Martin O’Neill set to receive prestigious honour after remarkable Celtic title triumph | OneFootball

Martin O’Neill is set to receive the highest civic honour from his home borough, with his remarkable title triumph at Celtic last season forming part of the case for the award.

Martin O’Neill, Manager of Celtic, arrives at the stadium before the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and the Rangers at Celtic Park on September 20, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The Hoops boss has endured a difficult few days at Parkhead following three successive defeats, including back-to-back losses against Rangers.

However, there is much more positive news for O’Neill back in Northern Ireland after Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council unanimously voted to award him the Freedom of the Borough.

According to The Scottish Sun, the decision was finalised at a special council meeting in September after discussions over recognising O’Neill first began in June.

The original motion detailed the 74-year-old’s remarkable career in football, including winning two European Cups with Nottingham Forest and captaining Northern Ireland at the 1982 World Cup before moving into management.

His achievements at Celtic also featured prominently, with the proposal highlighting O’Neill’s return to Parkhead, “culminating in the remarkable achievement of winning the league title at the age of 74”.

O’Neill subsequently added the Scottish Cup to complete a domestic double, while the motion also praised his “enduring leadership and contribution to the game”.

The recognition comes at a contrasting moment for the Celtic manager, whose side have now suffered three consecutive defeats and lost twice to Rangers in the space of eight days.

O’Neill admitted following Sunday’s derby defeat that he would use the international break to reflect on his future.

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