John Hartson has responded hilariously after an old Martin O’Neill story about the former Celtic striker resurfaced online.
The story originally came from O’Neill himself, who admitted Hartson once left him “a bit frightened” during their time together at Celtic because of the striker’s fiery personality.
The anecdote quickly caught the attention of Celtic supporters online before Hartson spotted one detail he wanted to correct himself.
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John Hartson’s brilliant response to Martin O’Neill Celtic story
As soon as Hartson saw the story being told on social media, the Celtic legend moved in to clear up one big detail in brilliant fashion.
He wrote, “You read quite a few stories and tales on these platforms, which are made up, but I must say this story is legitimately true in every sense of the word!
“Apart from Martin being scared!”
There was no attempt to deny the story or soften the details. Instead, he laughed along with it while making sure everybody knew O’Neill was never actually frightened of him.
That honesty has always been part of Hartson’s appeal. Celtic supporters spent years watching an emotional, fiery striker who never tried to pretend he was something else.
The relationship with O’Neill clearly worked because both men understood each other completely. Hartson trusted the manager and O’Neill trusted him to deliver on the pitch.
That trust paid off massively as Hartson ended up scoring 110 goals during one of Celtic’s strongest modern eras.
Martin O’Neill knew exactly how to manage Hartson at Celtic
O’Neill’s greatest strength at Celtic was often his man-management. He understood personalities and knew certain players needed belief rather than restrictions.
Hartson was one of those players and Celtic supporters still remember how important he became to O’Neill’s side.
That team remains one of the club’s most loved modern squads, particularly after Celtic reached the 2003 UEFA Cup Final.
The latest exchange online reminded supporters why Hartson still connects so strongly with fans today. Even now, he still sounds exactly like the same honest, emotional character Celtic supporters loved watching every week.
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