Manager

The current Celtic manager is Martin O’Neill who was rappointed to replace Wilfried Nancy in January 2026.

Dermot Desmond and the Celtic board made the decision to axe Nancy after eight games in charge – six of those ending in defeat.

After holding the fort down following Brendan Rodgers’ resignation, O’Neill was asked to come back and steady the ship.

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill’s past coaching career

The Northern Irishman has had a stellar coaching career that saw him start in the bottom of the English footballing pyramid with Grantham Town and work his way up.

His first big job came with Wycombe Wanderers, where he took the Chairboys to the Football League for the first time in their history and almost as high as Division Two before joining Norwich City.

That period was much more short-lived and he only spent a few months with the Canaries, leaving in December 1995 and becoming manager of Leicester City.

It was at Leicester where he rose to fame as he secured them promotion to the Premier League, two League Cup wins, consecutive top half finishes and also two European adventures.

Aston Villa was his next stop after the five years at Celtic and he impressed again, guiding them to three consecutive sixth-place finishes and a League Cup final, which they lost to Manchester United.

He has also had a spell in charge of boyhood club Sunderland, as well taking charge of the Republic of Ireland and Nottingham Forest, where he also had time at as a player.

Martin O’Neill’s first spell as Celtic manager

Celtic made the decision to appoint O’Neill in 2000 after his five excellent years with Leicester.

The main priority was to stop Rangers’ dominance and he that perfectly. A 6-2 win against Rangers in his first Glasgow derby set the tone as he built a squad that single-handledly destroyed Scottish football.

Henrik Larsson somehow became even better under his stewardship and he became the first Hoops boss to win a domestic Treble since the 1968/69 season.

As well as domestic success, Celtic were also punching above their weight in Europe and reached the UEFA Cup final in 2003, sadly losing to FC Porto.

O’Neill resigned in 2005 in order to care for his wife but left with his head held high as the manager with the highest win percentage in the club’s history.

Martin O’Neill returns to Celtic for a second time

Brendan Rodgers’ resignation in October 2025 was a huge shock for everyone, especially when it was announced at the bottom of the statement that O’Neill would be returning.

Even though there was plenty of excitement, there was a level of fear from the outside that he could be in danger of ruining his legacy.

People needn’t have worried as the Northern Irishman won seven of his eight games in charge, including a Premier Sports Cup semi-final win against Rangers, and the club’s first European away win since 2021 against Feyenoord.

Fans were truly gutted to see him go and felt he should have been given the chance to win silverware in the Premier Sports Cup final, but allowed Nancy to take over instead.

Martin O’Neill coaching career

Celtic (2026-present)

Celtic *interim (2025-2025)

Nottingham Forest (2019-2019)

Republic of Ireland (2013-2018)

Sunderland (2011-2013)

Aston Villa (2006-2010)

Celtic (2000-2005)

Leicester City (1995-2000)

Norwich City (1995-1995)

Wycombe Wanderers (1990-1995)

Shepshed Charterhouse (1989)

Grantham Town (1987-1989)

Martin O’Neill playing career

O’Neill is better known for his managerial career but still has plenty of respect for his playing days.

His best period came at Nottingham Forest, where he spent 10 years as a player and was a part of the famous back-to-back European Cup winning sides.

Other teams included two spells at Norwich, Manchester City, Chesterfield, Notts County and Fulham.