Manager Martin O’Neill has revealed he had “10 minutes to decide” whether to return to Celtic following Brendan Rodgers’ shock decision to resign.
The former manager returned to the Parkhead club for the first time in 20 years to take charge of the team on an interim basis while a search for Rodgers’ permanent successor takes place.
Former Hoops player Sean Maloney also joins Celtic, who play against Falkirk on Wednesday before facing Rangers in the Old Firm League Cup semi-final on Sunday.
Celtic’s interim management team Sean Maloney (left) and Martin O’Neill (right)
Asked about his feelings, the 73-year-old said: “Nervous excitement.” “I want to do the best I can. I’m looking forward to it. I think so.”
“This is a position for which they are looking for a permanent manager. At the moment I have been called in to do the job. I am interim manager at the moment and that will continue to be the case.”
“I didn’t need to be told what was needed. Late in the afternoon, in the evening, I got a call from Dermot Desmond (Celtic’s majority shareholder) who told me that Brendan had resigned.”
“People were surprised by it. Everyone thought nothing was going to happen until the end of the season. They asked me if I could come down here and continue the process until they found a permanent manager. I had 10 minutes to make a decision, which I did.”
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Chris Sutton immediately reacts to the shocking news that Brendan Rodgers is to resign as Celtic manager
Desmond released a statement after Rodgers’ departure, accusing the title-winning manager of being “misleading, divisive and selfish” and creating a “toxic” environment at the club.
“I have to admit it’s really sad to see something like this. We obviously didn’t expect it and we don’t know what’s going on,” O’Neill added.
“Despite the fact that Dermot brought me here to the football club 25 years ago, I haven’t had that many conversations with Dermot since I left.
“It’s very sad to see all that because I was never asked again when I was younger, but I don’t know what happened so I have little to add.”
Celtic are eight points behind Hearts in the Scottish Premiership and O’Neill hinted at the Jambos winning the title just hours before he was asked to be replaced on an interim basis.
“First of all, I stand by everything I said yesterday, but if I had known I was going to get the job, I wouldn’t have said anything,” he joked. “I was on the King’s Road in London when I got the call.
“There are different ways to play the game. 25 years ago, I inherited some really great players. And I think in addition to that, the team came together in a short period of time.”
“That hasn’t happened to Celtic in recent years, but they could have won in other ways. Remember, just nine months ago in Munich, Bayern (Munich) scored a goal at the end of normal time (to knock Celtic out of the Champions League play-offs). I truly believe that if that had gone into extra-time, Celtic would have won.”
Maroney talks about ‘amazing’ Rodgers in training
Sean Maloney (right) is a young player who played under Celtic manager O’Neill.
Maloney had already held a player pathway role under Rodgers at Celtic and stepped in to receive training following his departure.
“What’s the relationship between Brendan and I? It’s really great,” he said. “He gave me my first coaching job, he’s a great guy and he’s been very successful here.
“It was good on the training ground. Obviously today was difficult. It was an eventful and dramatic day for everyone. As expected, it was a tough morning.”
“Today was all about trying to bring some stability and normality to the preparations for the match as the club has been through a turbulent period.
“These are very difficult times. Senior players will be trusted and more will be expected of them.”
O’Neill will fly to Glasgow on Tuesday and be in the dugout with Maloney for Wednesday night’s game against Falkirk.
“There is nervous excitement,” he added. “Of course I will try to win the match, that is the most important thing.
“We have some really good football players, players who have won. They know how to win and just get back to it. That’s the most important message from me.”
Candidate McKenna, Postecoglou links
Mr O’Neill and Mr Maloney aim to steady the ship in the interim, but a search for a permanent successor is currently underway.
Sky Sports News understands that Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna is one of the candidates to replace Rodgers at Celtic.
McKenna, 39, has been linked with jobs at Manchester United, Chelsea and Brighton in recent seasons and spent 22 years guiding Ipswich to promotion to the EFL and their first Premier League campaign at Portman Road.
That season ended in relegation, with Ipswich finishing 12th in the Sky Bet Championship.
Former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has also been linked with a return to the club. The 60-year-old is now unemployed after being sacked by Nottingham Forest after just 39 days.
