Martin O’Neill is not the same as Brendan Rodgers.
They have some things in common – such as being serial winners who delivered trebles at Celtic – but there are clear differences in their styles of management.
Where Rodgers wants and prioritises control, O’Neill is known to delegate training and coaching to his assistants, focusing on the big decisions and man-management.
O’Neill is also notably not a fan of xG, sharing the same disdain for it that most football fans have. But how much does that matter?
For former Celtic and Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given, his leadership style will be a refreshing change for the Hoops’ squad, heaping praise on him after the side’s 3-1 win against Rangers.
Shay Given on Martin O’Neill’s approach at Celtic
O’Neill is joined in his Parkhead coaching staff by Shaun Maloney, Mark Fotheringham and Stephen McManus.
Given the differences in age, it’s clear the way that this leadership team is supposed to function.
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Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
And for Given, speaking on the BBC’s Monday Night Club, O’Neill’s approach will help stop Celtic players from getting ‘bogged down’ by modern analytics.
He said: “I think what Martin brings as well, is that he probably simplifies a lot of things, you know?
“I think the modern day game can get bogged down on this stuff about xG and pre-assists. Sometimes you can have too much information when you cross the white line, you really can. You can have motorbikes going off in your head.
“Simplicity, in my opinion, is genius. And I know Martin will say that, and he’ll probably go back to his Brian Clough days, and what he was told when he was going onto the pitch. And his managerial style was like that as well.
“I’m not saying that Brendan was overcomplicating it, I’m just saying that Martin will be a voice, he’s a leader and he’s obviously brilliant at motivating people as well.
“And again, simplicity, sometimes, is genius.”
Could Martin O’Neill stay at Celtic long-term?
Dermot Desmond’s scathing attack on Rodgers made it clear that he had run out of patience with the former Hoops manager.
In O’Neill, he has somebody who will have been grateful for the opportunity – but Martin too is known for telling like it is, so this could change if he gets the role long-term.
The availability of main targets such as Kieran McKenna and Craig Bellamy will also be a factor, with neither manager currently looking a likely option at the minute.
At this point, you’d be hard-pushed to find a Hoops fan who would replace O’Neill with someone like Robbie Keane.