Mark Fotheringham’s low-key Celtic return | OneFootball

To quote a band none of you will probably remember — but if you do, much respect — S*M*A*S*H. “You were real surreal, man, and it’s only now that I’m beginning to understand.”

And we are only just about beginning to get our heads around another surreal chapter as Celtic’s summer of discontent edges its way towards the end of autumn. Make it stop!

Brendan Rodgers. Dundee v Celtic. 19 October 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Because somehow, in the ashes of Brendan Rodgers’ resignation, and almost a whole backroom team following in a show of solidarity, Martin O’Neill has returned. At 73. Assisted by Shaun Maloney, his old Seville bright young thing. And now, added to the coaching staff, Mark Fotheringham. Yes, that Mark Fotheringham.

Shaun Maloney and Martin O’Neill at Celtic Park on October 28, 2025 (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Fotheringham was a Celtic player once, including in the O’Neill era, though you’d need to squint hard at the record books to find his name, although I did get a ticket for his debut at St Johnstone, as my brother kicked his heels outside. Sorry bruv, had to mention it.

His final appearance came in a 1–0 defeat to Kilmarnock in May 2001, one of those late-season games that disappears from memory the moment the whistle blows.

Here’s a bit more meat on the bones from the brilliant Celtic Wiki.

Patrick Vieira and Mark Fotheringham Photo by Ben Radford/Getty Images

Dundee-born Mark Fotheringham was a midfielder who made three senior appearances after coming through the Parkhead youth ranks.

Once hailed as a potential world class talent Fotheringham was the youngest player to date to make the Celtic first team when he made his competitive debut at the age of 16 back in May 2000 during a 0-0 league draw with St Johnstone (since superceded).

He also played a week later in a 2-0 victory over Dundee Utd, in what was the tail-end to one of the most demoralising league campaigns that the Celtic first team had been involved in. The manager Barnes had already been sacked mid-season, and Dalglish as interim manager had done fine but there was a mixed opinion on his involvement and long-term role. However, Mark Fotheringham had a good game with commentators reporting back positively on his contribution in the match, which is best remembered as one that saw Larsson return after a long-term injury.

The problem for Fotheringham was that once Martin O’Neill came in to manage Celtic, he relied instead on established players and transfers in (some quite expensive). As this strategy paid dividends, it hindered opportunities for and others.

BERLIN, GERMANY – MARCH 19: Mark Fotheringham, Interim Head Coach of Hertha Berlin stands in for Felix Magath  prior to the Bundesliga match between Hertha BSC and TSG Hoffenheim at Olympiastadion on March 19, 2022 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images)

Mark Fotheringham was to simply fail to fulfil those early expectations and the vast majority of his Parkhead career was spent with the Under-21s where he was a capable but not outstanding performer. He did catch the eye on one occasion when he performed a sublime piece of skill which saw him flick the ball over his head and that of his bewildered marker.

Such tricks were not enough to win him first team football at Parkhead and after a total of just three appearances for the first team he left the Hoops to join Dundee in August 2003. He left with a win, a draw and a defeat in his three matches.

His last appearance was in a 1-0 defeat to Kilmarnock in the treble winning season of 2000-01, a season with lots of incoming big transfer players who had pushed out most chances for youth players. So in light of this, Mark Fotheringham’s opportunities were seen to be limited.

Mark Fotheringham, Interim Head Coach of Hertha Berlin prior to the Bundesliga match between Hertha BSC and TSG Hoffenheim at Olympiastadion on March 19, 2022 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images)

It was another example of unnecessary initial hyperbole when it comes to a young talent. He just seemed to be at Celtic at an unlucky time for him in two extremes, firstly at Celtic when at a very low point (under Barnes) then immediately at the opposite extreme with Celtic at their peak with an expensively assembled squad (under Martin O’Neill). Somewhere in the middle could have been better for Mark Fotheringham possibly in giving him further opportunities.

We wished him all the best.

Post-Celtic

After a fair time at Dundee, he went on to play for German side SC Freiburg and Swiss club FC Aarau before having an unsuccessful trial with Rangers in January 2007. He joined Norwich City later that month and would be appointed captain of the Carrow Road club before being stripped of that role following a display of petulance when substituted.

He was released by the Canaries in April 2009 and had unsuccessful trial periods at Espanyol and Derby County.

In September 2009 he was back in Scotland and training with Dundee Utd but a contract was not forthcoming. Instead Mark Fotheringham moved to take a contract with Anorthosis Famagusta in Cyprus. He later returned to Scotland, running down his career with a plethora of clubs in Scotland and then in England.

One notable spell was at Notts County, where he ended up playing alongside on loan Callum McGregor who went on to be a Celtic great.

Mark Fotheringham went on to become a player/assistant manager at Cowdenbeath in the third tier in Scottish football, but left in 2019, when he finally retired from play.

Credit: Sky Sports

He then moved into coaching in Germany, and then in 2022 became the manager of Huddersfield Town in the second tier in England, which ended up lasting for a brief half a season.

It looks like Fotheringham picked up a bit of everything along the way, languages, scars, air miles, and ended up coaching in Germany under Felix Magath, the man whose training sessions could break a man’s will before breakfast. Later, Fotheringham tried management himself at Huddersfield Town, lasting just four months before being thanked for his efforts and handed his jacket.

Now, he’s back at Celtic — where it all began — brought in by O’Neill and Maloney to help plug the gaps after Rodgers’ entire backroom team (bar Stevie Woods and Gordon Strachan’s boy Gavin) walked out.

Martin O’Neill arrives after the announcement that former Celtic Manager was returning to the club as interim manager, following yesterday’s surprise resignation of Brendan Rodgers, at Celtic Park on October 28, 2025 (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

O’Neill spoke to TalkSport today and sounded exactly how you’d expect a man in his seventies to sound after being teleported back into Glasgow chaos. Part excitement. Part disbelief.

“I took a gasp of breath and asked if this was real,” he said. So, no different from the Celtic support then. Apart from our editor, of course — who actually called this yesterday morning, the smug clairvoyant. I really should get him to put my coupon on this weekend. O’Neill continued “It’s difficult to turn down someone who gave you the job in the first place when they had great options 25 years ago. By the time I pulled myself off the floor, I thought maybe I should do it.”

He insists he’s here on borrowed time. “It’s short term. Celtic are probably stunned at the news Brendan left. They are obviously seeking a permanent manager, so it’s a short-term fit.”

And, in case anyone missed it, he hammered it home. “Interim does mean interim. It’s as simple as that. Celtic are looking for, I assume, a young coach with proven ability. We want to pull the club forward now. Naturally, I had a super time at Celtic, it was a privilege. I can’t emphasise enough, it’s short term until a permanent manager is appointed. I’ll just keep the seat warm.”

A calm voice of reason amid the chaos. Imagine that, someone at Celtic speaking plainly, and calmly.

And because this whole saga can’t resist slipping into the absurd, O’Neill joked — yes, we fact-checked it twice, it’s one of those days — that he’d given Henrik Larsson a shout “to ask if he’s been staying in the gym.” Given the state of things, you half expect him to make the bench against Falkirk tomorrow night.

So here we are, reality optional.

Rodgers gone. The backroom staff gone. A managerial legend back in charge. Wee Shaun Maloney as his number two. Mark Fotheringham, fresh from Magath’s boot camps, back at Lennoxtown. And Dermot Desmond delivering statements like he’s auditioning for Succession.

This isn’t football anymore. It’s existential theatre. The Celtic board are managing by nostalgia, the fans are running on disbelief, and the club’s structure looks more like a recurring dream than an actual plan.

Still, there’s hope in madness, even if it’s possibly misplaced.

Niall J

Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter, signed copies by Danny McGrain available from celticstarbooks.com

Don’t miss the chance to purchase the late, great Celtic historian David Potter’s final book. All remaining copies have been signed by the legendary Celtic captain  Danny McGrain PLUS you’ll also receive a FREE copy of David Potter’s Willie Fernie biography – Putting on the Style, and you’ll only be charged for postage on one book.  Order from Celtic Star Books HERE.

Celtic in the Eighties and Willie Fernie – Putting on the Style both by David Potter. Photo The Celtic Star

Danny McGrain signing copies of Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Photo: Celtic Star Books

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