Celtic lift the Scottish Cup after a 3-1 win over Dunfermline sees Martin O’Neill win an incredible double that looked unlikely just five short months ago.
After beating Hearts to win the league, O’Neill had the chance to cement himself even further into Celtic folklore if he managed to beat Dunfermline at Hampden.
Goals from Daizen Maeda, Arne Engels and Kelechi Iheanacho sealed the win and despite a late rally from Dunfermline who pulled a goal back in the 80th minute, O’Neill’s side were never really troubled and lifted the Scottish Cup in style.
Reacting to the win, O’Neill was overjoyed as the Celtic boss paid tribute to his double-winning side at full time inside Hampden.
Who was your Celtic MOTM vs Dunfermline?
Martin O’Neill leaves Celtic managerial door open
When asked about his Celtic future, O’Neill tried to dodge the answer, but the BBC reporter was persistent.
O’Neill told BBC Sportsound, “Well, that’s a good, it’s a good point. If you’re asking me if the season was to start tomorrow, I couldn’t do it.
“It doesn’t start tomorrow, but the Scottish season starts very, very quickly as well, too. And I am, I’m just getting old.”
BBC reporter: “But you seem still to have that winning knack, that winning mentality. Do you think you could be the second manager still at beginning that season?”
O’Neill: “Right. Okay. What I have, I think, is that I’ve got – I have a definite passion for the game. There’s no question. I don’t think that’ll ever leave me.
“Even in my final days I’ll be popping up and saying, what’s the score in a game? So that’s always been me.
“I have a definite passion and a desire, if you’re taking over at a football club, the desire to win. What I think I said to you, I’ve done the learning in the last three or four months here without a question.
“Some tactics things that I see befuddled me at the end of the day, but I’m learning, and it’s good even at my age to learn.”
Not quite a yes, not quite a no, but it seems the door is open for Celtic if they were to ask O’Neill to come in.
Martin O’Neill’s Celtic achievements are simply legendary
O’Neill can now take the time this summer to reflect and enjoy yet another trophy-laden season as the Northern Irishman plucked Celtic’s season out of the ashes to become champions once again.
Attention will turn to whether or not O’Neill will remain the Celtic boss as the debate intensifies on the future of the Hoops legend.
After what O’Neill has achieved with this team this season, many Celtic fans will find it hard to argue against the 74-year-old staying on for just one more season.
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