Gabby Agbonlahor was buzzing to hear that his former boss, Martin O’Neill, is staying on at Celtic.
Though we still wait an official announcement, it is now widely known in the media that O’Neill has agreed a one-year deal, with the option of a further year, to stay as manager.
Talks with Dermot Desmond took place in London this week; the Irish billionaire reportedly backed out of the appointment of Robbie Keane after fan backlash.
Agbonlahor, who spent four years playing under O’Neill at Aston Villa, was informed of the news live on radio.
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Gabby Agbonlahor on Martin O’Neill staying at Celtic: ‘I knew it!’
Upon discovering the news, Agbonlahor said: “I knew it. I knew it!
“So many people said ‘He won’t stay on, look at his age, he’s 74 and this and that’… Listen, I know this guy!
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“I worked under him. Winning the league, he will have that feeling in his mind of: ‘Why not? I’ve got young coaches around me.
“I said, it might not be the same now, but at Villa, Martin O’Neill didn’t come in every day. Football’s changed now, but he didn’t come in every day.
“The coaches, Steve Walford and the late John Robertson — rest in peace — took the training.
“He’s got Shaun Maloney, who’s a great young coach, he’ll have other coaches around him. Why not, do you know what I mean?
“I think, day to day on the training pitch, he won’t be doing a lot of the training. So we go to matchdays and the stress, he’ll be okay.
“Martin’s not like a 74-year-old. Martin’s like a 60-year-old. I just think what he did last season, coming back and saving Celtic’s season, the season Celtic had, coming back twice in the season, by the way…
“Winning the league, why would you not? If you’re going to offer it to him, it’s down to him to take it. I don’t blame him
“He will get the right players in, and he’s a proper man-manager. The best I played under, and a lot of players will say the same.
“He will get the best out of every single player, and that’s what he did at Celtic. I’m happy for Martin O’Neill.”
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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, regardless of who is in charge. 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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