The interim boss is set for an emotional sendoff when he takes charge of his final game on Wednesday night
14:28, 02 Dec 2025Updated 19:44, 02 Dec 2025
Martin O’Neill in his final Celtic press conference(Image: Sky Sports)
It’s officially over and out for Martin O’Neill who told Wilfried Nancy ‘it’s over to you’ before Celtic’s clash with Dundee.
The interim boss confirmed he will step into the dugout for the final time at Parkhead on Wednesday night before handing the reigns to the Frenchman in time for the table-topping clash with Hearts at the weekend. He hadn’t planned to be in the dugout for as long as he has been but delays over the new boss’ paperwork extended his interim spell at Celtic into an eighth game.
This one WILL be it though. O’Neill started his pre-match press conference by leaving reporters chuckling. As Sky’s Gordon Duncan readied a question, O’Neill said: “Can I interrupt? You will be relieved to know this is definitely it tomorrow evening.
“I’ve been assured by the board so the new man will come in. I’m not sure of the terms of the process but I know that this is definitely my last game.
Celtic interim Manager Martin O’Neill
“The young gentleman is coming in and it’s over to him. But obviously we’ve got the big, big game here tomorrow evening and I’d like to try and win it if we can. Dundee did us a few weeks ago so we’ve got a bit of a job on our hands.”
Is he going to enjoy his final send-off? In a word, yes… but only if his side get a result. The departing boss was honest as he said: “This idea that you push everything to the side and it’s not all about you… every manager has an ego of some description, and mine is probably bigger than most.
“But it’s about trying to win the game really, and then whatever else can come after that. The nice thing is that the players have responded and they have shown a willingness to try and implement some of the things I think are important about the game.
“They’ve been great. I couldn’t praise them highly enough. There’s one more game to go for me but they’ve got big, big matches ahead. But the response has been terrific.”
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