Stephen McGinn’s remarks about Martin O’Neill highlight an aspect of football that’s often overlooked in the modern game.
There’s a tendency now to assess managers solely on their tactical know-how and the technical detail of their training sessions.
But O’Neill’s recent success at Celtic is a reminder that leadership is still one of the most valuable qualities a manager can bring.
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Celtic’s success was never about Martin O’Neill taking centre stage
What made McGinn’s comments stand out was that he focused on O’Neill’s humility rather than his track record.
He told The Go Radio Football Show, “The amount of times Martin O’Neill has done an interview where he totally plays down his [part in Celtic’s title win], I mean, he’s said it publicly, ‘This is absolutely nothing to do with me, I don’t take training. I don’t take coaching’. Sometimes that kind of humility can [inspire players].
“There will be players in that dressing room that won’t understand Martin O’Neill. It won’t be like 15, 20 years ago, actually, when he’s built a team, all English-speaking, there’s translators in that dressing room. It can’t all just be about getting in and giving this big motivational speech.
“There’s much more to it than that. And his points per game over the two spells [as Celtic interim boss], from where he’s picked up both spells is incredible. It’s actually hard to imagine anyone, anyone coming in and getting more points than Martin O’Neill did this season.”
O’Neill has never tried to present himself as a one-man solution. He’s always credited those around him and focused on creating an environment where players can thrive.
Celtic’s modern dressing room makes O’Neill’s impact even more impressive
McGinn was also right to point out how much football has changed since O’Neill’s first spell at Celtic.
Today’s squads are far more international and culturally diverse. Communication is more complicated, and managers need to build relationships across different languages and backgrounds.
That’s why it’s wrong to reduce O’Neill’s impact at Celtic to just his motivational skills.
If anything, the challenge of connecting with a modern squad makes what he’s achieved even more impressive. Results like his don’t happen by chance, especially when a manager steps in during a difficult period.
O’Neill’s recent induction into the LMA Hall of Fame 1000 Club only confirms what many Celtic fans already knew: his greatest strength has never been about drawing attention to himself. It’s about knowing how to bring the best out of others.
As McGinn’s comments show, that quality is still every bit as important now as it was during O’Neill’s first era at Celtic.
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