On the eve of another monumental European clash, Martin O'Neill found himself reflecting on the sliding-doors moment that launched his extraordinary managerial career. As he prepared to lead Celtic against Stuttgart, the Northern Irishman was informed he was about to join an elite group of British managers to reach 1,000 professional matches.
A Fateful Restroom Meeting
O'Neill revealed that his entire journey might never have begun without a chance encounter 36 years ago. "I didn't get the Wycombe job first time round, I lost out in an interview," recalled the 73-year-old. The turning point came when he met commentator Alan Parry, then a Wycombe director, in the toilets at Carrow Road during a Norwich versus Liverpool match.
"Alan is a big Liverpool fan. He wasn't working that day but went to Carrow Road. I met him in the loo," O'Neill explained. "He said: 'I thought you would have applied for the job again'. I told him I didn't know it was available."
The Unlikely Path to Management
Parry offered to put O'Neill's name forward, despite interviews already being underway. When Kenny Swain initially accepted the position but then withdrew, O'Neill became the sole candidate. "Since I was the only one interviewed, even I couldn't fail that," he quipped.
His managerial debut came in an FA Cup tie at Boston, with Wycombe (then in the Conference) drawing 1-1 before winning the replay 4-0. From that humble beginning, O'Neill has now reached a milestone few achieve, receiving confirmation from the League Manager's Association that he's joined their exclusive "1,000 club."
The Elite Company of Survivors
"It is really nice," O'Neill smiled. "I went last year to the LMA as the chairman and there were five 1,000 club members there at the time: Jurgen Klopp, Jose Mourinho, Ian Holloway, David Moyes and Mick McCarthy. Holloway kind of stole the show in terms of the talking."
The Celtic legend admitted he hadn't been counting his games when he returned to Parkhead last October, six years after his last stint at Nottingham Forest. His primary concern was protecting his legacy rather than chasing milestones.
Proving Age Is Just a Number
O'Neill has demonstrated that time hasn't diminished his tactical acumen, twice reviving Celtic's title hopes and overseeing European progress that once seemed improbable. He's taken particular satisfaction in representing older managers who still have plenty to offer.
"I did get some calls from older managers, it would be unfair to say who," he revealed. "It would be too strong to say I'm flying the flag, but it was like saying: 'We can still do it'. I saw Harry Redknapp saying if Tottenham wanted to bring him back, he'd be all for it. He's ancient by comparison!"
The Stuttgart Challenge
A victory in his 1,000th game would rank among O'Neill's finest achievements, with Stuttgart sitting fourth in the Bundesliga and eyeing the Europa League final. Twenty-three years after his Celtic side defeated them en route to Seville, only the most optimistic supporters envision similar success this season.
While some suggest a dignified European exit might benefit Celtic's domestic campaign, O'Neill respectfully disagrees. "You'd wonder if maybe we wouldn't be equipped down the line," he pondered. "Istanbul is a long way away, and I don't mean geographically."
Learning from History, Focusing on the Present
The manager believes reminiscing about past glories won't help his current squad. "Can you imagine me having a conversation with Daizen Maeda about a game 20 odd years ago? He'd be staring at me, wondering what I was on about."
While Celtic's habit of scoring late winners has boosted morale, O'Neill admits the drama is unsustainable. "Well, it is unsustainable. There's no question of it," he stated. "It's not good for my heart at all."
The Modern Manager's Challenges
O'Neill has discovered new complexities in modern management, including restrictive UEFA squad regulations that prevented new signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from featuring. "I didn't realise how limited you were to making changes for the second stages of this competition," he admitted. "I thought you could maybe change six or seven. You could only do three. You're learning all the time, aren't you?"
One thing remains clear as O'Neill approaches his landmark match: his passion burns as brightly as ever. "When I came here in the first spell, my biggest worry was not ruining anything from 20 odd years ago," he reflected. "It turns out it shouldn't have been as big a concern in my head as it was. Of course, you like showing you can still win. You'd be telling lies otherwise."
