As Celtic navigate a chaotic season with a potential domestic double still in their sights, discussions are already turning to Martin O’Neill’s permanent place among the club’s all-time greats.
Speaking on his podcast recently, former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie made a claim regarding O’Neill’s legacy if he secures the Premiership title and Scottish Cup by the end of the season.
“Statue. Put a statue right outside there beside big Billy (McNeill),” McAvennie insisted.
McAvennie is half right that a double-winning campaign would warrant the ultimate tribute, but placing a condition on it misses the bigger picture.
Even if Celtic fall short of silverware this May, O’Neill has already done more than enough to have his legacy cemented in bronze outside of Scotland’s most successful club.
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O’Neill’s legendary first spell alone warrants the honour.
This is the man who delivered a spectacular domestic Treble and built a squad of born winners and cult heroes – from the unmatched genius of Henrik Larsson to the sheer, terrifying power of Bobo Balde.
Now, having bravely returned to Celtic’s rescue amid incredibly dark times this season to steady a rocking ship, a statue shouldn’t depend on one more trophy. It should be a matter of when, not if.
This squad might be winning games of football right now, as Celtic did by beating ten-man Motherwell at the weekend, including that epic clash at Ibrox the week before.
But it’s down to the sheer willpower and man-management genius of O’Neill, who will go down in Celtic folklore for the rest of time, and many are grateful for it, as McAvennie discussed on his Let Me Be Frank Podcast.
McAvennie: “I am going to be honest with you, if Celtic win the league, there is only one man to thank for that, and that’s Martin O’Neill. He has done wonders.”
Simon Houston: “If Celtic were to win the double, this season of all seasons, with all the chaos, they might be favourites to win the league. But certainly favourites to win the Scottish Cup. Given the four semi-finalists.
“Hypothetically speaking, if Celtic win the double, with that squad, and with all the chaos that has ensued this season. Where does it put Martin O’Neill in the list of Celtic greats?”
McAvennie: “Statue. Put a statue (of Martin O’Neill) right outside there beside big Billy (McNeill). Honestly. You just think about when he came the first time, that first team, it’s a team I would want to play in with Martin.
“He just brought in born winners. The front three. Sutton, Hartson and Larsson. He brought in Thommo and Mjallby. Bobo. Big, strong boys, but they could play. Every one of them. Lambert. My God.
“That team he had, they went to the UEFA Cup final, and he did wonders. Should have won it.
“He has done exactly the same (now), as he did then.”
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