A month after majority owner Dermot Desmond asked club legend Martin O’Neill to return following Brendan Rodgers’ acrimonious departure, the 73-year-old has begun to steady a club in turmoil. Out of management for more than six years, O’Neill arrived at Parkhead to find Celtic struggling on the field — eight points adrift of Hearts after a 3-1 defeat at Tynecastle — and under intense off-field pressure from protesting supporters.
While tensions off the pitch persist, O’Neill’s impact on results has been clear. Celtic’s 3-1 victory away to Feyenoord on Thursday was their first European away win since November 2021 and marked O’Neill’s fifth victory in six games since his return. The win helped close the gap on Hearts to four points with a game in hand and followed a triumph over Rangers that secured a place in the League Cup final.
In Rotterdam, Feyenoord opened the scoring through Ayase Ueda, but Celtic fought back as Yang Hyun-jun and Reo Hatate turned the match around and Benjamin Nygren added a late goal to seal the win. It was Celtic’s first success in the Netherlands since 2001 — during O’Neill’s first spell in charge when the side famously knocked Ajax out of Champions League qualifying.
O’Neill praised his players’ resilience after going behind and said the equaliser restored belief that helped them control the game. He admitted his family had mixed reactions to his return — daughters encouraging him to take the job while his wife warned he might “mess it up” — and joked he hadn’t done so yet.
Celtic sit 21st in the Europa League’s 36-team table on seven points with three group games left: home fixtures against Roma and Utrecht and an away trip to Bologna. O’Neill pointed out that, judging by last season, about 10 or 11 points are usually needed to progress, and noted that two home games and renewed confidence give his side a chance.
With Columbus Crew boss Wilfried Nancy reportedly close to being named Rodgers’ permanent successor, O’Neill said the current squad offers a strong platform for whoever arrives. He highlighted the presence of proven winners in the dressing room and stressed that restoring and maintaining confidence will be key for any new manager.
Supporters in Rotterdam serenaded O’Neill, celebrating one of their favourite sons. He won seven major trophies in his first tenure at the club, and his early return to form has reinforced his reputation. Midfielder Luke McCowan praised O’Neill’s man management and the confidence he has instilled, calling him an “unbelievable character” who has lifted the squad.
Commentators and fans have noted that while Celtic may plan beyond O’Neill, his immediate influence is undeniable: a high-profile away European victory underlines his ability to steady the ship and get results in a testing period.