It’s the football business, you have to win matches – Martin O’Neill

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The Celtic Star

·06 de janeiro de 2026

It’s the football business, you have to win matches – Martin O’Neill

Martin O’Neill has explained that Dermot Desmond approached him about returning to Celtic on an interim basis for a second time to allow the club breathing space in their search for a permanent manager…

Celtic Manager Martin O’Neill speaks at a mainstream conference on Tuesday 6th January 2026 at Lennoxtown after returning to the club following the sacking of Wifred Nancy. Photo Andy Buchanan Shutterstock

The now interim Celtic boss has once again taken charge of the Hoops for a third time in his managerial career, marking his second spell in the dugout this season following the dismissal of Wilfried Nancy.

Vídeos OneFootball

O’Neill had only stepped aside 33 days ago, handing control to the Frenchman with Celtic joint top of the Scottish Premiership alongside Hearts and holding a game in hand, after initially answering the call when Brendan Rodgers resigned.

Nancy’s short reign unravelled quickly, with just two victories from eight matches prompting the club to act decisively. With results deteriorating, Desmond turned once more to O’Neill who will hopefully deliver a league title.

Martin O’Neill at Easter Road. Photo Geo (The Celtic Star)

After a hectic day at Celtic Park, O’Neill has now resumed managerial duties, supported by assistants Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham.

Speaking to Celtic TV following his appointment, he said: “I am very, very pleased to be back at the football club – very privileged to be back at the football club. But, before Brendan had resigned and there was that small opportunity to come back for an interim time to the football club, but in circumstances such as this with Wilfried leaving the football club it feels a wee bit strange at this minute.”

When questioned on the scope of his responsibilities and whether his role would differ from his previous stint earlier in the campaign, O’Neill explained: “Essentially the same. It might be a longer period; the conversation I had with Dermot was [about]going through to the end of the season, giving the football club time to really look around and get someone in who is going to be in for the next three or four years.

Martin O’Neill arrives at Easter Road, Sunday 30 November 2025. Hibs v Celtic, Scottish Premiership. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

“But, I am in the football business – I might not see it through to the end of the season, you have to win football matches.”

Reflecting on a short exchange with Nancy after last month’s 1-0 victory against Dundee, O’Neill acknowledged he felt compassion for the dismissed Frenchman, saying: “We had a 15 or 20 minute conversation with him the day after the Dundee game.

Celtic Manager Wilfried Nancy Celtic Team Training and press conference, Lennoxtown Training Ground, 2 January 2026. Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock

“He was coming into it and I have been there before as a young coach; coming into an environment that you think you know about – I grew up knowing about Celtic but back in 2000 when I arrived I really did not realise just how big the football club was, and what it meant to people.”

O’Neill continued: “From that point of view you are coming into a new environment, trying to take everything in at the same time, and trying to win football matches and it’s a tough old business.”

“He will be successful again. He will have learned an awful lot from that and take things on, he will be successful, but you have to win football matches, and sometimes you can be dreadfully unlucky as well.”

Now, focus turns quickly to Dundee United on Saturday where Celtic will be looking to get back to winning ways following back-to-back defeats against Motherwell and theRangers.

“I used this phrase when I came back, restoration of confidence, and it would probably be a similar message again,” O’Neill said. “The players can play. Players that you know can play can come back to the standard and achieve what they have done in the past.”

“We know we’re in a big fight. We’re going to try and win the league. It won’t be easy, although it never is, but we’re halfway through the season, we’ve got a big fight on our hands, so we have to be up to the challenge.”

Conor Spence

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