Martin O'Neill has been confirmed as Celtic's permanent manager, signing a one-year contract at Parkhead with an option to extend for a further year.
The deal and how it was reached
The 74-year-old's appointment follows a turbulent season that ended in triumph, with Celtic securing a domestic double — the Scottish Premiership title and the Scottish Cup. O'Neill originally stepped in on an interim basis after Brendan Rodgers resigned in October 2025, then returned a second time after Wilfried Nancy lasted just 33 days into a two-and-a-half-year contract.
Before settling on O'Neill, Celtic held talks with club legend and former Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane — conversations facilitated by principal shareholder Dermot Desmond. Those talks drew sharp criticism from supporters, with several Celtic fan groups issuing a joint statement opposing Keane's potential appointment due to his previous managerial role at Maccabi Tel Aviv and his decision to remain in Israel after the conflict in Gaza began. Graffiti and banners opposing his appointment appeared outside Celtic Park, and a group calling itself Celtic Fans for the Liberation of Palestine also emerged during the controversy.
A remarkable rescue mission
When O'Neill first returned last October, Celtic trailed Hearts by eight points in the Scottish Premiership. By the time he concluded his first interim spell, the Hoops had erased that deficit, drawn level on points with Hearts, and reached the League Cup final — beating Rangers along the way — while also improving their Europa League prospects.
After Nancy's brief tenure collapsed, O'Neill came back to find Celtic six points adrift of Hearts and Rangers level on points. What followed was a sustained recovery: he navigated the January transfer window, steadied relations between the fanbase and the board, and guided Celtic back into contention. A final-day victory secured the Scottish Premiership title ahead of Hearts, before O'Neill completed the double at Hampden Park with a Scottish Cup final victory over Neil Lennon's Dunfermline.
In doing so, O'Neill extended his trophy haul at Celtic to nine — adding to the seven he accumulated during his celebrated 2000–2005 spell at the club.
A record-breaking season
Celtic's title win carried significant historical weight. The club now holds 56 Scottish top-flight championships — one more than Rangers — ending a period in which both clubs had been level on 55 at the close of the 2024/25 campaign. Celtic have also won the league 20 times compared to Rangers' six since 2000, a generation of dominance that O'Neill helped preserve at a moment when it appeared most vulnerable.
