift during the course of a game.
