A 74-year-old on a one-year deal, appointed after delivering a domestic double, and the consensus is it is the right call. That tells you everything about the year Celtic just lived through.
Martin O'Neill is the permanent manager because Wilfried Nancy won two matches from eight and nearly fumbled a league title that should have been wrapped up by March. The club rolled the dice on a progressive appointment and got burned. Now they are playing it straight. The BBC called it the "safest of safe bets" (18), and after the Nancy experiment, safe is exactly what this squad needs.
The feel-good energy of the confirmation, however, masks a summer of significant upheaval. This Celtic side is about to be dismantled, piece by piece, and the question is whether the rebuild can be completed in time.
Hatate heading out, Nygren hinting at the exit
Reo Hatate has reportedly told the club he wants to leave, and Celtic are ready to accept offers (3). That is a midfield engine that needs replacing immediately. Benjamin Nygren, arguably Celtic's best performer across the double-winning campaign, has also hinted at a move. Napoli are circling Arne Engels (17). Michel-Ange Balikwisha looks done after a £5 million move that simply did not work.
That is four attacking or midfield contributors whose futures range from uncertain to already decided. And we have not even mentioned Junior Adamu, whose loan ended without fanfare, now at Schalke 04 (19).
The squad that won the double is not the squad that will defend it.
The striker search takes shape
O'Neill wants a physically dominant striker, and Elias Filet fits the profile. FC Aarau will not stand in his way, with a "cheap offer" expected to get it done given the one year left on his contract (8). Falkirk's Barney Stewart is also "in the frame" (9). Neither move screams marquee, but both reflect a manager who knows what he wants: presence, hold-up play, and someone to occupy centre-backs in a way Celtic lacked at times under Nancy.
On the more ambitious end, Celtic have contacted Brøndby about Benjamin Tahirović, with Italian journalist Di Marzio confirming the club are pushing hard for the midfielder: "Celtic really want Benjamin Tahirović. They like him very much" (13).
Friendlies announced, but do not expect a windfall
Celtic will face Sporting CP at the Estádio Algarve on July 14 (7) (12) and host AC Milan at Celtic Park on July 25 (5). Two prestigious names, but finance expert Stefan Borson was blunt: "A one-off game like that is not going to net you a material amount" (5). The real value is in getting O'Neill's system drilled against quality opposition before the Premiership grind resumes.
One annoyance heading into next season: Celtic will open with reduced capacity after accepting SPFL sanctions for the title-winning pitch invasion at Tynecastle. Chairman Brian Wilson called it a "stupid debate" (15), but the punishment stands.
What to watch this week
The Hatate situation will dictate Celtic's summer. If a concrete bid arrives and the club moves quickly, the midfield rebuild becomes job one. Pay attention to the Tahirović developments out of Brøndby, that is the one with legs. And on Tuesday, Daizen Maeda gets his World Cup spotlight as Japan face the Netherlands, with the Celtic winger confidently declaring he can stop Denzel Dumfries: "I can shut him down" (14). A strong tournament raises his profile. A bad one? Celtic keep a motivated player determined to prove himself. Either way, worth tuning in.