Martin O'Neill Confirmed as Celtic Manager on One-Year Contract

Martin O’Neill said his appetite was whetted by winning a double last month to deliver “more days like those” at Celtic after he was confirmed as their manager on a one-year contract with a one-year option.

O’Neill had two interim spells this season and finished it by securing the Scottish Premiership title on a dramatic final day and beating Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup final.

“It is once again a great privilege for me to continue as Celtic manager,” O’Neill said. “Last season will live long in all our memories and to be part of that success has in a big way whetted the appetite to work again for more days like those and bring our supporters those moments.”

The 74-year-old has won nine major honours at Celtic, where he was also manager from 2000–05, and said: “We know of course that Celtic can never rest on past success so we are now aiming to drive forward together in the coming season as we aim to deliver again for the club and our fans.”

Before O’Neill’s appointment Robbie Keane held talks with Dermot Desmond, Celtic’s principal shareholder, but his potential appointment was met with a furious backlash by an element of the support, who objected to his managerial spell in Israel.

Keane was in charge of Maccabi Tel Aviv before switching to Hungary and Ferencvaros, from whom he resigned at the end of May.

Desmond said of O’Neill: “We know he is a winner, we know what the club means to him and he continues to be the outstanding candidate to give us the best opportunity to realise our objectives.”

He indicated O’Neill would be backed in the transfer market. “The club will support Martin fully again across the close season to make sure we are well prepared to achieve domestic success and compete on the European stage.”