Martin O’Neill returns to Celtic as interim manager alongside Shaun Maloney

Call it as much as you like, it's not going to happen.

We have a current shortlist of three, and then there is 4,5,6,and 7.

Neither Maloney or O'Neil are on it.

 

Well maybe I’m wrong but I just feel there is an awful lot of fanfare for two guys who will apparently be in the dugout for just a week or two.

 

His spell at Forest is exaggerated.. he won his last 3 games in charge there.

Basically had a 45% win rate.

 

Sadly imo, we won't beat Rangers on Sunday anyway. Too soon for us.

It may be controversial, but I think they have the better squad than us at the moment.

We will need to add some serious quality to the squad in January.

 

Could you imagine that fairy tale? O'Neil comes back in his 70s in a crisis and wins us the europa? Stuff movies are based on.

* its real life and movie stuff doesnt happen as much as I wish it.

Hope he brings larsson back as striker coach. Watch Kenny score 7 a game then.

 

Didn't they even say in the past he never even took training sessions much. He was more a motivational guy that people bled for and it worked. Makes sense to have him as the calm head fronting the storm, relieving the pressure on the others.

 

Martin O’Neill would not have anticipated on Monday morning as he did some media work that just 24 hours later he would be speaking to the Scottish press as interim manager of Celtic.

The former Hoops boss has returned to Paradise following Brendan Rodgers’ resignation, and he will be joined in the dugout by Shaun Maloney, with the first challenge for the new management team a midweek home game against Falkirk tomorrow night (Wednesday).

Speaking at Celtic Park today alongside Shaun Maloney, Martin O’Neill said: “I’m really excited. There’s nervous excitement about it and I obviously want to try and do as well as I can. I’m looking forward to it.

“The club is looking for a permanent manager, and at this minute I’ve been called in to do the job as interim manager, and that’s the way it will remain.

"There’s nervous excitement about it (being back in dugout), and obviously want to try and win the game, which is the most important thing.

"We have a couple of injuries to key players, but the team is a good side, and maybe not used to losing football matches, so maybe a little bit of confidence has been lost from that, but the players are really decent players and I am genuinely looking forward to working with them.

"We have some really fine footballers and players who have won, and that’s nice to go into a dressing-room with players who have actually won.

"They know how to win, so it’s just getting that back again and that’s the most important message from me."

 

Absolutely love the man. Just behind TB as my favourite ever manager.

 

That contradicts what both said in the press conference this afternoon. Both were clear their roles are temporary.

 

Same for me love Martin O'Neill. Just hoping that given how toxic the board and Desmond have made Celtic at the moment this doesn't go badly and O'Neill can get us going on the field.

 

Tbh I think we'll see 4231

As for Maloney, He won't be the next manager and we'll go for someone with a pedigree who will be backed in the market.

Maybe it's hope more than anything but that's how I see it going.

DD and his minions will want to change the narrative.

 

This afternoon brought the beginning of a new management team in the Celtic dugout as Martin O’Neill returned to the club as interim manager. And he has been joined by former Celtic forward, Shaun Maloney.

The 42-year-old, who has coaching experience as both a manager and an assistant at club and international level, explainedhe is there to do his best to support both Martin O'Neill and the squad, as he spoke to the media earlier today.

He said: “If you take away the previous two weeks, I was in a very different role, but I think today as best as I and the other staff could, after speaking with Martin, it was about bringing some stability and a little bit of normality in terms of preparations for the game.

"It’s obviously different, the club has lost some exceptional people – that happens in football.

'Really quickly, you have to try and turn that around and get ready to prepare the team for a match against a good side.'

“So you have to separate both sides. It’s a difficult moment and then you have to move on pretty quickly.

“I’m going to do my best to support Martin, and the players. I’m similar to Martin, here in the interim and then I will go back to my role.”


Of course, it is a quick turnaround for both Shaun Maloney and Martin O’Neill, with match action round the corner.

On Wednesday night, both men will be in the dugout as the Bhoys face off against Falkirk at Celtic Park. And Shaun Maloney believes the experience of the squad will be hugely important during this period as they look to gain that stability.

“We’ve got some experienced guys within the group,” he said. “Kasper Schmeichel is probably the most experienced.

'But then you’ve got the guys who have come through the club, with Callum McGregor, James Forrest, Kieran Tierney – we relied heavily on them this morning.'

“Alistair Johnston is a really big part of the group, but unfortunately Cameron Carter-Vickers had surgery yesterday or he would have been part of that.

"There is enough experience, and enough guys who have won and have experienced days like today.

“We relied heavily on them this morning and we’ll rely heavily on them tomorrow night.”

 

“Henrik, we’re getting the band back together”

 

I felt like the old cop in this clip trying to explain the O'Neill era to some younger colleagues today. He won't be the same but it's still nice to see him.