Celtic’s Premiership rival makes candid O'Neill success admission

Robin Bairner

Updated: 21 Mar 2026 13:05 GMT
4 min read

Celtic may go into the closing weeks of the Premiership season feeling that the whole of Scottish football is willing them to stumble in their pursuit of another title, but ahead of Sunday’s clash with Dundee United, Jim Goodwin claims this is not the case.

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Tangerines boss Goodwin has admitted that he believes that older managers are eager for the 74-year-old Martin O’Neill to show that he’s still got it.

With three games left before the split, United are almost certainly condemned to playing in the bottom half of the table, but with a 10-point cushion over St Mirren and Kilmarnock, they should be safe from the drop.

Goodwin talks up O’Neill

Goodwin explained: “People talk about the coaching game being a young man's game now, but I am pretty sure there are a lot of older coaches out there willing Martin O'Neill on just to go and prove that they can still do it.

“His experience is incredible, the success that he had at Celtic during his first spell was outstanding, he is probably one of the most successful managers Celtic have had in their modern history and the fact he has been there now a couple of times on a rescue mission this season speaks volumes.

“I couldn't speak any higher of the man himself and the job he has done as a manager but of course we are going out on Sunday to try and upset him and make him very disappointed.”

‘We know what’s at stake for Celtic’

Goodwin, who is 44 years old and therefore will not include himself in the ‘older managers’ bracket, admits that he’s out to spoil the title dreams of Celtic and their veteran boss.

“It is about us trying to gain points that are going to help Dundee United, that is the bottom line,” he said.

“We know what is at stake for both teams, and in particular what is at stake for Celtic in terms of the challenge they are trying to mount against Hearts and Rangers to go and win the title.”

Dundee United have won only one of their last six matches and it would rank as a sizeable upset if Celtic were to drop points at Tannadice, but equally the difficult playing surface makes the trip one that will capture the full attention of O’Neill and his Celtic players.

Postecoglou also full of praise for O'Neill

Goodwin isn't the only manager who has sung the praises of O'Neill in recent days. Former Hoops boss Ange Postecoglou has also waxed lyrical about the 74-year-old while speaking at the UEFA Pro Licence Student Exchange.

“Martin is one in a million," the Australian said. "I was fortunate enough to bump into him a few times when I was up there, and he was always very, very respectful towards me. What a man! What a great storyteller.

“I’m sure he’s one of those guys who has a dressing room full of players that don’t want to let him down. There have been a couple of different moments where you have seen that this season. He's got them into position again where they can have success.”

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