Martin O'Neill has completed a full year since returning to Celtic as interim manager, a spell that has produced two major trophies and a four-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership. The 74-year-old took the call from Dermot Desmond on the understanding he would be needed for "two weeks or two months", but that short-term arrangement has stretched into a second stint in the dugout.
Two spells, two trophies
O'Neill's return began after Brendan Rodgers resigned, with Desmond assuring him the role would only be temporary. That initial commitment turned into two separate spells in charge, each yielding a major trophy. Reflecting on the past 12 months, O'Neill said: "I think when I wrap up, that's when you'll start to think about things. I think that, given the circumstances, given what has happened during that time, given two spells at the football club and the results that we got, yeah, I would say that it's up there with any of them."
The veteran manager, whose first job was at Grantham Town in 1987, admitted the opportunity came as a surprise. He said: "No, I absolutely agree. And it's not something that I'd thought was on the radar at all. Then suddenly I get a call and Dermot said to me it was either two weeks or two months. Obviously, with Brendan Rodgers resigning at the time, I thought that they weren't expecting it. They couldn't have been expecting something, otherwise they would have had something in place - and something a lot younger than me at the time!"
Handling the noise
O'Neill acknowledged that the modern media landscape, with its social media scrutiny, is noisier than during his first spell at Celtic at the turn of the century. He said: "Of course. Absolutely. It is. But that's everywhere. I honestly cut out the noise at the end of it because I know what would probably be happening there. If you went onto any of those particular things, you would never get up in the morning."
He added: "Also, you're right about the bigger noise, but believe it or not, it's the one thing that I feel - not through experience, but by being a bit older - I feel as if I would be able to cope with it. It doesn't mean that I don't get nervous before games or have the same feelings that I've always had as a manager and as a player. The game means the same to me, but I feel as if I can deal with those things through being a bit older. Those things that are happening in the world at this minute are for my grandchildren."
Learning curve continues
The manager conceded that he might have struggled to ignore criticism in his younger days, and noted how management has evolved, pointing to Sir Alex Ferguson's later years as an example. He said: "I would admit that I probably would be, being younger and having to feel what might be happening. Would I deal with the likes of Neil Lennon in a different manner? I don't know about that. But I do see big changes in management. The person that you should really be asking is the maestro himself, Sir Alex Ferguson, about the latter stages of his time where he was treating players in a different manner to the manner in which he dealt with them before. Things change and I think you have to change with them."
On Wednesday night, one year and one day after taking Desmond's call, O'Neill will continue his late-life lessons when Celtic face Dundee United at home in the league. The club currently sits four points clear of Rangers, having opened that gap with a win at Easter Road on Sunday lunchtime.
