Cynthia Ezegwu
Former Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has returned to the Scottish giants as interim head coach following the sudden resignation of Brendan Rodgers on Monday night.
The 73-year-old confirmed on Tuesday that his appointment is strictly short-term, as the club begins the search for a permanent successor.
O’Neill, who guided Celtic to seven trophies during his previous spell between 2000 and 2005, will be assisted by former player Shaun Maloney. Speaking on TalkSPORT, he admitted he was “shocked” when approached to take the role.
“I took a gasp of breath and thought, is this real or surreal?” O’Neill said. “Interim does mean that to me — absolutely. Celtic are looking for a young coach who has a proven ability and would want to pull the club forward now. My time had gone. This is short-term until a permanent manager is appointed.”
Celtic majority shareholder Dermot Desmond, meanwhile, accused Rodgers of “divisive, misleading and self-serving” behaviour, saying his recent criticism of the club’s transfer policy was “entirely out of the blue.”
Rodgers had reportedly clashed with the board after the club’s early Champions League exit to Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty, and their recent league defeat to Dundee — the team’s first in 37 years — appeared to deepen the rift.
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O’Neill’s immediate task will be to lead Celtic against fierce rivals Rangers in Sunday’s Scottish League Cup semi-final, before a Europa League clash with Denmark’s Midtjylland.
“I have to win football matches — that’s no different,” O’Neill said. “At Celtic, it’s always been the case. If we can win some matches, it’ll give the club a bit of breathing time until a new man is appointed.”
Rodgers, who previously managed Swansea, Liverpool, and Leicester, returned to Celtic for a second spell in June 2023 to replace Ange Postecoglou. Postecoglou, recently sacked by Tottenham and Nottingham Forest, is among the names tipped for a possible return to Parkhead.