It was a sense of nostalgia when Martin O’Neill returned to Celtic in October.
The Celtic hero had been away from the dugout since 2019, when he was manager of then-Championship side Nottingham Forest, but that gig lasted less than six months.
Previously, O’Neill was the Republic of Ireland manager for five years, including guiding them to the European Championships, and then that surprise interim return to the champions of Scotland after 20 years away.
During that period, the Irish legend had been working on talkSPORT alongside Simon Jordan, and he shared the benefits his colleague got from getting the Hoops back to winning ways before Wilfried Nancy dragged it all down.
- READ MORE: Gordon Duncan on what someone ‘very close’ to Martin O’Neill told him about Wilfried Nancy at Celtic
What do think of the first Celtic training session under Martin O’Neill? Let us know in the comments.
Shaun Maloney loving the intensity of the Celtic players!
Premier League interest in Celtic hero Martin O’Neill
The last time O’Neill managed in England’s top-flight was for Sunderland in 2013, but it seems as though the so-called best league in the world wanted his services again.
That’s according to Jordan, who shared that he told O’Neill, going to Celtic and also getting back into the public eye, made him ‘current’ again.
Jordan, who is the former owner of Crystal Palace, didn’t name the clubs in question, but he did state that it would be a ‘surprise’ to people, as he told talkSPORT.
Jim White: “Actually, I want to put you up on something. Am I right, after his first spell back on an interim basis?
“Were you not murmuring to me that there were other clubs showing strong interest in Martin?”
Jordan: “I know they were. His currency. He had re-established himself as current, and I told him at the time.
“If you want to get back into football management. He knows this. You need to be pro-active now because you’re current again.
“All of a sudden, you have come out of what people’s mind’s eye is unemployable because of your age. You have dropped into the media. You have been on a high-profile show, and people have listened to you quite a lot and like listening to you. Back you have gone into management.
“You have gone and won seven out of eight games. Irrespective of what I think of the Scottish league. That makes you current again. Makes you sensible. Makes you pragmatic. Makes you a manager that people know they can trust, in terms of doing a job.
“There were a few people in the Premier League, people will be surprised, I am not going to tell you who they were, that might have taken a look at Martin if things hadn’t corrected at their own club.”
Tell us your starting XI for Martin O’Neill’s first game back
Which clubs could have been interested in O’Neill?
Many managers in the Premier League have been under pressure this season, regardless of whether they have been sacked or not.
Rob Edwards was appointed Wolves boss at the start of October, whilst Daniel Farke was under immense pressure at Leeds United, but he changed things around, and now they are climbing the table.
West Ham United sacked Graham Potter at the end of September and then appointed Nuno Espirito Santo, who has only won two league matches.
There are now suggestions that the Hammers could sack Nuno, given that they are staring at relegation, so perhaps they could have been keen.
Higher up the league, you have Tottenham boss Thomas Frank under continued pressure, and Manchester United booted out Ruben Amorim on the same day as Nancy.
Either way, it’s all a guessing game, unless Jordan reveals some team names.
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