Gordon Strachan and Martin O’Neill will forever be revered as legendary figures at Celtic.
While Strachan famously replaced O’Neill in the Celtic Park dugout back in 2005, he has made it abundantly clear that he has absolutely no intention of repeating that succession plan today.
When asked on talkSPORT by Jim White if O’Neill’s remarkable return to management provided any inspiration to get back into the dugout himself, Strachan’s response was hilariously emphatic.
“The exact opposite,” Strachan admitted.
“You know me and Martin are the best of mates. I am looking and thinking, ‘What are you doing?’… I have no idea where he digs it out from, this drive to keep going, but I am wishing him all the best.”
Should Celtic make a decision on Martin O’Neill’s permanent future before the end of the season?
Gordon Strachan hails Martin O’Neill’s return at Celtic
O’Neill certainly needs those well-wishes, given the absolute mess he walked back into in Glasgow, back in October and then in January.
From the abject and cancelled Celtic AGM to continued, vocal fan protests, the club has been deeply fractured.
Amid the relentless chaos, O’Neill has essentially been the only unifying figure capable of standing in both Celtic rooms, acting as the ultimate bridge between the boardroom and the supporters, and that’s why Strachan was correct to laud and applaud his good friend.
Jim White: “What about Martin O’Neill. Does he give you any inspiration to get back into the dugout?”
Strachan: “The exact opposite. You know me and Martin are the best of mates. I am looking and thinking, ‘What are you doing?’ He’s still doing the bumbling fool act after games, but he knows exactly what he is up to.
“I know more about football now than I ever did. But I don’t have the anger or the drive to do it again.
“Martin is digging it out from somewhere. I have no idea where he digs it out from, this drive to keep going, but I am wishing him all the best.”
O’Neill’s record since returning to Celtic
Where would Celtic be without him right now?
It is highly unlikely they would be preparing for a Scottish Cup final or fiercely contesting the Premiership title run-in.
The Northern Irishman will forever be a club legend and arguably deserves a statue outside Celtic Park for his past glories alone.
Yet, at 74 years of age, managing to drag this severely declining Celtic squad to a domestic double might just go down as his greatest ever achievement – as crazy as that sounds.
This has been O’Neill’s record since returning to Celtic:
- Games: 29
- Wins: 22
- Draws: 3
- Defeats: 4
- Goals scored: 66
- Goals conceded: 33
- Wins at Hampden: 2
- Points per match: 2.38
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