Martin O’Neill’s style should be the blueprint Celtic use to find a long-term manager, old-school management is back

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Martin O’Neill is unlikely to stay on at Celtic beyond the end of this season.

The Celtic legend returned until the end of the season for a second time following the dismissal of Wilfried Nancy after 33 days in charge.

No manager has won more points than the Northern Irishman with the Hoops this season.

Performances haven’t been perfect, but results largely have.

This is completely different to what we saw under Brendan Rodgers, and most definitely Nancy, which can be replicated when the club looks for a long-term appointment in the summer.

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Martin O’Neill’s throwback style is what Celtic need

It has been a long time since the 73-year-old managed and in that time since being sacked by Nottingham Forest in 2019, lots has changed.

Possession is the aim of the game, as well as the ‘process’ and ‘the vision’ of the club going forward.

Teams are more and more focused on appointing head coaches who refine every little bit. Look at Nancy and Rodgers. Set systems which are all about positioning and movement which they go over and over in training.

O’Neill is not a head coach. He is a manager. These players don’t need coaching technically, they need an arm around their shoulder.

What is the biggest difference you’ve noticed from Martin O’Neill’s style as Celtic manager?

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They need motivation and organisation. Since coming back, that is what the manager has instilled.

Celtic are harder to beat, are scoring goals and the players have a smile on their face. There is obviously an element of tactical knowledge to it but, in a world of complicated structures and field tilts and xG, O’Neill has stripped it back to basics. Get the ball down, make chances, and be solid defensively.

Old-school management is back

It’s not just Celtic who are looking better as a bigger club with an old favourite in charge.

Michael Carrick, once linked with Celtic, has won two from two for Manchester United by doing the same thing as O’Neill against Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta, two bosses so fixated on tactics.

Just like the return of two up top, or the long throw, this old-school style of management is back to rival the tacticos and show that simple game-management can conquer using inverted full-backs.