Celtic Legend Could Stay On For 2026-27: Is Keeping Him The Right Call Or A Risky Gamble?

Celtic Legend Could Stay On For 2026-27: Is Keeping Him The Right Call Or A Risky Gamble?

Martin O’Neill could stay on as Celtic manager next season, according to former Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking to Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast. The 74-year-old has already pulled Celtic back from the edge this season after the disastrous Wilfried Nancy era. With the Scottish Premiership title still up for grabs, people are talking more and more about what O’Neill will do next.

Celtic told not to stick with Martin O’Neill

Wyness, who was CEO at Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004 and later worked at Everton and Aston Villa, thinks the Celtic board will give O’Neill a real choice about staying or going at the end of the year. Most importantly, Wyness noticed a lot of energy in O’Neill’s recent interviews, which suggests the veteran boss is seriously thinking about staying for another season.

Celtic are currently just one point behind league leaders Hearts, with a final-day game against them still to play, which means a domestic double is still on the cards. O’Neill’s record this season is 25 wins, three draws, and four losses from 32 games, a record that speaks for itself.

What Wyness actually said and why the Nancy comparison matters?

Wyness told the podcast that O’Neill sounds like he has a real spark back, and that the manager is looking closely at staying next season, even if his family might want him to retire while he’s ahead. The mention of the Nancy period is important here.

Celtic’s form fell off a cliff under Nancy, who was the first manager in the modern era to lose his first two games before hitting a rough patch that included a League Cup final loss to St Mirren and a defeat to Rangers; the club’s first run of four losses in a row since 1978. With that in mind, O’Neill’s calm leadership changed the mood at Parkhead almost immediately.