Sports · Football · 2 days ago
O'Neill says decision to stay on as Celtic manager came quickly
Martin O'Neill says he did not take long to decide to remain Celtic manager after a difficult run of results.
The 74-year-old had voiced uncertainty after Celtic lost three games, including a 1-0 home defeat by Rangers.
He said the international break gave him time to reflect, but he was happy to stay as long as the club wanted him.
O'Neill returned to Celtic for two interim spells last season, when the team won the league and Scottish Cup.
Celtic are still two points clear of Rangers at the top of the Premiership.
O'Neill says his main aim is to win the league again and that he believes in the team.
Celtic are due to visit Motherwell on Sunday.
Martin O’Neill said it did not take long for him to decide to remain Celtic manager.
The 74-year-old said leaving at this stage would have been “poor” and that he was happy to continue if the club wanted him.
O’Neill had expressed uncertainty after Celtic’s 1-0 home defeat by Rangers before the international break.
He said his main motivation was to try to win the league again.
Celtic remained two points ahead of Rangers in the Premiership, despite losing their last three matches before the break.
- Who
- Martin O’Neill, Celtic manager.
- What
- He said he quickly decided to stay on as manager.
- When
- He explained his decision on Friday, 9 October 2026, ahead of Sunday’s match.
- Where
- Celtic; O’Neill was speaking at a press conference ahead of the team’s trip to Motherwell.
- Why
- He said he was happy to continue if the club wanted him and wanted to try to win the league again.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Leaving at this particular stage would have been poor.
As long as the football club wanted me, I was happy to do it.
The main driver is to try and win the league again, that's really it.
O’Neill’s two spells in charge covered 23 league games, and Celtic won the league and Scottish Cup double.
Celtic lost twice to Rangers, with a 3-1 home defeat by Ferencvaros between those losses.
Celtic lost 1-0 at home to Rangers, after which O’Neill said he would reflect on his future.
O’Neill confirmed he would remain Celtic manager.
O’Neill said the decision to continue did not take long.
- Manager
- Martin O’Neill, 74
- Contract
- One-year deal to stay on as Celtic manager
- League position
- Celtic were two points clear of Rangers
- Recent run
- Celtic lost their last three games in all competitions before the international break
- Next match
- Motherwell away on Sunday, 11 October 2026
Sources
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