Former Celtic captain Paul Lambert believes the club’s decision to keep Martin O’Neill on a permanent basis is the easiest call the board could make.
While Celtic have yet to formally announce O’Neill’s appointment, all signs now point towards the 74-year-old continuing at the helm after leading the club to a remarkable league and cup double.
After weeks of speculation involving Robbie Keane and other potential candidates, Celtic appear to have opted for continuity following a season that lurched from crisis to celebration.
For Lambert, there should never have been much debate.
Speaking to BBC Scotland, the former midfielder insisted O’Neill’s record made the decision obvious.
“It’s a no-brainer.
“He knows the club, he knows what it is to win there.”
“Celtic is not a development club.
“It’s a club that has to win and there’s nobody better to do that.”
It is a view some supporters will share after the events of last season.
O’Neill twice returned to rescue Celtic during periods of instability and twice delivered results.
His first spell back in charge helped close the gap on Hearts and led Celtic into the League Cup Final. His second return ultimately produced one of the most dramatic title wins in recent memory before the Hoops completed the domestic double at Hampden.
The Wilfried Nancy experiment lasted just 33 days before collapsing, leaving O’Neill to once again steady the ship.
Now, with Champions League qualifiers looming and a significant summer rebuild ahead, Celtic appear ready to trust the man who already proved he could navigate the chaos.
The next challenge will be whether O’Neill can build on last season’s success rather than simply repeat it.
As reports over the weekend suggested, the veteran manager is already looking at ways to evolve Celtic’s style, believing the team must become more aggressive and direct in the final third rather than relying on the possession-heavy approach that defined much of the Brendan Rodgers era.
The trophies may have earned O’Neill another contract.
The real test now is whether he can turn a dramatic rescue mission into a sustainable project.
