Martin O’Neill to hold Celtic board talks as he reflects on managerial future | OneFootball

Martin O’Neill has admitted he will consider his future as Celtic manager following Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Rangers at Parkhead.

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill looks on during the Scottish Premiership 2026/27 match between Celtic and the Rangers at Celtic Park on September 20, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Ryan Naderi’s first-half goal condemned Celtic to a third consecutive defeat and their second derby loss in the space of seven days, following last weekend’s 3-0 Premier Sports Cup defeat at Ibrox and Thursday’s Europa League loss to Ferencvaros.

Those results have followed Celtic’s damaging Champions League collapse against LASK earlier in the season, with scrutiny intensifying around O’Neill and his team.

The 74-year-old has now revealed he will use the international break for a period of self-reflection as he considers whether he remains capable of turning Celtic’s fortunes around.

O’Neill said via Daily Record: “I’m not immune from criticism. Far from it.

“Absolutely. They [fans] have every reason to ask, can you turn this round? Can you change the whole thing? It’s not the first time I’ve been questioned about my managerial time. So, l’ll have a look at it. I will reflect and see.

“Asking what I, myself, [can do], is the main thing. Asking what I can do to help the team.

“That would be the most important thing for me to see. I genuinely will reflect and see. It’s a matter of whether I can help the team. If that’s the case.

“The manager’s supposed to be able to do that.

“And, yeah, I will have a look at that there this week. That every single time that something crops up, things don’t go so well, age plays a part. And you know what? They may well be right, you know?

“I’m 110 in two years’ time, so, yeah, it might be time to wrap it up. Listen, we’ve lost some big games. There’s no question about it. I personally think every game here is big. We lost a European game. We lost the big match out in LASK. And, here, two defeats against us. Of course you have to question it.

“I will reflect on the games. I’ll obviously speak to the board. And, you never know, they may want to speak to me. But I’ll see. I’ve got some time to do that there. I will try and get a couple of days away and see how it goes.”

Asked what would happen if his reflection led him to conclude he could no longer help Celtic, O’Neill responded: “By that time, I promise you, I’II let you know. I will. I don’t know. I’ll have a look.”

O’Neill then reflected on his return to Celtic and the success he has enjoyed since being handed another opportunity to manage the club.

He continued: “Well, first of all, let me put it, let me generalise a little bit. First of all, I got an opportunity to come back here last October, which I never thought would ever happen in my life. So I’m really grateful for that.

“And then I get the chance again in January to do it again, second time around and, as it turns out, us winning the league was like…! don’t know. I can’t remember how, when we won the treble away back in 2001, I can’t remember how I felt.

“I must have felt really pretty good about it, but I think that game against Hearts was probably one of the great moments of my managerial time. I’ve had some really, really good moments and I’ve had some pretty poor moments.

“So, yeah. So when that was good, I’m thankful for that. I was delighted to get that opportunity.

“But all the time I was still even thinking about, you know, whether you can still have the energy, desire, the things that I say to the boys here every Friday that we talk about. So l’ll have a look at that. We’ll see.”

Pressed on whether he still possesses the energy and desire to continue, O’Neill added: “I’ll have a look, yeah. I wish I was your age. I do, genuinely. Oh, you’re a child. I honestly wish I was 24 again. There’s nothing great about getting old. I promise you that.

“Mick Jagger told me that. He didn’t tell me directly. I didn’t speak to Mick Jagger. I’ve never spoken to Mick Jagger in my life. He wouldn’t have a clue who 1 am. But at the end of the day, there isn’t anything good about getting old.”

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