Chris Sutton Reacts as Martin O’Neill Confirms He’ll Stay On as Celtic Manager
It turns out Sunday’s trip to Hibernian will not be Martin O’Neill’s final game as Celtic manager.
Initially, it was believed that O’Neill’s interim spell, which began last month after Brendan Rodgers’ departure, would end at Easter Road. But before the players even stepped onto the pitch, O’Neill revealed he would remain in charge for the time being, with the Wilfried Nancy appointment still pending.
For Celtic fans, this was music to their ears. Many have been calling for O’Neill to stay on longer, regardless of the timeline for Nancy’s arrival.
Speaking on Sky Sports Football on November 30, 2025, former Celtic striker Chris Sutton praised the decision. He said the fans would prefer to keep O’Neill at the helm because “it’s working.” Sutton highlighted some of the legendary Irishman’s key victories, including the League Cup semi-final triumph over Rangers and Thursday’s European win at Feyenoord.
Looking ahead to Wednesday’s Premiership clash with Dundee, Sutton noted:
“A final is coming up in a couple of weeks. Why not leave Martin in charge? Every passing win makes fans think, ‘it’s working, at this moment in time.’”
Sutton also praised O’Neill’s impact during a turbulent period:
“When you look at what Martin inherited—turmoil and tension—he’s ticked so many boxes: beating Rangers, reaching a cup final, closing the gap on Hearts, and giving Celtic a real chance in Europe. He’s done a terrific job in such a short space of time, enhancing his reputation from the first spell.”
O’Neill will remain in charge until Wednesday, but Sutton hinted the interim period might extend even further, leaving fans optimistic about the legendary manager guiding Celtic for longer than anyone expected.
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