Chelsea vs Brighton Premier League Enzo Maresca Manager of Chelsea during the Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion Premier League match at Stamford Bridge London. London Stamford Bridge UK Copyright: xMartinxDaltonx Chelsea_vs_Brighton_270925_MD_042
The 74-year-old has agreed to return to Celtic Park on a permanent basis after holding key talks with majority club investor Dermot Desmond.
O’Neill spent two interim spells in charge at Parkhead last season, stepping in following the ill-fated tenure of Wilfried Nancy, who departed in difficult circumstances.
The experienced Irishman steadied the ship and ultimately guided Celtic to a Premiership and Scottish Cup double, salvaging what had been a turbulent campaign for the club.
His strong performance in the role made him a natural candidate for the permanent position, though the process was not without competition or controversy.
Former Celtic striker Robbie Keane had also held discussions about taking on the top job, creating genuine uncertainty over who would lead the club going forward.
Keane’s candidacy sparked a furious backlash from already peeved supporters, largely due to his controversial time managing in Israel.
Record Sport has learned that O’Neill has now signed a one-year contract to become permanent Celtic boss for a second time, ending the speculation around the role.
O’Neill has already assembled a backroom team that includes Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham, with Stephen McManus also promoted to a senior position within the setup.
Shaun Maloney is also reported to be in talks about taking on a new role in the club’s football and recruitment department, following Paul Tisdale’s departure in January alongside Nancy.
With the managerial situation now resolved, Celtic will turn their attention to strengthening the squad ahead of the new season.
The champions have been linked with Rodez wide man Taïryk Arconte, who helped the French club reach the Ligue 1 play-offs during the recently concluded campaign.
Outgoing traffic is also a concern, with star players Daizen Maeda, Arne Engels, and Benjamin Nygren all attracting significant interest from elsewhere.
Nygren has publicly acknowledged he could be open to a transfer after just one season in Glasgow’s East End, adding further uncertainty to Celtic’s summer planning.
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