Martin O’Neill is currently proving at Celtic exactly how to win football matches amidst intense off-field chaos, providing the perfect blueprint for what Gary Lineker wants at Tottenham Hotspur.
After Spurs sacked Ange Postecoglou last summer, despite the Celtic hero winning the Europa League, the London club have continued to spiral out of control, and they are currently at huge risk of suffering relegation to the English Championship.
Given how O’Neill has changed the mood at Celtic, Lineker floated his own incredibly left-field plea to Spurs to bring Redknapp back to the North London dugout, despite it sounding ‘a bit mad.’
“I know it sounds a bit mad, and he (Redknapp) has been out of the game for a while,” said Lineker.
“But you know what he is like. That big personality. He can lift everybody coming in in a moment of crisis.”
What is the biggest difference you have noticed in this Celtic side under Martin O’Neill?
Gary Lineker urges Tottenham to appoint Harry Redknapp as manager and follow Celtic’s example
At the start of February, Tottenham sacked Thomas Frank and appointed Igor Tudor on an interim basis, but he is having his own Wilfried Nancy nightmare.
That’s because Spurs have lost every game under his stewardship so far, and they are currently one point above the relegation zone, with nine games to play.
That’s why Lineker is tipping Redknapp, who has been out of the dugout since 2017, to come in and work his magic like O’Neill is doing in Glasgow, as he told The Rest Is Football.
“It was a strange appointment,” said Lineker about Spurs bringing in Tudor. “Honestly, I don’t think it would be a bad idea to bring someone like Harry Redknapp in.
“I know it sounds a bit mad, and he has been out of the game for a while. But you know what he is like. That big personality. He can lift everybody coming in in a moment of crisis.
“A little bit like Martin O’Neill has done on a couple of occasions now at Celtic, and lifted them. God, the thought of them (Spurs) going down.”
Martin O’Neill’s record at Celtic this season
When O’Neill replaced Brendan Rodgers in October, it came as a surprise to all because he hadn’t been in the dugout since 2019.
Added to that, the legendary Irishman is 74, so that is a lot to ask of someone of that age, especially going into a club in a mess on and off the field.
As of this moment, it makes O’Neill Britain’s oldest active coach, but Redknapp, who is 79, would take that mantle if Spurs were to push the panic button and appoint him again, after his stint between 2008-12.
But perhaps they should go down that road because O’Neill’s record at Celtic this season, outstanding man-management skills, ability to sense what’s wrong, and keeping things simple, is a prime example that you never lose it, no matter what your age.
- O’Neill’s games managed this season: 24
- Wins: 18
- Draws: 3
- Losses: 3
- Goals scored: 54
- Goals conceded: 27
- Points Per Match: 2.38
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