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Martin O’Neill has been appointed once again as Celtic’s manager for the remainder of the current season, following the recent departure of Wilfried Nancy. The 73-year-old had previously taken charge for eight matches after Brendan Rodgers left the club in October, achieving seven victories during that period. Although O’Neill stepped aside for Nancy in early December, the French coach’s tenure ended on Monday after securing just two wins across eight games.
Expressing his feelings about the return, O’Neill shared with the club’s media that he was “really pleased” and “very honoured” to take on the role again. He acknowledged the hopes that the situation would have unfolded differently under Nancy and extended his best wishes to the outgoing manager. “He is a fine man and I am sure he will go on and achieve success again, I have no doubt of that,” O’Neill added. He also emphasized his commitment to turnaround the team’s fortunes and called for support from everyone associated with the club.
O’Neill’s return sees him reunited with his coaching team, including Shaun Maloney, Mark Fotheringham, and Stephen McManus. Celtic, winners of 13 of the past 14 Scottish Premiership titles, currently lie second in the league standings, trailing leaders Hearts by six points but ahead of Rangers on goal difference. During Nancy’s spell, the club reached the League Cup final but were defeated by St Mirren; notably, O’Neill had overseen the semi-final victory against Rangers before handing over to Nancy.
The experienced manager remains optimistic about the challenges ahead, asserting that “myself, Shaun and the coaching staff and, of course, the players will be giving everything to achieve all the success we can for the club.” His previous stint with Celtic from 2000 to 2005 was marked by seven trophies, and he will now focus on restoring the team’s winning momentum.
Interim chairman Brian Wilson spoke positively about O’Neill’s return, highlighting the confidence it brings to the club. He described the former Leicester City, Aston Villa, Sunderland, and Nottingham Forest manager as someone “the players, staff and supporters know well,” with “a peerless reputation in football and a deep commitment to Celtic.” Wilson underlined that while O’Neill’s appointment doesn’t solve every problem, unity within the club’s community is essential to foster an environment conducive to success.
Reflecting on his previous interim spell, O’Neill stated he would have “happily stayed on” at the time, noting, “Thankfully, I don’t think I messed it up.” Principal shareholder Dermot Desmond, who originally brought O’Neill to Celtic in 2000, expressed faith in the manager’s ability to guide the club forward. Desmond acknowledged that the club had high hopes when appointing Nancy but regretted that things “did not work out in the way we would have liked.” He also wished Nancy well in his future endeavors, while emphasizing the desire for O’Neill to “bring us similar success going forward.”
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