25 years since Martin O’Neill’s first competitive Celtic game

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The Celtic Star

·30 juillet 2025

25 years since Martin O’Neill’s first competitive Celtic game

25 years ago, in the summer of 2000, an Irish whirlwind landed in Glasgow, one that would transform Celtic and help begin the club’s 21st century dominance…

Martin O’Neill apointed Celtic manager, 1st June 2000. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Martin O’Neill was lured from England’s top League to come and take on the Celtic Park hot-seat, becoming the 13th man to hold this job on a permanent basis. Over the coming years, O’Neill would help rebuild the Hoops. Despite the club having won the 1997-98 title, they had very much been in Rangers’ shadow since the late-1980s.

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This is the story of the change he brought to Celtic Park.

O’Neill’s appointment was a real statement of intent for the Celts. He had managed in England for a number of years, achieving particular success with Leicester where he won the 1997 and 2000 League Cups.

The Irishman had also been a renowned player. He enjoyed massive success with Nottingham Forest, helping them win two European Cups, the Super Cup, the English First Division and two League Cups. He also captained Northern Ireland in the 1982 World Cup Finals.

Within weeks of his arrival at Celtic Park, it was evident Celtic would be a very different proposition. The club invested in several expensive and high-quality signings, such as Chris Sutton, Neil Lennon, Alan Thompson and Joos Valgaeren. The cheaper signing of Didier Agathe also proved to be profoundly important too.

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill with his new signings Alan Thompson and Didier Agathe at Celtic Park in September 2020. Photo The Celtic Wiki

And then came an on-field earthquake.

Celtic started the 2000-01 season well, winning six successive games in the League and Europe. However, on 27 August 2000, Rangers came to Glasgow’s east end, providing the first major test of the season.

To say Celtic started began well is a huge understatement. They took the lead in the opening seconds, and were three ahead within 11 minutes. By the time the full-time whistle sounded, the Hoops had hammered the Ibrox side 6-2, including a celebrated Henrik Larsson chipped goal.

27 August 2000: Manager Martin O”Neal of Celtic signals after the fifth goal during the Glasgow Celtic v Glasgow Rangers Premier League match at Celtic Park, Glasgow. Photo Stu Forster/ALLSPORT

It was clear that this was going to be a Hoops side unlike any seen for many a season. Martin O’Neill later described this match as arguably the most important of his Celtic managerial career, on the basis that it gave the Celts the confidence to go on an and achieve everything they did under his leadership.

The Bhoys swatted aside all domestic competition to secure the League title, Scottish Cup and League Cup. Henrik Larsson was a particular success; his 53 goals secured for him the European Golden Boot as top scorer in Europe.

27 August 2000: Henrik Larsson of Celtic celebrates during the Scottish Premier League match against Rangers at Celtic Park in Glasgow, Scotland. Celtic won the game 6 – 2. Photo: Stu Forster /Allsport

To place this achievement in context, this was only the third time that the Bhoys had won the Treble, the first time it had happened in more than three decades and the first time a Celtic manager other than Jock Stein had achieved it.

O’Neill’s maiden season had set a marker for fan expectations. Celtic wanted to build on this domestic success, ensuring a legacy of dominance. However, they also hoped the club would make its mark on the continent, succeeding in UEFA competitions too.

His second season – in 2001-02 – would again show Celtic to be Scotland’s top side, albeit not as dominant as the previous year. It would also see an impressive European effort, one of the best the club had enjoyed in many years.

The campaign started with some important transfer business. John Hartson arrived, building on an already impressive set of attacking options. And defensively, strength and height were added to the defence through Bobo Balde.

Imago/PanoramiCBobo Balde (Celtic Glasgow 2003 ) Photo Aktion Personen

Domestically, the Celts swatted aside League opposition. They broke the 100 points mark, and eventually finished 18 points ahead of their nearest rivals.

This same success was not evident in the cups, and it was the Ibrox men that twice defeated them. Celtic lost out to Rangers in the semi-final of the League Cup and then fell to an injury time goal in the Scottish Cup Final.

In Europe, fans enjoyed some significant victories under O’Neill’s leadership. They faced Ajax in the final qualifying round of the Champions League and a very impressive showing – including a 3-1 victory in the Netherlands – helped them win the tie.

This led to Celtic’s first experience of the Champions League. Although they lost the home leg of the Ajax qualifying tie, it was the form in Celtic Park that was most impressive. The Bhoys beat Rosenberg, Porto and Juventus at home, but unfortunately lost all the away matches and so exited the competition.

This whetted fan appetites for an even better European showing in 2002-03. Instead, the season started poorly, going to show that you can never predict what will ultimately happen.

Celtic failed to reach the Champions League, losing out on away goals to FC Basle of Switzerland. Dropping into the UEFA Cup was a notable black mark against O’Neill; it left fans wondering what continental excitement lay ahead.

Domestically, it was Martin’s least successful season as Celtic boss. Despite the fact it went to a final day title shootout, Celtic failed to win any Scottish trophy.

The most controversial of these moments came in the League Cup Final. Celtic were 2-1 down against Rangers and a clearly onside goal by John Hartson was wrongly ruled out, which led to an Old Firm defeat.

John Hartson offside? That call won Rangers FC a trophy. Photo The Celtic Wiki

The European experience was eventually much more upbeat. Celtic began to progress through the rounds of the UEFA Cup, beating firstly Suduva and then Blackburn. A more tricky trip to Spain still saw Celtic progress against Celta Vigo.

Regardless of the stature of opponent, nothing seemed able to stop the Celts. They firstly overcame Stuttgart and then had a famous win at Anfield, disposing of Liverpool. A semi-final against Boavista went to the wire but saw the Hoops reach their first European final in more than three decades, and their third overall.

A dejected Celtic manager Martin O’Neill after the UEFA Cup Final match between Celtic and FC Porto held on May 21, 2003 at the Estadio Olimpico in Seville, Spain. FC Porto won the match and trophy 3-2 after extra-time. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Sunny Seville was the scene for this match, and tens of thousands of Celts fans made the Spanish journey. However, a spirited Celtic performance was not enough as the Bhoys lost 3-2 after extra-time to Jose Mourinho’s Porto. At least the fans’ actions were rewarded as Celtic received a special UEFA award in recognition of this.

Although season 2002-03 had been full of many highs and memorable moments, the club had still failed to secure any silverware. It was essential in 2003-04 to rectify this. This goal was certainly achieved.

A dominant League performance – finishing 17 points clear of Rangers – meant that another title was added to Celtic’s honours list. And then the Hoops came from behind in the Scottish Cup Final to secure another double.

The Celts’ European experience was again a combination of success and disappointment. A last game defeat in Lyon meant that Celtic dropped out of the Champions League into the UEFA Cup. Following this, they disposed of Barcelona over two legs but then went out to Villarreal.

At the start of season 2004-05, it was difficult to see how the season would end. Despite high hopes – and winning some silverware – it ended with a huge sense of disappointment alongside O’Neill’s Celtic Park departure. And all of this was done alongside football being of limited importance.

Martin O’Neill of Celtic celebrates victory with his players after his last game in charge after winning The Tennents Scottish Cup Final between Celtic and Dundee United at Hampden Park on May 28, 2005. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Rangers overcame Celtic in the League Cup quarter-finals, but in the League, the Celts seemed assured of triumph. They went to Fir Park on the final day needing just a win to become Champions. However, two late Scott McDonald goals created for this day the title of ‘Black Sunday’ as the Hoops fell to defeat.

Many assigned this to the surprising announcement of Martin O’Neill’s departure. With his wife facing serious illness, the Irishman decided to resign and look after her. This was announced in the run-up to the final League game.

Even Scottish Cup victory the week after ‘Black Sunday’ could not shake the sense of disappointment which surrounded the club.

Martin O’Neill ended up being out of football for more than a year. However, after that that he continued his very successful English experience where he spent four productive years as Aston Villa, reaching another League Cup Final. He then had two years at Sunderland.

Arguably his most notable spell after Celtic came not in domestic football but instead at international level. In November 2013, he was appointed manager of the Republic of Ireland, working alongside another former Celt, Roy Keane.

Martin O’Neill of Celtic applauds the fans after winning his last game in charge, The Tennents Scottish Cup Final between Celtic and Dundee United, at Hampden Park on May 28, 2005. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

He eventually left Eire in 2019. This led to him having a very short-lived spell in charge of Nottingham Forest, the club where he had achieved such success as a player.

Outwith playing and managing football, O’Neill had various interests. He was well-known as a TV pundit, and also started a Law degree at Queen’s University in Belfast.

Each fan will have their own opinion about Celtic’s most significant managers. However, O’Neill stands out significantly in this regard, especially when analysing the Celts’ performance and achievements in the 21st century.

Martin O’Neill, former Celtic manager looks on prior to the Scottish Cup Semi Final match between theRangers and Celtic at Hampden Park on April 30, 2023. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

In many ways, he can be considered a Fergus McCann appointment. Although McCann had left by the summer of 2000, it was his steps in building a modern Celtic that allowed for the hiring of a figure of O’Neill’s stature.

Given Celtic’s 21st century dominance, it may be difficult for younger fans to understand the extent to which the Hoops were behind their Ibrox rivals in the latter years of the twentieth century.

Martin O’Neill changed that by building a team that did not simply dominate in Scotland but resurrected the club’s European reputation too. He is an iconic and critical figure in the Celtic story.

Matthew Marr

If you want to learn more about Celtic history, follow Hail Hail History on Twitter/X. You can also take part in a FREE Celtic history walking tour. Visit celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com for more information.

Click on cover to order a hardback copy

Matthew’s debut Celtic book titled ‘The Bould Bhoys – Glory to their name’ was published by Celtic Star Books last year and is available to order HERE. This brilliant book is also available on Amazon Kindle for just £3.49 and includes all photo sections that appear in the hardback edition.

Matthew Marr with his debut Celtic book, Glory to their name, which tells the story of Celtic’s first ever title win. Photo The Celtic Star

Celtic in the Thirties by Celtic Historian Matt Corr is published in two volumes by Celtic Star Books.