Martin O’Neill’s Celtic appointment has been backed on talkSPORT, with Simon Jordan and Brad Friedel both praising the decision to keep the 74-year-old in place.
Celtic confirmed on Thursday that O’Neill has signed a one-year deal, with the option of a further year, after guiding the club to a remarkable league and Scottish Cup double last season.
The decision ends speculation over the manager’s position, with O’Neill now preparing to lead the Hoops into a huge summer rebuild.
He said: “I don’t even know why it was a conversation. I don’t even know why it was a debate about whether Martin O’Neill should stay in place. I think it’s the least they could have offered him.
“I hope they’ve remunerated him properly and I hope that he continues to build on his legacy, because I like him.”
Jordan also pointed to the impact O’Neill made after returning to the club, insisting the veteran boss had delivered exactly what Celtic needed.
He added: “Martin did his job. He went in there and he galvanised Celtic.”
That was ultimately the key argument for keeping him. Celtic were drifting, the season looked in danger, and O’Neill managed to restore belief and momentum when it mattered most.
Former Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel, who played under O’Neill, also offered a strong endorsement of the Irishman.
He said: “With Martin, I played for Martin for two years at Villa. He’s the boss. He knows what he’s doing.”
Friedel highlighted O’Neill’s man-management ability, pointing to the way he got the best out of players during his time at Villa.
He said: “Martin knew how to man-manage certain people. Ashley Young, best he was playing. James Milner, brilliant. Gareth Barry, brilliant.”
The American also appeared to contrast O’Neill’s approach with Wilfried Nancy’s short-lived Celtic spell, stressing that results are everything at a club of Celtic’s size.
He said: “When you go to a club like Celtic and you hear his first interview, ‘I don’t care about the results, it’s how we play’, no. Results matter.”
That line will resonate with plenty of Celtic supporters.
There are still questions to answer, particularly around his backroom staff and the scale of transfer backing he will receive this summer.
But the reaction was clear enough. O’Neill earned this chance.
As Jordan put it, the debate probably should never have gone on as long as it did.
