Celtic agree contract with their next manager

Updated: 5 Jun 2026 17:47 BST | 4 min read

Martin O'Neill, Celtic, 2025/26 — © IMAGO

Tom Weber | Writer

Multilingual sports writer who specialises in European football and American soccer.

Celtic have reached a contract agreement with their next permanent manager following the intervention of principal shareholder Dermot Desmond.

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The Hoops are coming off a tumultuous season that saw two managers depart and 74-year-old Martin O'Neill take interim charge of the side twice. The veteran coach ultimately managed to outperform expectations.

Not only did he help the Parkhead club pip Hearts to the Premiership title, but he also finished the season with a domestic double after beating Dunfermline in the final of the Scottish Cup.

It was a remarkable turnaround for a Celtic side that looked to be down and out following Wilfried Nancy's disastrous 33 days in charge over the festive period. Unsurprisingly, then, there was an appetite at the club to keep O'Neill on board in some capacity.

Earlier this week, it was reported that Desmond was set to hold talks with the Northern Irishman to gauge his interest in continuing to work for the club, either as manager, advisor or in a different role in Celtic's sporting operations.

O'Neill to stay on as Celtic manager

It was unclear whether O'Neill would be willing to keep up the daily grind of managing a team, but evidently the 74-year-old feels that he can still do the job following last season's success.

According to Sky Sports, O'Neill indicated to Desmond during their discussion on Thursday that he was keen to remain in his current role. As a result, terms have now been agreed for the club legend to be named Celtic's permanent head coach.

O'Neill will be handed a one-year contract and lead the team for the 2026/27 campaign. This means that Celtic have decided against appointing former players Robbie Keane and Craig Bellamy.

The former left his role as Ferencvaros head coach last month and was viewed as the favourite for the job. However, Celtic's Green Brigade protested against the rumoured appointment due to the former striker's previous involvement with Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Appointing Bellamy, meanwhile, was always considered a long shot due to his desire to remain in charge of the Welsh national team and to lead them at Euro 2028 on home soil. Celtic were nevertheless keen to hold talks with him, but this has evidently become a moot point now.

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