O’Neill secures Celtic role after double triumph
The 74-year-old’s second interim spell culminated in a Premiership and Scottish Cup double, with a contract agreed in principle but awaiting formal club confirmation.
Martin O’Neill has agreed to terms to remain as Celtic manager, securing a one-year contract with an option for a further year. The arrangement follows discussions with major shareholder Dermot Desmond earlier this week, though the club has not yet issued an official public confirmation of the appointment.
The 74-year-old’s return to Parkhead comes two decades after he ended a five-year tenure at the club. His initial reappointment occurred in late October 2025 on a temporary basis following the departure of Brendan Rodgers. O’Neill oversaw eight games before stepping aside for Wilfried Nancy, who departed after a brief and unsuccessful stint that yielded only two wins from eight matches.
O’Neill was reappointed in early January for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. Across both interim spells, he managed 35 games in all competitions, winning 27 and drawing four. His league points average of 2.56 per game matched the corresponding figure from his previous tenure between 2000 and 2005.
The season concluded with a domestic double. Celtic secured the Scottish Premiership on the final day of the campaign with a 3-1 victory over long-time leaders Hearts. Two weeks later, O’Neill guided the team to a 3-1 win against Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden, securing his ninth trophy as Celtic manager.
As Premiership winners, Celtic will enter the Champions League play-off round, a stage they lost at last term. This resulted in a Europa League berth in the league phase, where O’Neill managed four games before a knockout defeat by Stuttgart. The club also eliminated Rangers in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals under O’Neill’s supervision in March.
Other candidates linked to the role included Robbie Keane, who has reportedly left Ferencvaros, and Jens Berthel Askou, who departed Motherwell for Toulouse. O’Neill’s managerial history also includes stints at Leicester City, Aston Villa, and the Republic of Ireland national team.
Celtic’s path to the Champions League play-offs follows a Europa League exit to Stuttgart last season. O’Neill’s previous tenure saw the club win the League Cup semi-final against Rangers in November, though they lost the final to St Mirren the following month with Nancy in charge.
