When the phone rang in that King's Road coffee shop last October, Martin O'Neill had about ten minutes to make up his mind. Brendan Rodgers had just walked out the door, Celtic were in disarray, and majority shareholder Dermot Desmond needed someone to hold the fort. O'Neill, aged 73 at the time, said yes. Seven months later, he has a domestic double to show for it.

Celtic beat Dunfermline Athletic 3-1 at Hampden on Saturday to complete a Premiership and Scottish Cup double that few people would have predicted when O'Neill first took the call. This was a season marked by open fan revolt, poor recruitment, a damaging spell under Wilfried Nancy, and a six-point deficit behind Hearts in the title race at one stage. That Celtic ended it lifting two trophies makes this one of the more remarkable turnarounds in recent Scottish football history.

Now comes the harder conversation.

O'Neill's honest assessment

Speaking immediately after the cup final, O'Neill was characteristically candid about his own uncertainty. "If the season was to start tomorrow, I couldn't do it," he told BBC Sport Scotland. "But the season doesn't start tomorrow. It does start quickly, though, and I'm getting old."

He confirmed he will meet with Desmond in the coming week, but was measured in his expectations. "I would think the club would probably be looking at somebody younger," he admitted, before adding that the emotion of the day made the prospect of continuing tempting. "It's nice today to think 'I'd love to do that again' but I really do not know whether I could be at it every day."

He acknowledged he must be in consideration for the permanent role, while conceding a long-term project would be beyond what he is willing to take on. Even his family are split — his daughters apparently keen, his wife rather less so.

Players want him to stay

The dressing room view is clear enough. Right-back Alistair Johnston was unambiguous after the final whistle. "He's got the energy for it, I can see him coming back for sure," Johnston said. "He has earned the right to take a couple of weeks to think about it."

Goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo was equally effusive. "What he's done to the group in terms of instilling that confidence and belief is a job like no other. We all love him." Captain Callum McGregor, measured as ever, suggested O'Neill would be involved at the club "in some capacity" regardless of the outcome of talks.

The noises out of the Hampden dressing room were unanimous. Whether Desmond reads them the same way will become clearer in the next few days.

The context that makes it complicated

It is worth remembering just how turbulent O'Neill's second stint has been. He arrived for what was meant to be a few weeks, steadied the ship with five league wins and a League Cup semi-final victory over Rangers, and was then effectively shown the door when the club pushed on with the appointment of Wilfried Nancy in December. That lasted barely a month before O'Neill was recalled in January, stepping into a chaotic transfer window and a badly damaged title race.

That he navigated all of that to land the double speaks to the pull he still has over this squad and, clearly, over himself. Celtic with O'Neill is a different Celtic. The question Desmond now faces is whether the club asks a 74-year-old to go again — and whether O'Neill, when the adrenaline settles, genuinely has the appetite for another full campaign.

The meeting with the owner will tell us everything. For now, Celtic's supporters can enjoy a double that very nearly didn't happen at all.

Frequently asked

Will Martin O'Neill stay as Celtic manager next season?
It is unconfirmed. O'Neill has said he will meet with majority shareholder Dermot Desmond in the coming week before making any decision. He has spoken openly about his uncertainty, suggesting the club may look for a younger permanent manager, while not ruling himself out entirely.
What did Celtic win in the 2025-26 season under O'Neill?
Celtic completed a domestic double, winning the Scottish Premiership title and the Scottish Cup. They beat Dunfermline Athletic 3-1 in the cup final at Hampden on 23 May 2026.
Why did Martin O'Neill return to Celtic in the first place?
O'Neill was contacted by majority shareholder Dermot Desmond in October 2025 after Brendan Rodgers resigned as Celtic manager. He was initially asked to take temporary charge for a few weeks while the club found a permanent successor, but ended up staying for the majority of the season.