Martin O’Neill Appointed Interim Celtic Manager After Rodgers’ Sudden Resignation

Martin O'Neill has returned to Celtic as interim manager following the sudden resignation of Brendan Rodgers, accepting the role with only ten minutes to decide after a call from the club's principal shareholder, Dermot Desmond. At 73, O'Neill expressed a mix of nervous excitement and determination to enjoy the role by focusing on winning matches, acknowledging his temporary appointment as the club searches for a permanent successor. He and former player Shaun Maloney, who serves as his assistant, will lead the team starting with a crucial match against Falkirk, with O'Neill noting the possibility of his tenure ending shortly if the team does not win. This unexpected comeback comes more than 20 years after O'Neill's initial tenure at Celtic, and he emphasized his sense of duty to Desmond, who had previously given him the managerial job. The departure of Rodgers followed a public fallout with Desmond, who accused Rodgers of creating a toxic club environment. O'Neill has stated that his role is strictly interim, focused on steadying the team amid ongoing turmoil, and that a permanent manager could be appointed soon depending on results.