“I am a romantic and have been a romantic all my life,” Martin O’Neill

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The Celtic Star

·14 de novembro de 2025

“I am a romantic and have been a romantic all my life,” Martin O’Neill

It would be fair to say in a period of uncertainty Martin O’Neill has certainly steadied the ship. Drafted in to guide Celtic through a period of turbulence, after Brendan Rodgers’ sudden exit, he has provided exactly what this club needed in the short term, calm and competence…

Martin O’Neill, Interim Manager of Celtic, looks on during the Premier Sports Cup Semi Final match between Celtic and theRangers at Hampden Park on November 02, 2025 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

O’Neill has been in caretaker charge for just over a fortnight, presiding over four matches that have brought two league wins, a cup semi-final triumph over 10-man theRangers, and a Europa League defeat against FC Midtjylland.

Vídeos OneFootball

Results aside, what O’Neill has really given Celtic is breathing room, time to think, time to plan, and crucially, time to avoid rushing into a decision.

Wilfried Nancy head coach of the Columbus Crew looks during player introductions before the game against the Inter Miami CF at Huntington Bank Field on April 19, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images)

Reports this week claim the process to appoint a new manager has begun, with interviews reportedly underway and Columbus Crew’s Wilfried Nancy front of the bookmakers’ queue. Yet, the names floated publicly feel a little… well, underwhelming. Perhaps the real candidates are being kept well away from the spotlight, and perhaps that’s for the best, but nobody can deny that some of the links so far carry unnecessary risk. And risk is the last thing Celtic need right now.

O’Neill himself insists he has no insight into the boardroom manoeuvring. Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster, he was typically frank about whether he expects to lead the team into next weekend’s Premiership clash with St Mirren.

Credit: Kenny Ramsay

“The short and honest answer is I genuinely do not know,” he said in an interview broadcast this morning.

“I am not party to anything that is happening with the board talking to prospective clients and things like this, nor do I want to be because that’s never been a remit of mine. The gentlemen involved can very easily make up their own minds about people without me interfering in any aspect. I said that I would do it until they found that replacement.

“And is that possible for next week? I genuinely do not know. My job was to come in and hold the fort, and the minute that someone is appointed, I will step aside. And if it was tomorrow, I would gladly step aside. It’s not a problem. It’s nothing to do with any sort of ego or anything like that. It’s just to help out in the very, very short term.”

Martin O’Neill interim manager of Celtic Midtjylland vs Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Group Stage, Football, MCH Arena, Herning, Denmark – 06 November 2025Herning MCH Arena Denmark Photo Michael Zemanek Shutterstock IMAGO

There will be some romantics, and who could blame them, who would love nothing more than to see O’Neill lead Celtic out at Hampden in the Premier Sports Cup final on Sunday 14 December. But the man himself won’t hear of such sentiment.

“That really doesn’t matter,” Martin said. “I am a romantic and have been a romantic all my life. I know the history of football and all of those particular things but that doesn’t bother me one jot.”

Martin O’Neill. Celtic v theRangers. Premier Sports Cup, semi final at Hampden. 2 November 2025. Photo AJ (The Celtic Star)

If anything, his stance only reinforces the point that O’Neill is here to help, not to build a second era. His short-term tenure has bought Celtic something they haven’t had much of lately – time. Time to be patient in the search for the right man. Time to modernise the supporting structures that repeatedly let managers down.

Love him or loath him, Rodgers walked away citing many of the same issues predecessors have raised, decision-making at board level, outdated executive frameworks, and a recruitment process that too often leaves the manager exposed. Unless that foundation changes, the next man, whoever that might be, will run into the same brick walls.

Head coach Brendan Rodgers of Celtic and Benjamin Nygren of Celtic Celtic Training Session and press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz UEFA Europa League, Football, Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia – 23 Sep 2025Belgrade Rajko Mitic Stadium Serbia Photo Nikola Krstic Shutterstock

This search cannot merely be about selecting a manager. It must be about building an environment where that appointment can succeed. The market may open further in the coming weeks, and Celtic would be wise to ensure their house is in order before making the final call.

Niall J

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