Outside of Dermot Desmond, there wouldn’t have been a Celtic fan alive who would have thought Martin O’Neill would spend his Tuesday afternoon in the glare of the media spotlight in the stadium’s No.7 Restaurant, answering questions about being handed a second spell as manager of the club. Least of all, the man himself.
And even when Desmond’s name flashed up on his phone, he assumed the invite from his former boss would be of a more mundane nature.
“I had just finished at TalkSport and was having a coffee with my wife just off the King’s Road in London,” O’Neill said.
“And as you can probably tell, it’s still really surreal.
“The last time I spoke to him, he’d invited me to a barbecue which he was holding in Dublin before the Irish Open that Rory McIlroy won. So, that would be quite some months ago. I thought it could be something like that.
“I thought this would be the last thing on earth [that he was calling about].”
But he was. And after being allowed all of 10 minutes to gather himself, digest the gravity of the situation and consult his family, he was in with both feet.
Of course, what he didn’t know then was that Desmond was about to go in with both feet and the kitchen sink on his predecessor, the recently departed Brendan Rodgers, who he eviscerated in his now infamous open letter to Celtic supporters late on Monday night.
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That it was left to O’Neill to field questions on the topic fresh off the plane from London was fair on neither the 73-year-old nor the Celtic fanbase, but luckily, this wasn’t his first rodeo. And when asked if Desmond’s character assassination of Rodgers may tarnish his legacy as a Celtic manager, he handled the enquiry with the tact of a seasoned diplomat.
“I don’t think it will,” he said.
“Why should it? You’re judged by results on the pitch and while at this minute it’s a bit of a struggle for Celtic, the overall picture is one of real positivity. So, I don’t think that will be remarked upon.
“In both spells I think he did fantastically well. He was really, really great. In his first spell he was magnificent and in his second spell, coming back, he had to win the crowd over again and I think he did that. It was terrific.
“I witnessed the game in Munich in February which, for me, was Celtic as their very best in European football against Bayern.
“Absolutely he’ll be remembered as a brilliant Celtic manager.
“Naturally I’m quite sad to hear that Dermot’s relationship with Brendan has reached a tough old stage, because Brendan coming back second time and winning the fans over, it was really good."
O’Neill didn’t consult Rodgers in the 10-minute window he had to make up his mind about a stunning return to his former personal Paradise, and in fact, he has yet to as much as speak to his players. But in the fullness of time, he says he will reach out to him.
“I haven't spoken to Brendan,” he said.
“I'm sure I will do, absolutely will do. I'll give him a call. I genuinely haven't had the chance to breathe at this minute.
“I was hoping at one stage that if things had happened a wee bit more quickly that I could have gone up for the training today. The first time that I will really see the players is tomorrow.”
Which, of course, is matchday. Celtic take on Falkirk at home tomorrow night, with O’Neill still reeling in disbelief that he will be back on his old stomping ground, prowling the dugout as he did two decades ago.
Though, probably slightly less energetically, and a good bit better dressed than when he sported his infamous tracksuit and football sock combo in his Celtic heyday.
“I’m 73 years old; I’ve got to wise up at some stage!” he said.
“I have no idea [what I’ll be wearing] but if someone throws me an old pair of socks and tells me to stick them on [you never know].
“That’s what John Clarke, who I miss, used to do, but at this age I’ll need to wise up.”
Boning up on his squad and the tactics he may deploy will be of greater priority, with O’Neill admitting he will have to lean heavily upon assistant Shaun Maloney for guidance in these early hours of his interim tenure.
O’Neill never was much of a training ground manager in any case, and his main focus when he does finally address the Celtic players will be to imbue them with some of the never-say-die spirit for which his own teams were famed, and to restore some of their battered confidence.
New-fangled ideas, like improving the side’s ‘xG’, for instance, will not be on the agenda.
“I don’t believe in it,” he said.
“If the backroom lads come up with it then I’ll strike it off the list!
“I’ve no idea [what its value is], honestly. It’s not affecting anything. It doesn’t get you a corner, there’s really nothing to it.
“I can imagine 50 years ago and Brian Clough rollicking me for missing two goals and me saying they were expected goals. Seriously, you wouldn’t play again for a month!
“It’s just been made up. If someone can tell me it makes sense, I’ll go with it.”
Rebuilding belief, is, in O’Neill’s book, of far more tangible benefit.
“Absolutely,” he said.
“There are some really fine footballers at this club. My message will be: Win. I know it’s an easy thing to say, but you have to find a way to win.
“The club has been winning for a long time, but they haven’t in a little while. It’s about finding a way to get going again and once you start winning then all the little plans you want to put in place are almost seamless.
“I’ve been watching things from a distance, and you guys might know more than me than in the sense of what might be lost.
“Obviously, my job is to find out as quickly as possible. I think I’ve got an infectious appetite for the game – and for this football club too.
“I’d be hoping that sort of big enthusiasm would help. It certainly shouldn’t be a hindrance.”
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