From Family Tales to First-Team Reality: Donovan's O'Neill Dream
For 19-year-old Colby Donovan, the stories of Martin O'Neill's first glorious tenure at Celtic were the soundtrack to his childhood. Brought up on tales of domestic trebles, epic European nights under the Parkhead lights, and ferocious Old Firm derbies, the teenage defender learned all about the legendary figures from his father, Joseph. Though too young to witness O'Neill's emotional farewell in May 2005, Donovan was left in no doubt about the Northern Irishman's profound impact on the club.
So, when the news broke last month that O'Neill was returning to take interim charge, the reaction in the Donovan household was one of pure disbelief. "When he was announced as interim manager, he (dad Joseph) was straight on the phone saying how he couldn't believe I was going to be working under him," Donovan revealed. "He loved watching Martin's team during his last spell. It was mental for my dad to know that he would be my manager."
A Turbulent Season and a Steadying Hand
O'Neill's second stint, however, is poised to conclude imminently, with French coach Wilfried Nancy expected to be appointed within the next couple of days. Should the transition proceed smoothly, Nancy could be in the dugout for Celtic's Wednesday evening fixture against Dundee at Parkhead.
His arrival marks the next chapter in what has been an uncharacteristically turbulent campaign for the Glasgow giants. The season began with a meek Champions League exit to Kairat Almaty, followed by a disappointing start to the Premiership that saw points dropped against Rangers and Hibernian. The situation deteriorated with woeful defeats to Dundee and Hearts, leading to Brendan Rodgers' abrupt departure just a day after the loss at Tynecastle.
Off the pitch, fan fury over the club's summer recruitment strategy has boiled over, with protests becoming a regular feature and last week's AGM descending into chaos as supporters demanded board members resign.
Thankfully, O'Neill has managed to steady the ship on the field. Under his brief guidance, the team has strung together three consecutive league wins, narrowing the gap with league leaders Hearts to just four points. He also masterminded a hard-fought Premier Sports Cup semi-final victory over Rangers just days after taking charge.
Donovan's Meteoric Rise and a Daunting European Challenge
Reflecting on the interim manager's influence, Donovan was full of praise. "Martin has been brilliant since coming in, as have Shaun Maloney, Mark Fotheringham and all the backroom staff," he said ahead of a lunchtime trip to Hibernian. "They have been amazing for us. They took on the challenge head first and we haven't really looked back."
Having only ever played under Rodgers, Donovan found the experience invaluable. "His style, and the way he goes about his day-to-day business, has been great to see. Martin's a funny character. The way he talks to the players is really good. It's been a pleasure having him as the manager and you can tell what the supporters think of him. We want to give him the best possible send-off if this is going to be his final game."
Donovan's confidence is well-founded. The academy graduate's ascent has been a rare bright spark this season. After an 11-minute debut off the bench against Livingston in August, he truly announced himself with a mature performance in the intimidating atmosphere of the Marakana against Red Star Belgrade.
This was no isolated incident. The right-back was again outstanding in last Thursday's impressive Europa League away win at Feyenoord. After a shaky start, he settled with some crunching tackles on winger Leo Sauer and played a key role in the build-up to Benjamin Nygren's late winner.
The European challenge now intensifies with a daunting home clash against Serie A leaders Roma, followed by a trip to Bologna and a final group stage match against Utrecht. Securing a play-off spot is a tall order, but Donovan believes. "Going over there, we knew we could get something out of the game," he said of the Feyenoord victory. "It was a very big win for us in terms of looking to go further in the competition."
Physical, robust in the tackle, and eager to attack, Donovan has all the attributes to be a Celtic mainstay for years, despite competition from Alistair Johnston and Anthony Ralston. His resolve was tested when he was substituted at half-time during the 3-1 defeat to Hearts, but he chooses to focus on the positive lesson. "It was a setback and, looking back, it was probably good that it happened," he reflected. "As a young player, it's not going to all be perfect... I feel the experience at Tynecastle has made me a lot stronger and I am raring to go again now."
