Celtic icon Martin O’Neill is not known for taking no for an answer.
The legendary Hoops manager, who paved the way for Brendan Rodgers by becoming the first Celtic boss of the 21st century to win the treble, has made friends and enemies across his 30 years in the dugout.
O’Neill came to Celtic Park in 2000, in a time when Celtic felt lost. Despite a first league title in a decade in 1998, the appointments of Josef Venglos and John Barnes had failed to build on that success.
The Irishman called time on a successful period at Leicester to come to Celtic Park, and what a decision that was. By the time he departed Glasgow in 2005, he was one of the most adored Hoops managers of his era.
His career since then hasn’t been bad either – including a spell in charge of the Republic of Ireland, when one ex-Celtic man was his assistant.
Celtic hero Martin O’Neill’s Roy Keane story
Roy Keane isn’t known for taking prisoners either, and eyebrows were raised throughout football when he agreed to follow O’Neill back into the Ireland setup in 2013.
READ MORE: Celtic hero admits his decision to exit Celtic for La Liga was ‘really stupid’
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Keane’s extremely infamous incident with Mick McCarthy in Saipan in 2002 spelled the end of his Ireland playing career.
It left his relationship with the FAI significantly damaged – but over a decade on, the opportunity to work with O’Neill in the management team proved too good to turn down.
However, the association understandably took some convincing, as O’Neill recalled on The Late Late Show, saying: “Funnily enough, John Delaney was in charge of proceedings at that time.
“He wanted me to be manager and I said to him, ‘what about an assistant?’ I said ‘I’ve got one in mind’ and he asked who it would be.
“I said ‘Roy Keane’ and then John fainted and fell down, because Roy had a spat with him some years earlier.
“When he recovered after about 20 minutes he said ‘Ok, I’ll go with it.’ And it was honestly terrific, we had a lovely time.”
Irish national team has gone downhill since Martin O’Neill
Ireland’s last involvement in a major international tournament came with O’Neill and Keane at the helm – and it was an enjoyable one, too.
One point from their first two group games at Euro 2016 in France left them in need of a win against Italy in Lille – and the ex-Celtic pair masterminded just that, with Robbie Brady scoring the only goal.
A tough task against hosts France in the first knockout round proved to be a step too far, as they were beaten 2-1 despite taking the lead in the second minute.
They have not been back in a major tournament since, despite the appointments of Mick McCarthy, Stephen Kenny and Heimir Hallgrimsson.