Martin O’Neill returns to manage Celtic at Celtic Park after Wilfried Nancy is sacked following heavy defeat to Rangers

Celtic have called on Martin O’Neill to take charge of the team once again after parting ways with Wilfried Nancy, who lasted just 33 days in the hot seat.

The decision comes following a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Rangers in the Old Firm derby, a result that left the club six points behind Premiership leaders Hearts.

A Brief and Tumultuous Reign for Nancy

Nancy’s short-lived tenure was marked by struggles on the pitch and mounting pressure off it.

In his eight days at the helm, he managed only two wins, and fan frustration reached a boiling point after Saturday’s derby loss.

Supporters staged protests outside Celtic Park, highlighting the tension that had been building throughout his reign.

O’Neill’s Previous Success as Caretaker

This isn’t O’Neill’s first time stepping in this season.

Following Brendan Rodgers’ resignation in October, he served as caretaker manager and guided Celtic to seven wins in eight games.

His return is expected to bring stability and experience, with the former Northern Ireland international already regarded as a beloved figure at Parkhead from his 2000-2005 tenure.

O’Neill’s Message to the Club and Fans

In a statement, O’Neill expressed his gratitude and determination: “I am really pleased, in fact, very honoured to be asked back to manage the team again.

I am looking forward to getting back to work with the players.

We all hoped things would have worked out differently under Wilfried, and I wish him the very best in his career.

My focus now is on getting us back to winning ways, and we will need everyone behind us to do that.”

He emphasized teamwork, saying he, his coaching staff, and the players would give everything to achieve success for the club this season.

Club Leadership Acknowledges the Challenges

Celtic’s interim chairman Brian Wilson spoke on Nancy’s departure, calling it “an intense disappointment, not least from a purely human perspective,” and extending best wishes to him and his family.

The club hopes O’Neill’s experience can steady the ship and help recover lost ground in the league.

Players and Fans React to the Change

The atmosphere in the dressing room was tense during Nancy’s short stint.

Midfielder Luke McCowan gave an unusually candid post-match interview after the derby loss, questioning why adjustments weren’t made in the second half against Danny Rohl’s side.

“Let’s call a spade a spade, when has it ever been this bad? It’s never,” he said.

On the question of whether the players supported Nancy, McCowan acknowledged the difficulty: “We have to be, he’s the manager.

I don’t know what else to say on it. But he is the manager. What do we do?”

Looking Ahead for Celtic

With O’Neill back in the dugout as interim manager until the end of the season, Celtic fans will be hoping his steady hand can reverse a rocky start and restore confidence on the pitch.

There’s still a long road ahead, but the club is banking on O’Neill’s proven track record to guide them back to winning ways and reclaim momentum in the Scottish Premiership.

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