Martin O’Neill appointed Celtic manager after title-winning interim spell | OneFootball

Martin O’Neill has been appointed Celtic manager on a permanent deal after his title-winning interim return. The club said in a statement that the 74-year-old has signed a one-year contract with a one-year option.

He served two caretaker stints in 2025-26 after Brendan Rodgers and Wilfried Nancy departed, the second ending in a Premiership and Scottish Cup double. Celtic won their final nine games to overhaul Heart of Midlothian, who had led since September and were chasing a first league crown since 1960.

The league triumph was the club’s 14th in the last 15 seasons. It also ensured Celtic and Rangers have shared all 41 titles since 1985, when Aberdeen under Sir Alex Ferguson were champions.

O’Neill called continuing in the job a privilege and said last season whetted his appetite to deliver more days like those. After sealing the title he told fans the players and staff had “given me a reason to live”.

Celtic’s campaign was turbulent, with Rodgers resigning in October and the club’s largest individual shareholder Dermot Desmond later calling him “misleading” and contributing to a “toxic atmosphere”. Nancy’s reign lasted 33 days, yielding six defeats in eight, before O’Neill returned to steady the season.

O’Neill previously managed Celtic from 2000 to 2005, winning three league titles, three Scottish Cups and a League Cup. He has been the club’s most successful manager since Jock Stein, and his 75.5 per cent win rate is the highest in Celtic’s history.

Source: NY Times