Celtic boss Martin O'Neill confirms decision to stay after reflecting on future over international break

The Celtic manager admitted before the international break that he would consider his future after three consecutive defeats, but 74-year-old Martin O'Neill has now declared himself up for the challenge

Tuesday 6 October 2026 19:05, UK

Martin O'Neill has confirmed his decision to stay on as Celtic manager after reflecting on his future over the international break.

The Celtic manager admitted before the international break that he would consider his future after three consecutive defeats and talk to the board.

The 74-year-old has now declared himself up for the challenge after two defeats by Rangers sandwiched a Europa League setback against Ferencvaros.

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When asked how ready and determined he was to lead the team forward, O'Neill told the club's Celtic Player : "I am. I'm extremely prepared for it.

"We had a difficult week. It can happen, you can lose to your arch-rivals, you can lose a European game.

"It's certainly not the end of the world, as it seemed to be described. But (I'm) ready to go.

"I did think I would take a little bit of time and it didn't take me that much time to think about it.

"I want to lead the club, I want to try and win the league, which is what we set out to do, and just as determined now as ever before.

"It was a time of reflection for a moment or two and, yes, some things that you think about.

"But overall, I'm back, I'm raring to go and the team's ready."

O'Neill, whose side face Motherwell at Fir Park on Sunday, added: "What you try and do is analyse the things that you've done or perhaps the things that you haven't done.

"Throughout my managerial time, I've been exactly that. I think I look to myself, first of all. Maybe a wee bit different as a player, because I think I used to blame every other player for my own bad performance. But as a manager, you've got to look at yourself.

"And if you feel as if something has dropped away, of course you have to analyse it.

"Now, there wasn't a great deal in some of the games. If we get the equaliser just after half-time in the Rangers game, totally different ball game, totally different. But it wasn't to be. So you have to reflect on a few things like that.

"But overall, did the reflection, did all of that and a bit of self-analysing and just prepared for the battle."

O'Neill also revealed that Jota had played 45 minutes of a training-ground friendly against Falkirk on Friday, as the Portuguese winger steps up his comeback attempts following 18 months out with a knee injury.

The Celtic manager has also been encouraged by Alistair Johnston and Callum Osmand getting back on the training pitch following hamstring injuries.

O'Neill added he would assess the fitness of Hyun-jun Yang on Friday after the South Korea winger experienced hamstring trouble on international duty.

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