Celtic to appoint Martin O'Neill as manager after showdown Dermot Desmond meeting
Northern Irishman agrees to stay on as manager
Martin O’Neill is poised to be announced as Celtic’s permanent manager after fresh talks with majority shareholder Dermot Desmond.
The 74-year-old is claimed to have met Desmond on Thursday evening and has agreed to stay on for a further year. A formal announcement is likely to come imminently from the club once the move is formalised.
O’Neill returned to Celtic not once but twice during a tumultuous 2025/26 campaign, which culminated in the club landing the Premiership title and the Scottish Cup. He took over after the resignation of Brendan Rodgers in October last year and then the sacking of Wilfried Nancy in January.
And after such a successful end to the season, the two parties have agreed to continue following productive discussions.
Robbie Keane talks met with fan backlash
Celtic also held talks with former Ferencvaros and Maccabi Tel Aviv head coach Robbie Keane, but faced a backlash from sections of the fanbase due to his time working in Israel during the out-break of the nation’s war against Gaza.
Prominent supporters group, the Green Brigade, released a statement voicing their opposition to Keane, while other prominent organisations protested against his potential appointment. Banners and graffiti were spotted outside Parkhead this week as supporters made their feelings clear.
They stated: “Celtic supporters have a long and proud history of solidarity with the Palestinian people. For us, Robbie Keane’s decision to manage Maccabi Tel Aviv during the genocide in Gaza is impossible to ignore.
“To choose to manage a club in Israel while, less than 40 miles away, the same country was using indiscriminate weapons of mass murder against a defenceless people is unconscionable. We urge the Celtic board to listen to supporters’ concerns and reconsider this appointment.”
O’Neill’s appointment is likely to go down far better with Celtic supporters after he galvanised a struggling squad and led them on a nine-game unbeaten run to land a domestic double. His assistant Shaun Maloney and coach Mark Fotheringham are also expected to be given major roles within the coaching set-up.
The Northern Irishman had intimated before the end of the season that he would call it a day after the Scottish Cup final, but after taking some time away from football and discuss matters with his family, he has opted to continue as Celtic manager.
Attention will now turn to the summer transfer window, with Celtic expected to be very active ahead of the domestic season commencing at the start of August. The club also has a Champions League play-off to navigate later that month.