Martin O’Neill has confirmed that his return to Celtic is strictly on a temporary basis, admitting he was taken aback by the offer to step back into the dugout.
The 73-year-old will work alongside Shaun Maloney as interim manager following Brendan Rodgers’ sudden resignation. Celtic announced on Monday night that Rodgers had tendered his resignation, while principal shareholder Dermot Desmond issued a strongly worded statement, accusing the departing boss of creating division within the club.
Rodgers leaves Parkhead with 11 trophies across two spells but departs with Celtic eight points behind Premiership leaders Hearts, ahead of Wednesday’s fixture against Falkirk.
Speaking on TalkSPORT, O’Neill admitted he was “shocked” to receive a call from Desmond offering him the job, saying:
“It was difficult to turn down the man who first gave me the job 25 years ago. When I came to my senses, I thought maybe I should do it.”
O’Neill made it clear that his appointment is purely interim, saying:
“Interim does mean that to me — absolutely. Celtic are likely looking for a younger coach who can take the club forward.”
He added that his immediate focus is on winning games to “buy some time” for the club to appoint a new manager.
O’Neill will be joined by Maloney, who returned to Celtic in June as player pathways manager, seemingly replacing assistant boss John Kennedy, who was not mentioned in the club’s statement.
Celtic face a demanding schedule — the Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Rangers at Hampden on Sunday, followed by Midtjylland in the Europa League, and then Kilmarnock before the international break.
Desmond’s fiery comments exposed deep internal tensions, claiming Rodgers had misrepresented contract talks, misled supporters, and fuelled hostility towards the board during a summer marred by transfer frustration and Champions League failure.
Celtic have turned to a familiar face in Martin O’Neill, appointing the 73-year-old as interim boss following Brendan Rodgers’ shock exit.
O’Neill returns to the dugout with Shaun Maloney as his assistant, making clear that his role is purely temporary while the club searches for a permanent replacement.
The legendary former Celtic manager admitted he was caught off guard by the approach but agreed to step in to steady the ship and help the Hoops regain momentum after a turbulent few weeks.
Owner Dermot Desmond didn’t mince words in his reaction, accusing Rodgers of fueling unrest and misrepresenting his position in transfer dealings.
Rodgers leaves Parkhead eight points behind leaders Hearts, with tensions over recruitment strategy and European setbacks bringing his trophy-laden tenure to an abrupt close.
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