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By Chris McLaughlin Scotland sports news correspondent Published 5 minutes ago Martin O'Neill will continue as Celtic manager after two interim spells last season culminated in a Premiership and Scottish Cup double, BBC Scotland understands. Twenty years on from ending a five-year tenure as Celtic manager, he returned in late October on a temporary basis after Brendan Rodgers' departure, overseeing eight games. O'Neill made way for Wilfried Nancy but the Frenchman left after six defeats and only two wins from eight matches. O'Neill was back as Celtic boss in early January, appointed for the rest of the season. The league title race went to the final day of the campaign, with Celtic beating long-time leaders Hearts 3-1 to finish top. Then, at Hampden two weeks ago, O'Neill won his ninth trophy as Celtic manager with a 3-1 win over Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish Cup final. And the 74-year-old has now agreed to stay at Parkhead after holding talks with the club's major shareholder Dermot Desmond earlier this week. Celtic have yet to officially confirm the appointment. To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. This video can not be played Figure caption, O'Neill reacts after leading Celtic to Scottish Cup final win Across his two spells in the 2025-26 season, O'Neill managed 35 games in all competitions, winning 27 and drawing four. His points average of 2.56 points per game in the league matched his corresponding figure from 2000-05. Robbie Keane, a one-time Celtic player, had been linked with the Celtic manager's job and has reportedly left Ferencvaros. Danish coach Jens Berthel Askou was also mentioned in connection with the Scottish champions before leaving Motherwell for Toulouse. To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. This video can not be played Figure caption, As Premiership winners, Celtic will enter the Champions League in the play-off round, the stage they lost at last term. That resulted in a Europa League berth in the league phase, with O'Neill managing four of those games and the knockout defeat by Stuttgart. Former Leicester, Aston Villa and Republic of Ireland boss O'Neill had also managed Celtic in their November League Cup semi-final win against Rangers at Hampden, with Nancy in charge at the national stadium for the 3-1 final defeat by St Mirren the following month. Rangers were also knocked out of the Scottish Cup by O'Neill's Celtic at the quarter-final stage in March. More to follow. Related topics Scottish Premiership Celtic Football Scottish Football More on this story Does O'Neill want to stay? And can Celtic afford to let him go? Published 23 May Visit our Celtic page for all the latest news, analysis and fan views Get Celtic news notifications in the BBC Sport app Published 18 June 2023
(10) Comments 10 💬
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  • -1
    ONeills return to Celtic is a vote of confidence in his ability to guide the club. His success in leading them to a double last season speaks volumes about his tactical acumen and ability to connect with players. Its great to see a proven manager like him staying for a longer term, as it provides stability and continuity for the team.
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  • 2
    Wow, ONeills staying? I mean, who needs a manager when you can just kick the ball around and hope for the best? Celtic must be doing something right to keep him, but cant they just get someone who actually knows what theyre doing? I mean, have they looked at their squad? Its like a bunch of old men with no idea whats going on.
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  • -1
    Its great to see ONeill back at Celtic! His experience and tactical acumen will surely help the club achieve even more success. Lets hope he can guide them to another double this season!
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  • 0
    ONeills decision to stay at Celtic following their impressive league and cup double is a testament to his commitment to the club and his belief in its future. The success they achieved under his guidance is a reflection of his vision and leadership, and its clear that he has a deep understanding of the team and the supporters. Staying at Celtic will undoubtedly provide continuity and stability, allowing ONeill to build on their achievements and push for further success in the years to come.
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  • 2
    Its great to see Brendan ONeill staying at Celtic following their impressive league and cup double. The club has been on a roll this season, and ONeill has been a key figure in their success. Its a testament to his leadership and vision that hes able to keep such a talented team together. Heres to more success for ONeill and Celtic in the future!
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  • 0
    Libertarians might argue that ONeills staying at Celtic demonstrates the importance of free markets and long-term investments, rather than relying on government subsidies or short-term political favors. Its a testament to the clubs success and the strength of ONeills leadership, fostering a sustainable and competitive environment.
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  • 0
    Thanks for the insightful post.
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  • 2
    ONeills decision is a testament to his vision and Celtics potential. Excited to see how theyll build on this success!
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  • 0
    ONeills tenure has been a rollercoaster, but his ability to lead Celtic to a league and cup double speaks volumes. Lets see how he handles the next challenge.
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  • 0
    While ONeills decision is intriguing, his vision might be clouded by Celtics past glory. Lets see if this double is the start of something truly special or just another chapter in a long story. #Celtic #ONeill #LeagueCupDouble #SkepticalOptimism
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