It isn’t just Martin O’Neill that waved goodbye to Celtic.
His Celtic-themed backroom staff of Shaun Maloney, Mark Fotheringham and Stephen McManus has also seemingly been broken up.
It hasn’t been confirmed if any of the trio will be retained under Wilfried Nancy, but for now, it looks like farewell.
Fotheringham’s fascinating coaching career made him an interesting appointment to the Hoops’ backroom staff. He has worked with several German clubs as well as the South Korean national team.
And he has now spoken for the first time since making his Celtic return – paying special tribute to Callum McGregor.
Mark Fotheringham praises Callum McGregor and other Celtic players
A boyhood fan and academy graduate, Fotheringham’s return was a wholesome reward for what he has achieved in his coaching career so far.
O’Neill made him Celtic’s youngest ever first-team player at the time when he handed him his debut in 2003.
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Speaking to World Football Index, Fotheringham paid tribute to McGregor, having worked with him over the last six weeks.
“We have huge admiration for all of them. My bond with Callum is very special. I admire him deeply. His family are wonderful people.
“Many do not know this, but his mum has been sending my three boys one hundred pounds in Christmas cards along with Celtic strips for years. They are incredibly humble and hardworking.
“Sometimes I think Callum does not fully realise how special he is. His performances have impressed the gaffer and Shaun enormously.
“He is a top captain. I call him the maestro. In my view, we may not see another academy player quite like him in my lifetime.
“The younger lads, such as Dane Murray and Colby Donovan, have also stood out. The Scottish boys have been excellent.
“Kieran Tierney is an exceptional footballer. Anthony Ralston works tremendously hard, and Luke McCowan brings incredible energy and drive to training every single day.
“James Forrest is a throwback winger who puts defenders on the back foot. The gaffer would have loved to have worked with him in his first spell at the club.
“I have also connected well with the foreign players. I knew Yang from my time working in South Korea and was aware of the high expectations placed on him.
“Arne Engels is a great lad who came from Augsburg and has real quality. As well as those two, Benjamin Nygen has been such a driving force and a real goal threat from midfield alongside Engels.
“Overall, I have tried to give every player equal attention and invest myself fully in helping them deliver on the pitch.
Celtic’s backroom staff under Martin O’Neill
O’Neill and his staff stepped up for the club in a time of need. Along with Brendan Rodgers, assistant John Kennedy, coaches Adam Sadler and Glen Driscoll and analyst Jack Lyons also left the club suddenly.
Maloney had been working with Rodgers as Player Pathways Manager, being promoted to assistant manager under O’Neill. It has been suggested that he will return to his old role under Nancy.
Fotheringham had, most recently, worked as assistant to Alan Sheehan during his interim spell at Swansea. He left when Sheehan earned the permanent role.
McManus had been managing the Celtic B team, and was replaced by Jonny Hayes when promoted to first-team duties.
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