Martin O’Neill isn’t shy to say what he thinks.
As the Celtic boss prepares for the new 2026/27 season, over in the United States of America, Fabio Cannavaro was watching his Uzbekistan side get torn apart by Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal at the World Cup.
During their live broadcast, ITV took a trip down memory lane to revisit O’Neill’s brilliant put-down of Cannavaro, dating back to their time working together as pundits at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
With France legend Patrick Vieira sitting alongside them on the panel at the time, the exchange showed the Celtic icon at his absolute, blunt best.
“Actually, when it comes to the Champions League, it used to be the European Cup,” said O’Neill back in 2014. “I have won two of them. I would just like to know how many you two have won?!”
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When Martin O’Neill reminded Fabio Cannavaro and Patrick Vieira of his European Cups
Not only has O’Neill had a trophy-laden managerial career, but he was also a high-quality winger during his playing days.
The legendary Irishman played for Brian Clough’s famous Nottingham Forest side, winning two European Cups back-to-back.
At the time, it appeared that Cannavaro, despite his own pedigree as Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning captain, was completely oblivious to O’Neill’s stellar playing days.
Naturally, O’Neill had to remind him in the most brilliantly blunt way possible, as ITV looked back on the clip during their coverage of Uzbekistan’s heavy defeat to Portugal.
O’Neill in 2014: “What you are seeing now is an older gentleman. But I did play the game once upon a time. Fabio (Cannavaro) wasn’t terribly sure that I did do. I had to remind him that, despite the fact that there are two World Cup winners (Patrick Vieira and Cannavaro) here.
“Actually, when it comes to the Champions League, it used to be the European Cup. I have won two of them. I would just like to know how many you two have won?”
Vieira laughed and added: “He did his homework.”
How Roy Keane reacted…
Having worked as his assistant for both the Republic of Ireland and during a brief stint at Nottingham Forest, Roy Keane has spent more than his fair share of time in O’Neill’s company.
The former Celtic midfielder could only chuckle when ITV revisited that clip and explained how ‘people do forget’ about O’Neill’s playing days, given his managerial success.
Mark Pougatch: “The Martin O’Neill you know so well.”
Keane: “He does like to remind people, and rightly so, because people do forget. A lovely piece there.”
Pougatch: “Won two European Cups. When you won the European Cup back then, you had to win the league to qualify.”
Keane: “He knows the game, Martin.”
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