Celtic are closing in on the permanent appointment of Martin O'Neill, with the 74-year-old having agreed a one-year contract to take charge at Parkhead. An official announcement is expected imminently, bringing an end to a managerial search that took a dramatic turn in its final days.

Keane backlash clears the path

Robbie Keane had been firmly in the frame. The former Republic of Ireland captain held talks with Dermot Desmond, Celtic's principal shareholder, earlier this week and was considered a serious candidate by the club's hierarchy. But a significant section of the Celtic support made their feelings known loudly — objecting to Keane's managerial spell at Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel. Keane subsequently moved into club football in Hungary with Ferencvaros, from whom he resigned at the end of May, but the noises out of Glasgow quickly shifted once the fan reaction became clear.

With Keane effectively out of the picture, attention turned back to the man who had been steady hands on the tiller all season. O'Neill is now on his way to confirming what many Celtic supporters had quietly hoped for since the Scottish Cup final.

A domestic double seals the deal

O'Neill stepped in on a short-term basis back in October after Brendan Rodgers resigned. He was replaced by Wilfried Nancy, but the Frenchman's tenure proved disastrous — lasting just eight games before Celtic turned back to O'Neill for a second interim spell. He repaid that faith emphatically, guiding the club to a domestic double: the Scottish Premiership title and the Scottish Cup, the latter secured with victory over Dunfermline in the final.

After that win, O'Neill was understood to have asked for time to consider his next move. The sense around the club, however, was always that he remained keen on the permanent role. His deal is reported to include an option for a second year, giving the club flexibility without committing long-term to a manager who turns 75 later this year.

History repeating itself at Parkhead

There is a neat symmetry to this appointment. It comes 26 years after Desmond first persuaded O'Neill to leave Leicester City for Glasgow. That original stint proved one of the most celebrated in Celtic's modern era. Under O'Neill, the club won three Scottish titles, three Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups. They also reached the 2003 UEFA Cup final, eventually losing to José Mourinho's Porto — a run that remains a touchstone moment for the club's European ambitions.

Now O'Neill returns not as an outsider being coaxed north but as the man who steadied a club in freefall and delivered silverware in the process. The market has already reacted to the news, and the Celtic board will be well aware that continuity carries weight with a support that has endured a turbulent twelve months.

What happens next

A formal confirmation from Celtic is expected in the coming days. O'Neill will then turn his attention to the summer transfer window and the shape of his squad ahead of next season's Scottish Premiership campaign and European commitments. Whether he can revive memories of that first, golden spell remains to be seen — but he arrives this time with something the Leicester job never gave him: the experience of having already done it once before.

Frequently asked

Why was Robbie Keane not appointed Celtic manager?
Keane was a serious candidate and held talks with Celtic's principal shareholder Dermot Desmond, but a section of the Celtic support strongly objected to his previous managerial spell at Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel, which effectively ended his candidacy.
What did Martin O'Neill win in his previous spell as Celtic manager?
During his first stint at Celtic, O'Neill won three Scottish league titles, three Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups. He also led the club to the 2003 UEFA Cup final, where they were beaten by José Mourinho's Porto.
How long is Martin O'Neill's new contract at Celtic?
O'Neill has agreed a one-year deal to become Celtic's permanent manager, with reports indicating the contract includes an option for a second year.