Celtic boss Martin O’Neill’s reign as the oldest active manager in British football has officially ended.
Roy Hodgson, at the age of 78, had made a shock return to the dugout as the new interim boss of English Championship side Bristol City, after the sacking of Gerhard Struber.
The surprise appointment at Ashton Gate means the 74-year-old Celtic manager passes the elder statesman baton back to his familiar adversary.
While Hodgson attempts to stabilise the Robins, O’Neill is currently on a massive rescue mission in Glasgow.
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Roy Hodgson becomes Britain’s oldest active coach after Bristol City appointment
Since O’Neill made a sensational return following Brendan Rodgers’ sudden exit in October and then returned when Wilfried Nancy was booted out, he has been working tirelessly to paper over the glaring cracks at Parkhead.
Despite the modern game’s obsession with tactical buzzwords, the Northern Irishman is emphatically proving that old-school man-management, sheer force of personality, and relentless standards still work at the very highest level.
He is dragging a fractured Celtic squad through a gruelling campaign through sheer willpower and experience.
The two veteran tacticians share a rich history of going head-to-head on the touchline.
While they have crossed paths in the Premier League, their most notable clashes came on the international stage when O’Neill was in charge of the Republic of Ireland, and Hodgson was managing England.
Now, both men find themselves back in the unrelenting pressure cooker of club football.
O’Neill might have lost his unique age record to his old rival, but his sole focus remains on securing silverware for Celtic.
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