Martin O’Neill is reportedly in the running for a shock return to football management with Rapid Bucharest.
The Romanian club is actively seeking a new manager following a disappointing playoff run, and O’Neill has emerged as a potential candidate for the role.
O’Neill, now 72, has a storied managerial career, having led Celtic to multiple domestic successes, including three SPL titles and a treble in his first season. His tenure at Celtic, spanning from 2000 to 2005, remains one of the most successful periods in the club’s history, including a run to a European final.
Following his time in Scotland, O’Neill managed Aston Villa, Sunderland, and the Republic of Ireland, with his last managerial position being a brief stint at Nottingham Forest in 2019.
Since leaving Forest, O’Neill has not taken up another managerial role and has instead been active as a pundit and recently was voted chairman of the League Managers Association.
Rapid Bucharest, a historic club in Romania, finished second in the Liga I table but has struggled significantly in the playoffs, losing seven of their eight playoff matches. The club’s management is eager to reverse their fortunes and sees O’Neill as a potential catalyst for change. Romanian outlet Fanatik reports that Rapid’s owner, Dan Sucu, considers O’Neill the clear option to lead the team.
The club has also considered other candidates, including Marius Sumudica and the popular former Shakhtar Donetsk manager Mircea Lucescu. However, the focus seems to have shifted to O’Neill, with negotiations reportedly progressing and a decision expected soon.
If O’Neill accepts the position, it would mark an extraordinary return to management, offering him the challenge of reviving Rapid Bucharest and adding another chapter to his distinguished career in football management.
