Alan McInally has compared Martin O’Neill to legendary German manager Jupp Heynckes.
McInally, a member of the Celtic side which beat Hearts to the Scottish title in 1986, made the dream move to Bayern Munich later in his career.
He was their second-top-scorer as they won the Bundesliga in 1990, under the stewardship of Heynckes.
Discussing O’Neill, media legend McInally admitted that he was surprised when he heard the news that the Irishman was staying.
What would be your one message to Martin O’Neill about Celtic’s upcoming transfer window?
Alan McInally: I was surprised to hear that Martin O’Neill is staying at Celtic
McInally told the Daily Record: “I was a little bit surprised [to hear the news].
“I thought he might have felt he could do no more because what he did this year was astonishing.
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“I thought he might be happy to go off into the sunset, or maybe take a role upstairs to oversee everything, but you can see how much he loves it.
“I was speaking to pals who are Celtic and Rangers fans, and they all were saying Rangers were going to win the league with room to spare.
“Then they were saying it was Hearts’ year because they were absolutely brilliant… but Martin comes up with the plan of all plans and somehow does it.
“He’s got that kind of mystique about him that great managers have. You see it with the fans, but especially the players. He’s got that aura.
“He reminds me a little bit of my old boss Jupp Heynckes at Bayern. He went back about four times as manager there – including when he was in his seventies.
“Heynckes couldn’t stay away from the place, and it’s the same with Martin. He was a great manager. He had that aura I’m talking about. He was still taking part in games and was still brilliant.
“These guys have something about them. I remember one of my first training sessions at Celtic, and Jimmy Johnstone was taking part. Jinky was about 100 years old at the time and was still unbelievable.
“There are certain people in football who have that, and Martin is one of them.
“It would have been easy for him to walk away, but if he feels fit and fancies it, then why not? Perhaps he thinks there’s unfinished business.
“You know what will happen: he’ll win the league again and decide to take a back seat – but it’ll turn into a three-month sabbatical and he’ll be back in again!
“But Martin being in there gives Celtic a bit of time to do the work they need behind the scenes and maybe look down the line for the long term, unless Martin keeps going until he’s 105!”
Do you agree with Chris Sutton on Celtic’s impending rebuild?
Martin O’Neill to stay at Celtic: What does it mean?
Many feel that O’Neill has earned the right to stay on in his position, but there is a fair bit of a surprise that he has committed to stay this summer.
A major rebuild awaits, as Chris Sutton rightly acknowledges. Any manager would need help given the amount of business to be done.
O’Neill was extremely popular among the Celtic players, with many voicing their support for him staying.
But with many of them expected to move on this summer, the dressing room will have a very different look by the end of this summer’s transfer window.
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