Celtic’s 3-1 victory over Rangers last Sunday has drawn praise from three footballing heavyweights, as Roy Keane, Ian Wright and Paul Scholes discussed the result on the latest episode of Stick to Football.
The trio were full of admiration for Martin O’Neill’s return to the Celtic dugout and the immediate impact he’s made since stepping in as interim manager.
The win marked O’Neill’s first Glasgow derby back in charge and couldn’t have come at a better time for the club. Celtic produced one of their most spirited performances of the season, combining determination with moments of real quality to overpower their rivals at Parkhead.
For many Celtic supporters, the result carried echoes of O’Neill’s first spell in charge, when his sides regularly dominated derby fixtures. The former boss has stepped back into familiar surroundings with the same fiery competitiveness that defined his earlier years in Glasgow.
The panel discussed O’Neill’s influence, his trademark intensity, and even his wardrobe choice on the touchline, with the conversation mixing admiration and humour in equal measure.
Roy Keane said: “What about Martin going into Celtic?”
Ian Wright added: “And they do it, they done it, they beat them (the Rangers). He’s amazing. It was good though, you see his face.”
Paul Scholes joined in: “He was complaining about his tracksuit, wasn’t he? Why are they so tight, these tracksuits?”
Roy Keane continued: “He’s got energy. Martin has an energy.”
Paul Scholes finished: “Unbelievable energy!”
The exchange reflected the respect and affection the trio hold for O’Neill, who famously managed alongside Keane during their time together with the Republic of Ireland and Nottingham Forest. His passion and presence have always been at the heart of his management, and it’s clear that little has changed since his return to Celtic.
The derby win over Rangers reminded everyone of what an O’Neill team looks like, full of drive, discipline, and belief.
Even so, it’s clear that Keane, Wright, and Scholes will be keeping an even closer eye on Celtic now that O’Neill is back in charge. Their reaction showed genuine excitement at seeing one of their former colleagues return to a big stage and immediately deliver a result that grabbed attention.
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While his stay is still expected to be temporary, O’Neill’s early impact has restored a sense of momentum that Celtic badly needed. For supporters, his return has rekindled memories of the early 2000s, nights of intensity, big performances, and a manager whose energy seems to lift the club as a whole.
For now, the message from his old dressing room allies is unmistakable: Martin O’Neill still has that spark, that fire, and, as Keane said with a grin, “that energy” — the same qualities that continue to drive teams to big results and keep Celtic in the spotlight.
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