Celtic a year on from Rodgers exit: O'Neill's 'rejuvenating' return amid mixed fan views

Domestic success continues but European struggles and board criticism persist

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published27 October 2026

Read Time2 min

One year after Brendan Rodgers resigned as Celtic manager, Martin O'Neill remains in charge, having secured the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup. While O'Neill says the role has 'rejuvenated' him, fans and pundits are divided over the team's domestic dominance versus European failure and the club's direction under the board.

A year ago, Brendan Rodgers ended his second spell as Celtic manager after a 3-1 defeat to Hearts left the club eight points behind. Martin O'Neill stepped in, initially on an interim basis, but has stayed on bar a brief 33-day period under Wilfried Nancy.

O'Neill, now 74, told reporters he looks back 'with a lot of satisfaction' and said the club had 'rejuvenated' him. His side has lost only one of 10 league games this season and leads Rangers at the top, but heavy European losses, including defeats to LASK, Ferencvaros and Benfica, have led to Champions League elimination and a poor Europa League start.

Podcaster Tino Callaghan rated the current state 'six out of 10' domestically and called the squad 'woefully inept' in Europe. Former striker Chris Sutton described Celtic as 'flat-track bullies' unable to compete internationally.

Fan sentiment published on the BBC shows frustration with the board. 'The club is rudderless and outdated,' one fan said, while another argued the team has not improved since Rodgers left. Callaghan suggested the board is using O'Neill as a 'human shield' to avoid answering questions about recruitment and governance, noting the club lacks a full-time chairman and director of football.

O'Neill has acknowledged the long year but has given no indication he will step down. His future beyond this season remains uncertain.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

O'Neill's interim status and age raise questions about Celtic's long-term planning.
European failure highlights the gap between domestic success and continental competitiveness.
Fan-board tensions could affect season-ticket sales, recruitment budgets and the club's reputation.

Background

Brendan Rodgers left Celtic in October 2025 after a poor start, citing limited transfer investment. Martin O'Neill, a club legend from his first spell (2000–2005), took over and led the team to a dramatic league title win on the final day. A brief appointment of Wilfried Nancy interrupted O'Neill's second stint. The board has faced ongoing criticism over recruitment and governance.

Key Perspectives

Martin O'Neill: Says the year has 'rejuvenated' him and he is delighted to be back in the game he loves, though he considered his position during the last international break. Tino Callaghan (podcaster): Rates current form 'six out of 10' domestically; says the squad is 'woefully inept' in Europe and the board uses O'Neill as a 'human shield'. Chris Sutton (former Celtic striker): Calls the side 'flat-track bullies' who dominate only in Scotland. Fans (Michael, Johnno, Brian): Criticise the board as 'not fit for purpose', describe the club as 'rudderless and outdated', and say performances and tactics have declined since Rodgers' exit.

What to Watch

Whether O'Neill stays beyond this season, given his legacy concerns and the lack of a permanent successor.
Celtic's remaining Europa League group games and whether they can salvage continental credibility.
Any board-level changes, especially a full-time chairman or director of football appointment.

Sources

Where are Celtic & O'Neill a year after Rodgers exit? · BBC Scotland

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 8 supported.

Show each claim

Partly supportedThe headline calls O'Neill's return “rejuvenating”, but the source quotes him saying it “rejuvenated” him.BBC Scotland: “Seriously, it's rejuvenated me in many aspects.”
SupportedDomestic success continues.BBC Scotland: “This season, O'Neill's side have lost only one of their 10 league games, scoring 25 times for the concession of six, to lead Rangers in the title race.”
SupportedCeltic's European form is struggling.BBC Scotland: “on their way to a Champions League exit and to the foot of the Europa League after three games”
SupportedCriticism of Celtic's board persists.BBC Scotland: “Last season was also marked by a damaging split between the board and sections of the support unhappy at the level of investment in the squad and the general running of the club. The two sides united for last season's victorious climax to the season, but the splits have re-emerged.”
SupportedRodgers resigned after a 3-1 defeat to Hearts that left Celtic eight points behind.BBC Scotland: “Rodgers' second two-year spell as Celtic manager came to an end after a 3-1 defeat at Hearts that left his side eight points behind the Edinburgh side after nine games.”
SupportedO'Neill remained in charge across two spells, with 33 days under Wilfried Nancy between them.BBC Scotland: “Twelve months on, O'Neill is still there, albeit over two spells with 33 dismal days under Wilfried Nancy squeezed in between.”
SupportedO'Neill secured the league and Scottish Cup during the year.BBC Scotland: “But, within that year, he's won a league and he's won a Scottish Cup as well, so not too bad”
SupportedO'Neill said he looked back on the year “with a lot of satisfaction” and that the club had “rejuvenated” him.BBC Scotland: “Obviously with a lot of satisfaction and secretly probably delighted to get the call and happy with the results since. So it feels like a long year. Very long. “The club has done more for me than I've done for the club in that sense. Seriously, it's rejuvenated me in many aspects.””
Partly supportedThe European defeats to LASK, Ferencvaros and Benfica led to Champions League elimination and a poor Europa League start.BBC Scotland: “on their way to a Champions League exit and to the foot of the Europa League after three games, they have suffered heavy defeats against LASK, Ferencvaros and Benfica.”
SupportedCallaghan called the squad “woefully inept” in Europe.BBC Scotland: “But the Celtic squad is woefully inept when it comes to European football and you just need to have a glance at that for evidence when you look at the bench on those European nights.”
Partly supportedSutton described Celtic as “flat-track bullies” unable to compete internationally.BBC Scotland: “That led former Celtic striker Chris Sutton to describe the side currently under his former manager as flat-track bullies only able to dominate in Scottish football.”
Partly supportedCallaghan suggested the board was using O'Neill as a “human shield”.BBC Scotland: “Daily Record football writer Michael Gannon agreed that O'Neill had been used as a human shield by the board.”