Celtic have appointed Martin O’Neill in the dugout at Celtic Park for the second time this season, following their sacking of Wilfried Nancy after just 33 days in charge.
Nancy was dismissed in the wake of winning just two of his eight days in the role, and leaves on the heels of a 3-1 Old Firm defeat to derby rivals Rangers on Saturday.
O’Neill previously served as caretaker manager of the Hoops following Brendan Rodgers‘ resignation in October, and won seven of his eight games in charge.
The Northern Irishman previously served as manager of the club between 2000 and 2005, and remains a iconic figure at Parkhead.
He is set to take charge as interim manager until the end of the season, a club statement announced.
Speaking to the club, O’Neill said: ‘I am really pleased, in fact, very honoured to be asked back to manage the team again and I am looking forward to getting back to work again with the players.
Martin O’Neill is set for an immediate return to Celtic Park after serving as interim manager earlier this season
Wilfried Nancy departs as the shortest-serving manager in Celtic’s history after just 33 days
‘I know we would all have hoped for things to have worked out differently under Wilfried and I personally want to wish him good luck with everything he does in the game. He is a fine man and I am sure he will go on and achieve success again, I have no doubt of that.
‘For me, I’ve been asked to take this great job on again and my focus will be to try and get us back to winning ways if we can. We will need everyone right behind us.
‘We still have a lot to look forward to and a lot to try and achieve, and myself, Shaun and the coaching staff and, of course, the players will be giving everything to achieve all the success we can for the club.’
The club’s interim chairman Brian Wilson added that’the way things worked out for Wilfried Nancy is an intense disappointment, not least from a purely human perspective.
‘We wish him and his family well.’
Nancy was the shortest-serving manager in Celtic history, and his departure leaves the club six points adrift of Premiership leaders Hearts.
Amid his turbulent reign, the club saw widespread protests from fan group, who most recently gathered outside Celtic Park after their derby defeat.
Luke McCowan gave an astonishing interview after that bruising defeat on Saturday, where he appeared to question why Nancy didn’t adjust in the second half to match Danny Rohl’s side.
‘Let’s call a spade a spade, when has it ever been this bad? It’s never,’ the midfielder said.
‘You’re asking fans to react to something that for the first time they’re seeing it. And as players, for the first time we’re feeling it.’
Asked if the dressing room was behind the manager, McCowan added: ‘We have to be, he’s the manager. I don’t know what else to say on it. But he is the manager. What do we do?’
