The Parkhead icon had left the door open to a new role within the club after his interim stint in the dugout
11:39, 07 Dec 2025
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(Image: PA)
Celtic icon Martin O'Neill has landed a new punditry gig after bringing the curtain down on his interim spell in the Parkhead dugout. And the move could curtail any chance of a role within the club after Wilfried Nancy's arrival.
O’Neill was in charge of the Hoops for the final time during the 1-0 win over Dundee, with Frenchman Nancy taking charge for the first time in the top-of the-table battle with Hearts. It's a relentless opening run for the new gaffer as a Europa League showdown with Roma follows before the Premier Sports Cup final clash against St Mirren.
And while Nancy is set for a baptism of fire, O'Neill has refused to take a break from the game. The 73-year-old was working for the international Premier League feed of Aston Villa vs Arsenal on Saturday.
The former Villa boss was scathing in his remarks about the Gunners - and specifically Noni Madueke - as the English top flight leaders saw their 18-match unbeaten run come to an end with a last-gasp winner from Emiliano Buendia. Appearing alongside Ian Wright, he said: "I think some players have to take responsibility.
"You (Wright] mentioned Madueke should have run it into the corner, these are the of things, the manager would have been encouraging him to do exact that. You're away from home against a side who are right up alongside you, and this is a very, very important stage of the season... the last thing you want to surrender is that great record you've had in the circumstances you've had.
"Had Villa scored 15 minutes earlier and you're then desperate to get an equaliser yourself, fine, absolutely change it up, but when you're holding on to something. You've had a bit of luck 10 minutes earlier, take that luck and just run it into the corner."
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O'Neill issuing hot takes come just days after the Parkhead icon admitted any decision on a new role at Celtic for him would fall to Nancy. Discussing the prospect of a new position within the Glasgow giants he said: "I think that will be for the manager to decide.
"He should be given free rein to pick his staff, which he will want to do, and anything else concerning football should really be up to him."
And the incoming gaffer revealed he did hold talks with O'Neill as the Irishman handed over the reins. Speaking at his first press conference, he said: "He's a wise guy. We discussed the past and when he came back. I can tell you he had more pressure when he came back.
"He didn't want to fail, he did a really good job and I'm happy. I watched for many games and the joy of playing was back. I'm not saying the joy was not there under Brendan (Rodgers), but there's sometimes a cycle. The idea is to be humble and keep going. I had a really good session with Martin, and what a man."
However, there appears to be no movement over a new post for O'Neill within the club after the summit. Nancy has brought in his own coaching team with assistant coach Kwame Ampadu, assistant coach and fitness coach Jules Gueguen and video performance coach Maxime Chalier arriving from Columbus Crew.
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Long-serving lieutenant Gavin Strachan and goalkeeping coach Steve Woods were spotted at Lennoxtown as part of the revamped staff. Shaun Maloney - who stepped in as a coach alongside O'Neill - is appears set to return to his previously role as Professional Player Pathway Manager.
But with O'Neill now back working as a pundit it appears any return to the club in a new guise has been put on the back-burner after his Celtic Park farewell on Wednesday.