O'Neill confirmed as permanent Celtic manager on one-year deal

O'Neill signs on

Martin O'Neill is your permanent manager. Celtic have confirmed the 74-year-old on a one-year deal after he steadied the ship and delivered the double (1) (2) (3) (7). O'Neill told the club: "It is once again a great privilege for me to continue as Celtic manager" (1). He inherits the job for good after a chaotic spell under Wilfried Nancy, who managed just two wins in eight and nearly threw the league away (7). The BBC called this "the safest of safe bets" – and after the Nancy gamble, that is exactly what this club needed (7).

The to-do list

BBC Scotland have laid out three big issues O'Neill must tackle this summer (5). Reo Hatate wants out. Benjamin Nygren, your Swedish playmaker and one of the best performers in the double season, has hinted he could leave too. Then there is the squad rebuild – Michel-Ange Balikwisha looks finished at Celtic after a poor season for his £5 million price tag, while Marcelo Saracchi's loan was a success and making that permanent should be a priority.

Adamu heading elsewhere

Junior Adamu will not be coming back to Celtic. Schalke 04 are close to signing the striker from Freiburg after his loan spell in Glasgow ended (6). No surprise – he was never in the long-term picture, but it does close one door as you look for attacking reinforcements.

Kenny gets his chance

Johnny Kenny looks set for a real shot at the first team next season (4). The young forward had a strong loan at Bolton and, crucially, he already has a bond with O'Neill. When Kenny got injured, O'Neill rang him personally. "We had a two or three-minute conversation. It meant a lot to me for him to take a few minutes out of his day to see how I was," Kenny said (4). Compare that to the Nancy era and you see why players are buying in.

Fan reactions

Supporters across Reddit are largely pleased with the appointment – relief is the dominant mood. After the turbulence of the Nancy experiment, fans see a steady, proven hand as exactly what Celtic need right now. Join the discussion on r/soccer.

Sources

  • 1. soccernews.com — Celtic appoint O’Neill as permanent manager
  • 2. sporza.be — Celtic gaat voort met Martin O'Neill: succestrainer blijft ook volgend seizoen coach van Schotse kampioen
  • 3. vi.nl — Celtic gaat na memorabele landstitel langer door met O'Neill (74)
  • 4. footballinsider247.com — Celtic star Johnny Kenny will be thrilled as Martin O'Neill deal agreed
  • 5. bbc.com — Three key issues Celtic and O'Neill must tackle
  • 6. kicker.de — Das nächste Schnäppchen: Schalke vor Verpflichtung von Freiburgs Adamu
  • 7. bbc.com — O'Neill safest of safe bets as Celtic opt against another gamble
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