Martin O'Neill's planned departure from Celtic has been postponed, with the interim manager now set to remain in charge for Wednesday's match against Dundee. The 73-year-old Northern Irishman was expected to conclude his seven-game tenure following Celtic's victory at Easter Road, but administrative delays in Wilfried Nancy's arrival have extended his stay.
Remarkable Turnaround Under Veteran Leadership
What began as a potentially desperate move by club majority shareholder Dermot Desmond has transformed into a perfect reunion. O'Neill has overseen six victories from his seven matches in charge, with four coming in the Scottish Premiership. This impressive run has narrowed the gap with league leaders Hearts to just two points, despite the Edinburgh side having played an additional game.
The transformation under O'Neill's leadership has been profound. Following Brendan Rodgers' departure after comparing his squad to a Honda Civic and falling eight points behind, O'Neill adopted a completely different approach. Where Rodgers publicly criticised players, O'Neill provided encouragement and support to a group desperately needing reassurance.
Players Flourishing Under O'Neill's Guidance
The response from Celtic's squad has mirrored that of O'Neill's all-conquering side from twenty-five years earlier. Players who previously struggled have been revitalised, displaying renewed commitment and belief that has allowed their talents to flourish once more.
South Korean winger Hyun-jun Yang exemplifies this transformation. Considered a lost cause under Rodgers, Yang has become a formidable attacking threat, confidently taking on opponents and delivering dangerous crosses. Similarly, Japanese midfielder Reo Hatate has rediscovered his best form, dominating matches until exhaustion forces his substitution.
Easter Road Victory Demonstrates Renewed Resilience
Celtic's 2-1 victory against Hibernian at Easter Road showcased the team's strengthened character. Coming off an energy-sapping European victory against Feyenoord, Celtic appeared vulnerable to fatigue. However, they demonstrated the resilience that had been missing during Rodgers' final days.
The visitors established a two-goal lead before halftime through Daizen Maeda and Arne Engels. Maeda capitalised on a catastrophic error by Hibs goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger, who passed directly to Hatate under minimal pressure. The Japanese midfielder showed composure to square the ball for Maeda's simple finish.
Within sixty seconds, Celtic doubled their advantage. Yang's growing confidence was evident as he breezed past his marker and delivered an excellent cross for Engels to power home a header. The Belgian international's celebrations were curtailed when he took a boot to the face during the goal.
Hibernian fought back after the interval, with Martin Boyle converting a penalty after Liam Scales handled Jordan Obita's corner. Despite showing signs of fatigue, Celtic managed the game intelligently in the closing stages, introducing substitutes Kieran Tierney, Tony Ralston and Benjamin Nygren to secure the victory.
For the sixth time in seven matches, O'Neill walked onto the pitch at full-time, arm raised to acknowledge the travelling supporters. While Wednesday's match against Dundee at Celtic Park now appears likely to be his final game in charge, many supporters will wish his unexpected second coming didn't have to end.
