Martin O'Neill confirms Celtic will delay decisions on the managerial role until after the Scottish Cup final, despite O'Neill guiding the club to the Scottish Premiership title at the age of 74 and reviving a season that appeared to be slipping away.
The 74-year-old arrived as interim manager when Wilfried Nancy was dismissed, with Celtic trailing in the title race and expectations low. A final-day win over Hearts instead delivered a 56th Scottish league crown, moving Celtic ahead of Rangers, who remain on 55 championships.
O'Neill had already enjoyed a short, perfect league spell earlier in the campaign after Brendan Rodgers left, winning five out of five Premiership matches. After replacing Nancy, O'Neill added 14 victories from 18 league fixtures,
with two draws and two defeats, restoring momentum in domestic competition.
This strong record has put Celtic in position for a domestic double, with Dunfermline Athletic awaiting in the Scottish Cup final on Saturday. O'Neill states that discussions about staying beyond the interim role will only happen once that match is finished, and O'Neill indicates there is no certainty any offer would be accepted.
| Manager spell | Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Post-Brendan Rodgers | Scottish Premiership | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Post-Wilfried Nancy | Scottish Premiership | 18 | 14 | 2 | 2 |
The title win also carries historic weight for O'Neill. At 74, O'Neill is the second-oldest manager to claim Scotland’s top division, with only Bill Struth older when Struth secured the 1952-53 championship with Rangers at 77, highlighting the longevity of O'Neill's coaching career.
74 - At the age of 74, Celtic's Martin O'Neill is the second oldest manager to win the Scottish top-flight title, behind a 77-year-old Bill Struth in 1952-53 with Rangers. Evergreen. pic.twitter.com/gGodF9PLbG
OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 16, 2026
O'Neill explains that clarity on the position must wait, despite the title success. When asked on Talksport about the future structure at Celtic, and about O'Neill's own plans, O'Neill replied: "No, I don't think anything would be said," underlining that the focus remains on the final.
"We've got the big Scottish Cup final on Saturday and I don't think that anything would be discussed [before] then, nor was I expecting it to. If you were asking me today, I genuinely wouldn't have the energy to do it at this moment. I am fairly decent in terms of age. I'm going to see fewer days than I've seen. I definitely felt some sort of renaissance as much as anything else. And that hasn't left me as of today. I'm tired, but it hasn't left me as of today. Do I think that Celtic should offer me the job? I don't think that. Do I feel I've merited? Of course, I have. "
O'Neill’s comments underline both the physical demands of the role and the pride in Celtic’s response this season, as the club move from trailing in the league to securing a record 56th title and preparing for a Scottish Cup final that could complete a significant domestic double.
