Former Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has returned to lead the club, just hours after publicly declaring a rival team, Hearts, as the favorite for the Scottish league title.
The 73-year-old Northern Irishman, appointed to replace Brendan Rodgers, had made his surprising predictions on a British radio program.
O’Neill stated that both Celtic and Rangers, historically dominant “Old Firm” rivals, appeared vulnerable this season. “Celtic doesn’t seem physically capable and is losing games where it used to seem invincible,” he said on Talksport.
He added that Rangers did not seem to be “a real threat” and concluded, “So, at this stage, the favorite for me is Hearts.”
His appointment itself was abrupt. O’Neill revealed at his Tuesday press conference that he had only ten minutes to accept the role.
He recounted receiving a call on Monday night from Celtic owner Dermot Desmond, informing him of Rodgers’ dismissal.
“They asked if I could take over and lead the process until they find a permanent coach. I had 10 minutes to decide, and I decided to accept,” O’Neill told reporters.
O’Neill, who previously led Celtic to four Scottish titles and a UEFA Cup final in 2003, had been retired from football since 2019.
Despite his recent comments, O’Neill’s return has begun positively. In his first match, Celtic secured a 4-0 home victory against Falkirk.
This result, combined with a 2-2 draw for Hearts, helped Celtic solidify second place in the league. They now trail the leader by six points.
Reports in British media suggest O’Neill, initially appointed on an interim basis, could remain in charge until the end of the season.